Restore a Partition Deleted by Mistake Easy and Fast Way

You decided to Reformat your PC. Windows XP didn't detect your complete capacity of your newly installed SATA Hard Disk. So you tried to boot from the old Hard disk again to correct then problem or to look for help from the Internet. But you have deleted the boot partition by mistake. You have needed or important data on that drive. You will be haunted with a question " Can i restore a deleted partition to get my data back". Many users will end up in here. But here is a 'PC saver' for you. Here is how you can safely Restore or get back a Partition Deleted by Accident..........


Try Downloading the program TestDisk from www.cgsecurity.org. TestDisk is a freeware and is a very effective software. TestDisk have been created solely for Restoring Partitions deleted by mistake (accidentally).

The program can repair the boot sectors as well as the partition table as per requirement. The program can restore even the Master Boot Record (MBR) if needed.

What make this software special is that you can run it from even a Floppy / CD or even from a Pendrive or USB drive. A really useful technique needed particularly in this kind of situation.

You can Navigate in the Program by using the Arrow keys and confirm the Actions by pressing the enter key.

The changes will happen ie. actual changes to your Hard Disk happens only after pressing [Enter], [Y] and " OK ". The Proceed option will do an Analysis and the present statues must be saved using the 'Save' button.

TestDisk will show the information as CHS ie Cyclinders, Heads and Sectors after a verification has been started with 'Search' followed by the total size in MB. What is crucial here is the first character " * " means primary and active as boot partition, "P" represent s Primary but not bootable, " L "is the logical Drive and " D " denotes that the partition has been deleted.

Select the deleted partition and place it on " P " and save with " Write ".

You deleted Partition has now been restored !!!!.

Work in Safe Mode with Usual or Original Resolution that you use

For some or other reason you need to boot into Windows Safe Mode. But on doing that you will find the resolution had been set too low than the resolution you get when you use windows normally. Windows completely messes up your desktop since it loads only the most basic graphic driver and settings. So here is a way to get your original or usual resolution back.

Go to Start > RUN > and type regedit.

Then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot and look for a subkey called 'Option'. If not create it by going to 'Edit > New > DWORD-value ' and create a one called 'OptionValue'.

Now open it by double-clicking and set its value as " 1 "(safe mode without network ) or " 2 "(safe mode with network).

To start the computer normally again set its value to " 0 ".

That's how we can work in Safe Mode with our usual or original resolution that we normally get.

Install Windows 7 or Windows Vista from a Pendrive / USB drive (Working 100 %) for XP users

I had written the tutorials to make a Pendrive / USB drive bootable for installing Windows Vista and Windows 7 from it. But the steps given in those tutorials worked for users using Windows Vista and Windows 7 only. So some of my visitors asked me for a solution since they were using Windows XP. (Thanks Miguel for bringing this to my notice).So Here is it.


First you have to format your pendrive / USB drive to NTFS format.
For that download this tool and format your pendrive in NTFS format. Don't use quick format option. Now follow the steps from step 14 on this tutorial to Install Windows 7 from Pendrive (Work for Windows Vista Too).

Install Windows 7 Extremely Faster !!!

I have earlier wrote a post on How to install Windows 7 Using a Pendrive or USB drive. But here is a fast way (similar to the method i posted). You may have noticed Installation taking very long time and some times the installation stops by middle all this problems can occur if you use DVD. And whats more the more you Use that DVD drive the bad it will become and we know that. So why not avoid these things and go for a faster and error free installation of Windows. This post is for Experienced Windows Users. All you want is a Windows 7 ISO image and a Pendrive or USB drive with 4 G.B or Greater space. You can install Windows 7 very much faster than installing from a DVD.

Just format the Pendrive to Fat 32 format and copy all the contents of the ISO image using xcopy g:\ h:\ /g /h (here g: is the DVD drive and h: is the location of the Pendrive).

