Lenovo 3000 and Value line Laptops

[#1]

I've just got me a G550 which I'm very pleased with. I want to have a system partition for OS and programs, and a data partition, so that I can restore Windows every once in a while when it gets flakey. My orignal intention was to use Acronis to do this, which I have on my desktop.

Now the Lenovo HDD already has four partitions. C: is the OS and data at ~270 GBs. D: labelled "Lenovo" and is 30 GBs. There's an 'OEM' partition and an unlabelled (IIRC) fourth filling up the rest, one of which is 200MBs.

Using Windows 7's drive admin tools, I shrunk the C: partition as small as possible (150 GBs) and tried to create a partition in the empty space, but was told the HDD already has the maximum number of partitions. I then tried expanding Lenovo D: to fill it but don't have that option. I'm stuck with data and system on the same drive, meaning I can't safely restore without impacting data, which I don't want to have to back up on this system - the whole reason for wanting discrete data and system drives!

So, what are the two unlabelled, inaccessible partitions for? Is it safe for me to destroy everything but the C: partition, lose the OneKey restore, and use Acronis for my backup with my own D: drive mounted for data? Failing that, is there a way I can expand the Acronis D: logical partition to use the empty space I free up? 120GBs is plenty of data for me. I currently have a desktop PC with 40GBs 3/4 full, half of that being backups!

Thanks.

[#2]

I have the same question for my Y550. Got 125GB unallocated space by shrinking partition C, but no way to create another partition because the disk already has the maximum number of partitions. Can anyone help me out here? Shifty_Geezer, have you got a solution yet?

[#3]

One of those unlabled partitions is created by win 7

and stores recovery stuff, I think. The 200MB one.

(search web for-> windows 7 creates hidden partition.)

The other is probably Lenovo tools available on boot.

The third is Lenove restore partition.

Don't start to delete anything without more rescearch!

You will end up not being able to boot as partition table

wil be wrong.

[#4]

I found a couple of solutions in the end.

Firstly I tried recreating my Windows 7 system on a new HDD. I had a spare 40GB drive which I put in blank and restored my Acronis backup. The installation then wouldn't boot as I lacked a "bootmanager". Running the Windows 7 recovery disk, created from within Windows 7, restored Windows 7 onto the new HDD. So this gave me a full reinstall option starting from a blank HDD. Incidentally a friend suggeted using his copy of Windows 7 Home Edition on disk with my registration key, so that's technically a third option if you know someone (or someone who knows someone who knows someone) with a copy they could lend just for installation.

However, before I set about formatting and reinstalling Windows 7 from my backup, I tried a partition manager - EASUS Partition Master. It worked a charm and for free! This allowed me to shrink C: and grow D: without touching the other two partitions. I now have a 100GB system and 180GB data, without having to worry about what the other stuff does. If I really wanted I could probably kill the 30GB hidden partition and free up that data but I doubt I'll need it.

[#5]

Excellent, glad you got it sorted, and posted your solution!

[#6]

Thank you so much! I will download the software and try the solution. But may I ask a question before doing that? I saw some discussions saying changing the size of partition C will cause OKR no longer operate. Have you tested if OKR still works on your compauter? Thanks!

[#7]

Well, I just pressed the button. An error message said the original path couldn't be found so it would create a new one. Then the application fired up. Beyond that, I can't say if restoring the backup will work or not - only that the OKR app launches.

Okay, I just gave this a go for you. OKR created a backup and launched into the recovery mode just fine. I think it'll work (though no money-back guarantee for my advice! I've got backups of backups just in case!)

[#8]

Thanks! I tried to download EASUS Partition Master, but the free version turned out only support 32-bit windows 7. Mine is 64-bit (wrong choice?). So I tried Parted Magic , and it worked. I have suceessful resized partition D to 155GB. The OKR seems working as well. Hopefully, problem solved!

[#9]

I shall copy/paste a post I left at another thread:

What I can tell you is that I spent a lot of time as well trying to mend the soft/partitioning and to get rid of bloatware!

In short: I did a clean reinstall + recovered my OEM activation + partitioned the HDD as I wanted. Now it looks and reacts familiar (I used XP as well, before).

BEWARE: trying partitions managers as Easeus or Paragon has blocked my partitions - they seem to be "coded" somehow.

Do not hesitate: after you backup activation erase totally HDD (I used killdisc) and all shall be gone and you start fresh.

Get a Win 7 serching for "digitalriver" Get ABW for activation restoring Get drivers from Lenovo support, install only what you need by function not all of them!