[zz]Windows 7 Partition Table Corruption due to Hidden 200 MB System Partition

Many of Windows 7 users might be unaware of the fact that when they install Windows 7, it forcefully creates a separate 200 MB partition to store WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) files. The partition is hidden, automatically activated, is not labeled by any drive letter, and has only 32 MB of space occupied. Though the partition is required to hold system and bootable files to aid in recovery after crash, but cannot be deleted using normal tools like Windows Disk Management. Also, this has been observed that when the user tries to delete it using a third-party partition manager or partition editor, the partition table might get corrupted or invalid. This causes other data partitions to become inaccessible and create critical data loss situations. To restore data in such scenarios, you need to either use the last available backup or apply a commercial Partition Recovery Software.

Consider a practical example illustrating such problems. You use Windows 7 DVD installation disc to an unpartitioned hard disk, a hard disk with unallocated space or a hard disk of which you have deleted all the existing partitions. You install Windows 7 and later, delete the 200 MB partition that is apparently taking unnecessary space to store WinRE files, using a third-party partition utility. After this, you observe symptoms like below:

Other hard disk partitions start behaving unexpectedly that suggests the corruption of partition table located in MBR (Master Boot Record). When you try to create a partition using the freed space, the partition utility shows a disk error Hard disk randomly shows unallocated disk space of 1 MB to 2 MB You cannot format the hard disk partition(s) Few or all hard disk partitions are lost

Cause

The 200 MB partition created by Windows 7 at the time of installation uses a non-standard partition type. So, when you use a partition editor or utility that does not recognize this partition type, it may result in partition table corruption.

Solution

To prevent such data loss from occurring, you should avoid installing Windows 7 on a non-partitioned hard disk or to unallocated disk space. Partition and format the hard disk before installing Windows 7.

However, to achieve lost Partition Recovery, you need a full backup. If not available or dirty, you are suggested to use a Data Recovery Software.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is a reliable and advanced application that recovers data from corrupted, lost or inaccessible Windows partitions. The Partition Recovery utility is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, and 2000. The tool features various qualities like 'Disk Cloning', 'Disk Imaging', 'Drive Status' that help getting suitable results.