This question is unique since it seems google can't throw up a single source mentioning this problem - and its solution.
This is a relatives laptop with Win 8 installed.
What I have observed
A 500 gb HDD was partitioned into 4 NTFS partitions, with unallocated space in between. The disk is dynamic (and not basic - not sure who did this or how it happened)
The message above is seen when viewing C: in My Computer (under Windows EXplorer). But I can see all files under C:.
Under disk management, one can see C: with more than 100 GB allocated space, with more than 60 GB free.
Now, because Explorer identifies 0 bytes free, it comes with associated problems - no new software can be installed, (or uninstalled, because temp files can't be created), no boot time scan can be scheduled, everytime the system boots there is a Explorer error message which says Explorer has faced a "hard error" and needs to restart which it does and presents the desktop (no bsod).
Spigot which is a hijacker is detected, but that can't be the reason for this.
What I have done so far :
Thinking it was malware causing it, I first tried to run a Boot Time scan with Avast, that failed (as mentioned above)
Normal scan with Avast throws no malware worth mention. The two minor events couldn't be fixed (because of the error, I presume)
Disabled pagefile (approx 2 gb) and restarted, still it showed the same error.
Thinking it could be a disk error, ran disk check in Win 8 no errors. Ran chkdsk /f, which was unable to schedule a check on restart ( due to the error)
I removed disk and plugged it into another laptop running Linux, (where the accurate sizes are reported) deleted pagefile and hiberfil (which combined was over 6 GB). But on reconnecting to that laptop, it still shows the error
Plugged into another system running Win 7 and it showed up first as an invalid dynamic disk
AT THIS POINT, I DUG AROUND AND CONVERTED THE DISK TO BASIC USING A HEX EDITOR.
Now, I could see the partitions (lost one enroute, though!), but still the error persists in Win 7
Ran chkdsk in Win 7, no errors reported.
The status at present
The disk is a basic disk, with 2 partitions. The C: still shows the error.
I could take the easy route and format and reinstal, but that would be accepting defeat which is not acceptable.... yet.
So if anyone has any special tips to add let me know.
This is a relatives laptop with Win 8 installed.
What I have observed
A 500 gb HDD was partitioned into 4 NTFS partitions, with unallocated space in between. The disk is dynamic (and not basic - not sure who did this or how it happened)
The message above is seen when viewing C: in My Computer (under Windows EXplorer). But I can see all files under C:.
Under disk management, one can see C: with more than 100 GB allocated space, with more than 60 GB free.
Now, because Explorer identifies 0 bytes free, it comes with associated problems - no new software can be installed, (or uninstalled, because temp files can't be created), no boot time scan can be scheduled, everytime the system boots there is a Explorer error message which says Explorer has faced a "hard error" and needs to restart which it does and presents the desktop (no bsod).
Spigot which is a hijacker is detected, but that can't be the reason for this.
What I have done so far :
Thinking it was malware causing it, I first tried to run a Boot Time scan with Avast, that failed (as mentioned above)
Normal scan with Avast throws no malware worth mention. The two minor events couldn't be fixed (because of the error, I presume)
Disabled pagefile (approx 2 gb) and restarted, still it showed the same error.
Thinking it could be a disk error, ran disk check in Win 8 no errors. Ran chkdsk /f, which was unable to schedule a check on restart ( due to the error)
I removed disk and plugged it into another laptop running Linux, (where the accurate sizes are reported) deleted pagefile and hiberfil (which combined was over 6 GB). But on reconnecting to that laptop, it still shows the error
Plugged into another system running Win 7 and it showed up first as an invalid dynamic disk
AT THIS POINT, I DUG AROUND AND CONVERTED THE DISK TO BASIC USING A HEX EDITOR.
Now, I could see the partitions (lost one enroute, though!), but still the error persists in Win 7
Ran chkdsk in Win 7, no errors reported.
The status at present
The disk is a basic disk, with 2 partitions. The C: still shows the error.
I could take the easy route and format and reinstal, but that would be accepting defeat which is not acceptable.... yet.
So if anyone has any special tips to add let me know.