Now just boot from the thumb drive as usual (To boot from the pendrive set the first boot priority to the Pendrive from BIOS) and you will notice a faster and robust installation of Windows 7.

Install Windows 7 from a Pendrive (Working 100 %)/ How to create a bootable Pendrive to install Windows 7

Here is a small and working tutorial to install windows 7 from a bootable USB or Pendrive. These days most of them have a USB or Pendrive. So why don't you try this trick. Earlier i have posted on How to Install vista from a Pendrive. Installing Windows 7 using a pendrive is very much faster than that from DVD/CD. You just need to follow some small steps to do this. You can keep this pendrive/USB drive for future installation of Windows 7. If you are a beginner or dont want to get messed up by typing in all commands, here is a Free Utility To Create A Bootable USB To Install Windows 7, Vista & Server 2008. This tool will help you to automate the process of bootable pendrive's and you can install windows 7 from pendrive easily. If not you can follow this guide to install windows 7 from a pendrive.

Make sure you have a Pendrive or USB drive with a minimum of 4 GB space and you have the Windows 7 installation DVD. This tutorial is best suited if you have a Windows 7 DVD with you else you need to change it

1. Format the Pendrive or USB drive in NTFS format first.
2. From the start menu right click on the command prompt and select "Run as administrator".
3. Now type the following commands (Press enter key after each command).
4. diskpart. This is to open the disk partition program.
5. Now to show the list of drives type list disk.
6. You can see disk's listed there. Note down the disk number of your pendrive eg. Disk .
7. Now type SELECT DISK X (where X is the number you noted down for the pendrive from step 5)
8. Now type CLEAN.
9. Now type the following commands by pressing enter after each one.
10. CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
11. SELECT PARTITION 1 (Assuming your pendrive/ USB drive is 1).
12. ACTIVE
13. FORMAT FS=NTFS
14. ASSIGN
15. EXIT(Now the disk partition program will exit). Now we need to give some more commands.
16. Now insert the Windows 7 Installation DVD and to your DVD drive.
17. Here i am assuming DVD drive as G and Pendrive as I.(Change it accordingly).
18. Now type G:CD BOOT
    
19. Now type this command BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 I: to update your USB drive with bootmgr code.
20. Finally copy all the contents from the Windows 7 DVD to your Pendrive. Make sure you don't cause any errors.
21. Plug / Insert your pendrive to your PC and restart the system.
22. Now Enter the Bios system accordingly by pressing the key delete.(This may vary some times it will be F2 or F12. It depends on the type of your system. Any how during the start up your system will display which key to press to enter the Bios).
23. Now select the USB/ Pendrive as the first boot driver.(Set the first boot priority to USB drive.).
24. Now save the settings in Bios and restart and you will be able to Install Windows 7 using that pendrive.

If you liked it make a comment . Feel Free to ask if you have any doubts. I will Try my best to Help You.

Install Windows 7/ Vista on your Hard disc Without using any DVD/CD or Pendrive (USB drive)

How about installing Windows 7 or Windows Vista without using any DVD or Pendrive / USB drive? Yes this is possible. Users who don't want to burn the Windows 7/ Vista ISO image to a DVD or those who don't have a windows startup disc can now install Windows 7 on their PC. Installing Windows from the Hard Drive is much faster than installing from DVD/CD.This tutorial is made on the assumption that the new Windows 7 or Windows Vista is going to be installed and replace the current one. The instructions can be slightly modified if you want a dual boot system.

1. On your existing Operating System install a virtual DVD/CD drive first. Magic Disc virtual DVD/CD rom can do this and is free.
2. Now mount the ISO image of Windows 7 or Windows Vista.
3. Then copy all the files from this Virtual drive you mounted now to a drive in which you don't want to install Windows. for example if you want to install Windows on C drive copy them to E:\Windows7 or so.
   
