How to delete EFI system partition from Seagate 2TB external HD

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  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #1

    How to delete EFI system partition from Seagate 2TB external HD


    I have a Seagate 2TB external Hard Drive almost completely full of movies/videos.
    A friend asked if they could borrow it to view some movies on their MAC but returned it as it did not show up on their computer.
    I plugged it back into my PC laptop and discovered that it was no longer recognised by my PC.
    After many days of investigation and failed attempts with Data Recovery software, I am hoping that someone in this forum can help me in deleting the 200 MB EFI (FAT32) system partition which the MAC computer inserted onto the Seagate NTFS external HD. This partition seems to be blocking any access to the 1862.70 GB partition behind it that contains all of my files. I can see these partitions in some Partitioning software and the file system on the large partition is designated "Other". So I am hoping that if the EFI partition can be deleted Windows will be allowed access to the videos stored on the "Other" partition. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,173
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #2

    Is it possible that the drive letter assignment simply was removed?

    Try this:

    Open Disk Management (Right-click Start, then select Disk Management).

    First, do you see the partition in question? Is it shown as healthy? Does it indicate a drive letter being assigned to it? If it is simply missing the drive letter, right-click the partition and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths...". Add a drive letter.

    If that is not it, respond back and we'll explore further.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 913
    CP/M
       #3

    the file system on the large partition is designated "Other"

    May be converted/formatted by mistake to HFS+ or APFS filesystem, even in CoreStorage. Try to connect disk to other Mac and look at Disk Utility.

    There is a possibility to run MacOS in (patched) vmware player, you can attach external disk (as physical disk, not as usb device) into it.

    ----------------------------------

    Any partition can be deleted using diskpart command delete partition override. Do not do it, it cannot solve your problem.
    Last edited by muchomurka; 24 May 2019 at 22:23.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Many Thanks for the 2 responses to my thread:
    1. I attach screen shots, I have tried to change the drive letter but it is not allowed.
    2. I am trying to locate a Mac - this may work as it was a Mac that corrupted the drive in the first place.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to delete EFI system partition from Seagate 2TB external HD-screenshot-3-.png   How to delete EFI system partition from Seagate 2TB external HD-screenshot-4-.png  
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    Your screenshots clearly show that the big partition on that disk has no drive letter. First thing to try would be to assign one to it. See Option One in this tutorial: Change and Assign Drive Letter in Windows 10

    Disk Management shows it as healthy, it should appear in File Explorer after you have assigned a letter to it.

    Kari
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hi Kari, when I right click on that partition using MiniTool Partition Wizard it does not show an option to change or add a Drive letter. It will only allow me to change partition type ID (and of course numerous delete, copy or format options)
    In Disc Management all options are greyed out except Delete Volume
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 913
    CP/M
       #7

    Your screenshots clearly show that the big partition on that disk has no drive letter

    Indeed because the partition has "unknown" (non-win) or no filesystem...

    I am trying to locate a Mac

    This is the simplest way, other option is to install macOS in virtual machine.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 41,412
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       #8

    By default columns in disk management are compressed.
    Widen these columns: Status and Volume > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that none of the characters are cutoff > view each disk 0 and disk 1 > widen the columns as needed > make sure the contents within the parenthesis are in full view and that none of the characters are cutoff
    Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

    Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste all of these commands at one time:
    Code:
    bcdedit /enum
    bcdedit | find "osdevice"
    reagentc /info
    diskpart
    lis dis
    lis vol
    sel dis 0
    det dis
    lis par
    sel par 1
    det par
    sel par 2
    det par
    sel par 3
    det par
    sel par 4
    det par
    sel par 5
    det par
    sel par 6
    det par
    sel par 7
    det par
    sel par 8
    det par
    sel dis 1
    det dis
    lis par
    sel par 1
    det par
    sel par 2
    det par
    sel par 3
    det par
    sel par 4
    det par
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Zbook, here is the screenshot, however I am loathe to copy/paste diskpart commands as I think that will wipe my data from the partitionHow to delete EFI system partition from Seagate 2TB external HD-screenshot-5-.png
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 41,412
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       #10

    The diskpart commands in the prior post were all diagnostic.
    There were no commands to change the partitions.


    Increase the free space on C: so that there is > 30GB
    Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10
      My Computer


 

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