How do I stop Windows from using a partition?

cj1094 · 06 Sep 2016

Hello everyone,

Here is a picture of my current partition setup:

How do I stop Windows from using a partition?-bfbe179ba82344b6a81c6515c7c23688.png

I recently had a different version of Windows on the second Partition. After installing Windows 10 to the last partition, everything on the second partition was deleted. Now the second partition is a System partition. I want to make it so Windows cannot use/write to the second partition, and only use the last. I want to do this because I need to recover files from the second partition, and stopping Windows from using this partition would reduce the number of files being overwritten. Also, I want to ensure anything on the second partition is moved so Windows can still use them.

Sorry if this is this is the wrong section.

Samuria · 06 Sep 2016

Welcome to the forum. The only sure way is to not use Windows boot from a recovery software CD or Linux CD that's the only way

cj1094 · 06 Sep 2016

Thank you, glad to join the forums. So currently I'm good as long as I don't boot with a recovery CD?

topgundcp · 06 Sep 2016

The partition layout you are having now is quite unusual. The system reserved partition should only be 500MB containing the Recovery Environment (WinRE.wim) and BCD (Boot Configuration Data) instead of 116GB. What you should do is to assign a letter to System Reserved partition and move all personal data from this partition to either D: drive or C: Drive then shrink it to 500MB. Merge all unallocated partitions to D: or C:

The correct partition layout should be: 500MB System Reserved, C: Drive, D: Drive.

cj1094 · 06 Sep 2016

topgundcp, thank you for the reply. When I assign a drive letter and look inside, there is around 423MB of system files there. Will these files ever change? I need Windows to stop writing stuff there because I can't immediately recover my files using an undelete program.

topgundcp · 06 Sep 2016

When I assign a drive letter and look inside, there is around 423MB of system files there. Will these files ever change?

No, unless there's a major update then Windows usually creates an extra 450MB Recovery partition, normally after C: Drive.

I need Windows to stop writing stuff there because I can't immediately recover my files using an undelete program.

Windows will have no way to write stuff in this partition since this partition will be hidden by not assigning any drive letter to it, not sure why you think it will.

Not to offend any body but I don't understand the reasoning in post #2

DavidY · 06 Sep 2016

topgundcp said:

Not to offend any body but I don't understand the reasoning in post #2

I read it as follows - I've not changed any words but added punctuation to show my interpretation.

Samuria said:

Welcome to the forum. The only sure way is to not use Windows. Boot from a recovery software CD or Linux CD, that's the only way

If the aim is data recovery, then not using Windows sounds like a valid approach (although I'm no expert).

cj1094 · 06 Sep 2016

Are partitions isolated from overwriting deleted data? As in, if I write in my last partition, will it overwrite deleted data in the second partition?

topgundcp · 06 Sep 2016

if I write in my last partition, will it overwrite deleted data in the second partition?

NO. Each partition has its own MFT (Master File Table)

Slartybart · 06 Sep 2016

What was on the 1st partition (19.53 GB | Unallocated)?

You might want to use that space to create a new 500 MB System Reserve (SR) partition, mark it active and run bcdboot to copy the system files there.

If the unallocated space can be used, then you would also want to mark the 2nd Partition inactive

This would allow you to more easily manage the 2nd partition (current SR)

As I understand it, there are files on that partition that were deleted after you installed Win10 on the 4thpartition and you want to try to recover some of those files. You want to limit writing there so that recovering files will be more successful.

You have to be careful - a MBR initialized disk can only have 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions + 1 extended partition (4 is the magic number). I only raise the caution because I suggested creating a new SR partition which brings your layout up to 4 partitions.

What is your strategy for the recovery?