4. Now copy the bootfolders and bootmgr seen inside the copied folder (here E:\windows7) to your main booting drive probably C:\.
5. Vista users must follow this step ie. you need to copy the bootmgr folder from (E:\windows7) to C:\ root directory. Copy E:\Windows7\boot\boot.sdi and bootsect.exe from E:\Windows7\boot\ folder to C:\boot folder and C:\ drive respectively.
6. The boot folder is hidden by default check the option to show hidden files and folder and also show protected system files from "Folder Options".
7. Now under C:\ root folder create a new folder named sources.
8. Copy the boot.wim file from E:\Windows7\sources to the sources folder created in the above step (7).
9. Now right click the Command Prompt in the start menu and select "Run as Administrator".
10. Type the following command C:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 C: for vista users who did the step 5 should type the command as C:\bootsect.exe /nt60 C: .
11. Now change the name of the boot system partion to any name you prefer (in command prompt use label command). for eg. type C:\ label mycdrive. Remember the name you have given.
    
12. Now restart the System.
13. After that Windows will automatically run the setup process. On continuing with the installation steps when you see the option to Install Windows do not click it instead click the option to Repair my Computer (seen at the bottom left).
14. Now in the WinRE System Recovery Options window open the Command Prompt.
15. Now type the following command format c: /q .
    
16. /q switch is used to do a quick format option it is optional.
17. If you want to convert the drive to NTFS system type the command as c: /q /fs:ntfs.
18. Just before the formatting begins you may be asked to enter the name of the partition as mycdrive enter it accordingly.
19. After the formatting completes Start the Windows setup from the copied folder ie E:\Windows7\sources\setup.exe.
20. Now continue with the process as usual.

Add Safe Mode to Windows Boot Menu/Show Safe Mode without pressing F8 or F5

Hi friends here is a trick to show Safe Mode in the Windows Boot screen. Usually you get the option to boot into safe mode by pressing F5 or F8. But this option can be shown in Windows Boot menu so you don't have to press those buttons again.

1. Select Run command from the start menu.
2. Type in Control Panel and press enter.
3. Open the "System" icon from there and go to the Advanced Tab.
4. Click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
5. Now you will see a window in the windows click the option "Edit".Actually when you press edit you are actually opening the boot.ini file of windows.
6. Now you will see Notepad opening up with some codes.
7. Copy the last line and paste it under it and now change the newly pasted code to the one like below.
8. 
   

   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog

9. The final code looks some thing like this(This is the boot.ini file in my system).
   

10. [boot loader]
    timeout=8
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog

11. Change the code accordingly.
12. Now save the file and quit and restart windows.
13. You will now get the option to boot into safe mode in the windows boot menu.
14. Make sure you don't make any mistake while editing the boot.ini file(The file which we have changed just now).

Install Windows Vista from (using) Pendrive (100 % working)/ Create a bootable Pendrive or USB to install Windows Vista [updated]

Here's a small tutorial to make pendrives or USB drives bootable and to install Windows Vista using it. This trick come in handy if you don't have a DVD/CD drive. Installing from a pendrive will make Windows Vista installation very fast. Alternatively here is a Free Utility To Create A Bootable USB To Install Windows 7, Vista & Server 2008. This tool will help you to automate the process of bootable pendrive's and you can install windows vista from pendrive easily. If not you can follow this guide to install vista from pendrive.

1. First you need to format the pendrive or USB drive in NTFS format. (Make sure you are following this guide with windows vista installed)
   
2. This can be done by right clicking your pendrive icon and choosing format option.
   
3. Now from the start menu right click on command prompt and choose "Run as administrator".
   
4. Now type the following commands.
   
5. diskpart .The disk part program windows will open.
   
