Re: WinXP Prof-SP2 shows Linux Partition as a RAW Drive (I:) in Windows Explorer (Post install of Easy CD Creator 6)

"V Green" <vanceg@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OVK5NSyUFHA.4056@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*o*m> wrote in message
> news:e3f8M4xUFHA.3056@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> "SK" <skramachandran@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1115480797.092582.53220@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > PROBLEM:
>> > 1. My Win XP Professional (SP2) installation shows my Linux Ext2FS
>> > partition (logical drive) after installation of Roxio Easy CD Creator
>> > 6.0. I had a stable system without any problems prior to this install.
>> > 2. Computer Management->Disk Management does not list drive letters for
>> > any of my partitions except the CD/DVD Drive. Neither does it list the
>> > drive when individually selected.
>> > 3. The above problems occur only in my WinXP installation. My Win2000
>> > Prof installation does not have this problem. Problem occured post
>> > instal of Roxio Easy CD Creator 6.0 in my XP installation.
>> >
>> > SYSTEM CONFIG:
>> > 1. Stable Triple boot WinXP_Prof(SP2)/Win2000_Prof(Sp4)/Fedora Core 3.0
>> > Linux installed on my 80GB IDE (Seagate) HDD. The system config is: AMD
>> > Athlon XP 2600+ on ASUS A7V400-MX Motherboard using VIA KM400A Chipset.
>> > 512 MB RAM, LG 16x DvD ROM/CD Writer.
>> > 2. No Viruses/Spyware, system running automatic updates with Win XP SP2
>> > installed with latest patches, ant virus updates and up to date
>> > Zonealam Firewall.
>> >
>> > TRIED:
>> > 1. Removing HKLM\System\MountedDevices (All entries except default)
>> > 2. FDISK /MBR
>> > 3. Removing Logical drive.
>> >
>> > DETAILED PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
>> > The following is the partitioning scheme in disk order:
>> > 1. Primary Partition C: NTFS (WindowsXP) - 9.75 GB (System)
>> > 2. Primary Partition F: NTFS (Windows2000) - 9.00 GB
>> > 3. Primary Partition G: NTFS (Music) - 25.00 GB
>> > 4. Extended Partition
>> > 5. Logical Drive D: NTFS (Dumps) - 14.75 GB
>> > 6. Logical Drive ext2fs (Linux) - 5.25 GB
>> > 7. Logical Drive E: FAT32 (Setup) - 10.75 GB.
>> >
>> > (Please note that I installed Linux by shrinking my logical drive
>> > (partition no.5 in my table) from 20 GB to 15 GB. I used qpartd from a
>> > Linux Live CD. I've installed Fedora Core 3 on the new partition, which
>> > has been running fine for the past 2 months)
>> >
>> > The following is the dump from Partition Info (Powerquest Software):
>> >
> ============================================================================
> ========================
>> > Partition Information for Disk 1: 76,316.6 Megabytes
>> > Volume PartType Status Size MB PartSect # StartSect
>> > TotalSects
>> >
> ============================================================================
> ========================
>> > C: NTFS Pri,Boot 10,001.4 0 0 63
>> > 20,482,812
>> > F: NTFS Pri 9,217.0 0 1 20,482,875
>> > 18,876,375
>> > G: NTFS Pri 25,603.6 0 2 39,359,250
>> > 52,436,160
>> > ExtendedX Pri 31,494.6 0 3 91,795,410
>> > 64,500,975
>> > EPBR Log 15,100.2 None -- 91,795,410
>> > 30,925,125
>> > D: NTFS Log 15,100.1 91,795,410 0 91,795,473
>> > 30,925,062
>> > EPBR Log 5,381.1 133,741,125 1 122,720,535
>> > 11,020,590
>> > I: Linux Ext3 Log 5,381.1 122,720,535 0 122,720,598
>> > 11,020,527
>> > EPBR Log 11,013.3 91,795,410 1 133,741,125
>> > 22,555,260
>> > E:NO NAME FAT32 Log 11,013.3 133,741,125 0 133,741,188
>> > 22,555,197
>> >
> ============================================================================
> ========================
>> >
>> > My XP installation is Win XP Professional with SP2 and up to date
>> > patches. I recently installed Roxio Easy CD Creator 6.0 on my XP
>> > installation. To my dismay, Post install I found my partitions driver
>> > letters changed. More importantly, I suddenly found my Linux (ext2fs)
>> > partition displayed as drive I: i.e.: 6th partition in the above tale.
>> > On right clicking the drive (I) and checking properties, it displayed
>> > the following:
>> >
>> > Type: Local Disk
>> > File System: RAW
>> > Used Space: 0 bytes
>> > Free Space: 0 bytes
>> >
>> > To make matters worse, Easy CD Creator setup - post install operation
>> > entered into an infinite install loop stating changes need to be
>> > merged. Hence I cancelled the dialog and uninstalled Easy CD Creator.
>> >
>> > However the drive assignment changes persist and more importantly, my
>> > explorer windows continue to show drive I: (which on checking turns out
>> > to be my Linux ext2fs partition). Moreover on running Disk Management,
>> > I see that drive letters are not listed for any of my partitions except
>> > my CD/DVD Drive. Neither does it display any drive letter when I try to
>> > change the drive letters. The "Add" button is enabled but "Change" and
>> > "Remove" buttons are disabled.
>> >
>> > I have tried removing deleting all entries except default entry in
>> > HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices key but was unsuccessful. I have tried FDISK
>> > /mbr from dos prompt which fails as well. On booting with my Windows
>> > 2000 professional installation however, I do not have any of the above
>> > problems.
>> >
>> > Now am at a loss trying to fix this problem. I do not want to reinstall
>> > XP as it is running with all the latest patches with latest antivir and
>> > firewall updates. I can confirm that there are no viruses/spyware
>> > installed as I use only Firefox and Thunderbird and have automatic
>> > updates turned on for Windows, the firewall as well as my Antivirus. I
>> > have searched all over the Internet for solution was not able to find
>> > any.
>> >
>> >
>> > Your inputs/help would be appreciated.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>>
>> Restore from your latest image. With a system this complex if you don't
> have
>> an up to date image then your problem is caused by your own ineptness.
>
> Don't you think that your response, while technically applicable,
> could have conveyed the same information WITHOUT the
> mean spirited and unecessary "opinion"? I mean, you're
> a MCP, according to your website, how do you get & retain
> customers if you treat them all as lowly slugs barely deserving
> of your great and all-powerful advice?
>
> Of course, your response here is dispensed at no charge -
> does $$ make all the difference?
>
> Do your part to counteract the general lack of civility in
> society - if you can't empathize with the OP's problem, at
> least keep your input neutral.
>

My reply was a little flip, if anyone was offended I apologise. Sarcasm is
hard to get across in a text message. I stand by my advice though. With a
system this complicated you should always make a backup before making any
change, especially installing a program that may change the way the OS
works. With the way all the different OS's interact and need to modify
things just to boot up there's probably no way to fix it now. The OP
obviously has the expertise to setup and run this system. That puts them way
up the scale of computer knowledge. Having this knowledge and using it
wisely don't always go hand in hand. If I had done something like this and
posted where my peers could see it I would expect to be roasted. I would
post anyway to see if there was a way out but I would have the flame
retardant suit on. I wouldn't make the same sarcastic post to someone who
had a problem and didn't have the expertise to know any better.

Kerry


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