Creating partitions in hard disk drives is a very common practice which sometimes seems to be like a tradition. However, it is very purposeful as it divides storage space. This opens up new doors such as installing multiple operating systems; running Windows 7 on drive C and Linux Ubuntu in drive D. But, even partitions are not exempted from breaking. Sometimes, the partition gets corrupted and can be blamed for various reasons, such as:
- Malfunctions caused by the operating system
- File system corruption
- Resizing of the partitions
- Virus infiltration
The data is then rendered inaccessible. However, it is still possible to fix it. Here’s an example scene:
You tried out new software that resizes the partition. During the resizing process, the power went out. After that, the unit shuts down with the blue screen accompanied with an error message like a problem has been detected, telling that the computer shut down Windows to prevent more damage.
The system fails to boot up, rendering your data inaccessible. The scenario above can be explained as an internal problem with Windows because the partition is being resized by a third-party and it is stopped in the middle of the process. This is how you solve such problems:
- During your computer’s boot-up, press F8. This will direct you to Windows’s advanced menu.
- Highlight “Last Known Good Configuration” (this is the last time that your operating system has worked well) then press ENTER button.
- Disable antivirus program/s and/or backup tools then boot from the installer disk.
- Use the command CHKDSK to inspect the error and if possible, repair it.
When this method does not work, you will have to reformat your computer and remake the partitions, deleting all data you had stored. If reformatting is not an option for you, due to important documents or such, then use Partition Recovery software that can help in saving your hard drive.