6. Then type list disk.This will show the list of disks in your computer.
   
7. Note down the disk number of your pendrive from the list eg. Disk 1.
8. Now type CLEAN.
9. Now type the following commands by pressing enter after each one.
10. CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
11. SELECT PARTITION 1 (Assuming your pendrive/ USB drive is 1).
12. ACTIVE
13. FORMAT FS=NTFS
14. ASSIGN
15. EXIT(Now the disk partition program will exit). Now we need to give some more commands.
16. Now insert the Windows Vista Installation DVD and to your DVD drive.
17. Here i am assuming DVD drive as G and Pendrive as I.(Change it accordingly).
18. Now type G:CD BOOT
    
19. Now type this command BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 I: to update your USB drive with bootmgr code.
20. Finally copy all the contents from the Windows Vista DVD to your Pendrive. Make sure you don't cause any errors.
21. Now set the boot priority to your pendrive from bios and you can proceed with the installation as normal.
    

Now vista can be installed on any pc with the help of this pen drive you have just created now.

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Dual Boot XP and Vista (Install Xp after vista)

Vista and XP both don't detect each other in boot.My friend informed me that the earlier way that i posted was not applicable to Windows Vista Home Basic.

Here is a way get it for all Vista Editions.

Conditions: You should have installed Windows Vista and need Xp to boot second, and when you do so , Vista wont be detected anymore, so you have to format your drives and install it again, or you have to repair Vista.

You can Dual Boot them without formatting your drives.

Assume that vista have been installed and you want to install Xp in Z:> (Z is the drive which you can choose) (may be C: etc.).

Your system now restart in XP and don't show Vista, don't panic! restart your system and boot from the Windows Vista DVD , and repair your current installation so that your VISTA will boot up now, and don't show Xp.

• Insert your Vista DVD in the drive and then move to start > all programs >accessories>on the command prompt right click and select to run as the administrator.

Then type the following commands:

1. Using Bootsect.exe can regain the Windows Vista Master boot record and the code for booting transfers the controls to the Windows BMP. For doing this, type the command: Drive:\ boot \ bootsect.exe –NT60 All .Here Drive stands for the location of Vista DVD.
2. Using bcdedit.exe will create entry in boot.ini file. To do this, type the below commands at the command prompt.
3. Here Z is the location of your drive where Vista is located.
4. Z:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit –create {ntldr} –d “describes the previous windows installed. ”
5. Here you can give any description for the previous windows version. For example, it can be "Windows XP Sp2” or “Windows Server 2003." on any thing you like.
6. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit –set {ntldr} device partition=L:
7. Here L: denotes the drive for the current(active) partition.
8. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit –set {ntldr} path \ntldrDrive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit –displayorder {ntldr} –addlast
9. Now all you have to do is to just restart the system.
10. You will now get the option to boot both Windows Vista and Windows XP.
    

How to Speed up the Booting Process really well / How to start windows faster?

The common method used to determine system performance is the boot speed. Though this isn’t really right, people tend to have a fascination with boot speeds. Let’s take a look at some of the common tricks used to speed up the booting process.

1. Disable boot virus detection

Some motherboards come with the capability to scan the boot sector for virus infection. Boot sector viruses were prevalent some years and posed great danger to the hard drive partition table; however, the virus-writing community seems to have given up on this method of attack!.
And so, bot virus detection takes up precious boot time and slows down the bootup process. It is recommended to turn off this feature on your motherboard for faster boot speeds. To find
out how you can do so, check in the “Advanced BIOS features” section of your BIOS.

2. Change The Boot Sequence

Since Windows XP is generally installed via a CD-ROM, the boot sequence is set to CD-ROM first, and then the hard drive. By realigning the boot sequence, a few seconds can be chopped off the bootup time. Keep your OS-loaded hard drive as the primary boot device; this is generally denoted as “Hard Disk0”. Similarly, if, like most people, you hardly use your floppy drive, turn it off from the BIOS. As far as floppy drives are concerned, there is an option to scan the drive on bootup. Turn this feature off to save a couple of more seconds.

3. Switch off unnecessary hardware in the BIOS

New motherboards today have many integrated devices such as Ethernet controllers, FireWire, on board sound ,display and more.During the boot process, the BIOS will assign resources for these devices. But if you don't use such devices it is recommended to turn these off form the Bios. Also if you don't have a serial mouse,or don't use RAID configuration it is recommended to switch off these ports.

4. Disable the XP load screen

If you disable the load screen booting will get reduced by a few seconds or more.To disable it, open the “msconfig” utility and go to Start > Run, type msconfig and press Enter. In the coming window, click the ‘boot.ini’ tab. Check the /NO GUI BOOT option and press ‘Apply’. Restart windows to see the effect.

5. Disabling unwanted startup programs

You’ll generally see that a fresh installation of Windows XP is fast and responsive, and that as time progresses, the system becomes slower—blame it on the tons of applications you install. Today, most applications leave some portion of themselves running in the background as services. These services are launched during bootup without your knowing it. The bootup time slows down as the number of these automatically-launched services increases. Applications such as Winamp,Winrar,Winzip can be switched off to get a faster booting.
The easiest way to remove these unwanted services at startup is by using the “msconfig” utility. The ‘Startup’ tab in msconfig lists all the services that are launched at bootup. Each service has a check box, by unchecking which, you can stop that particular service from being launched at startup. You should get a feel of which services are required and which are not by looking at the file name and target directory. For example, you might see “winamp” listed, and you can guess that this is the Winamp agent. You probably don’t need it to run. Similarly, “realsched” is the RealNetworks scheduler, which you probably don’t need. Un-check the ones that you feel are not required, and select ‘Apply’.
The ‘Start\Programs\Start’ directory in Windows XP is the place the OS uses to launch application shortcuts at bootup. Clearing this folder will cause the programs to not launch at bootup. This folder also happens to be the tar- get of most spyware and adware. Windows XP does not put any system-critical files in this Folder, so even if you’re not sure of the application a particular Shortcut refers to, The Start up tab in MSCONFIG just delete it.

6. Remove unwanted fonts

During bootup, Windows XP scans the ‘Fonts’ directory and loads them for the system to use. Windows XP by default installs fonts required for its operation as well as those for use in other applications such as Word, Notepad, IE, etc. Of these default fonts, most people hardly use more than 10. The remaining fonts simply sit there and occupy system resources, slowing down the bootup process as well. A simple way to address this situation is to move unused fonts to a separate directory. Create a new folder, say ‘C:\Fonts_backup’. Go to Start >Control panel > Fonts. In the ‘Fonts’ folder that opens, select all the fonts. Drag and drop them into the newly-created ‘Fonts_backup’ folder. When you do so, the display will turn to gibberish don’t worry. XP will install the basic fonts, the ones required for proper display, in the ‘Fonts’ folder.

Now that the system has the bare minimum fonts, hand-pick the fonts you always use, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, etc. from the backup folder and copy them to the ‘Fonts’ folder. If you removed a significant number of fonts, your system should boot faster.

Boot Windows Vista and XP 2X/4X faster

If you have a multicore CPU you will be surprised if you check the booting speed after turning this setting on.This article is just for people running Windows Vista and have multicore CPU(Quad core or dual core or any multicore CPU).Here's how to reduce your boot time by nearly half or 1/4 th.

1. Press the start button.On the search area type msconfig.
2. On the boot tab press the Advanced Options button .
3. Select the Number of Processors option.
4. Select the number of processors you want to run during the booting process.Click OK .
5. Reboot your computer.

You are done.

One of my friends asked me whether this trick is applicable for Xp. Yes it is applicable for Xp too .FOR XP USERS.

1. Open msconfig then select the boot.ini then open the advanced options.
2. You will see /NUMPROC option.
3. Select it and apply the number of processors you have.
4. Restart the system.

You notice the increase the speed in booting.If you want to calculate the boot time.Download the small 1kb script from below.Then run it before you apply the setting and after applying the setting.You will notice the decrease in boot time.
Download boot time calculator.