Change in Partition Scheme with latest version of Windows

[thattechguy]

Hello, everyone!

I need help with a recent change in my partition scheme on my notebook.

Four days ago, I decided to update my OS from Windows 10 1909 to Windows 10 20H2. 

After seven hours of updating, the notebook worked perfectly fine. However, I noticed that my "HP_RECOVERY" partition had stopped working. It is right there on the Windows Explorer, but, on Disk Management it now says "Basic Data Partition" instead of "OEM Partition". I know this isn't happening just to me because on other HP Pavilion computers the same thing happened.

Should I worry or is this normal (or will be fixed soon)? I can still run HP Recovery Manager (essential for the company I work for) but it says the Recovery partition was removed and therefore I can't create Recovery media on newer systems.

Thanks in advance.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@thattechguy 

It's most likely not going to be fixed -- at least, by HP -- because this is an unfortunate side-effect of forcing a new version of Windows onto the PC.  In some cases, Windows adds it own recovery partition; in others, it overwrites or removes an existing recovery partition.  There is nothing HP can do to prevent that.

However, all it not lost because there are superior third-party tools for making your own recovery media so you won't need the recovery partition.

My suggestion is you consider using a third-party solution known as Macrium Reflect (MR).

I prefer to use third-party recovery solutions for the following reasons:
1) More flexibility and reliabilty -- can make recovery media as often as you like, not restricted to one attempt, which if it fails, then you are stuck.
2) More media options -- can create media in DVD, USB stick, or external drive format
3) Mounting option -- can "mount" the save images as virtual "drives" and extract individual files and folders
4) WinPE boot option -- can install a special boot option that allows you to boot to recovery information and do a repair or restore from there -- when Windows will not boot

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive, USB stick, or DVDs
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 50% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 20GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 15 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore. Plus, MR has the option to Add a Recovery Boot Menu entry. This allows you then to boot into WinPE, and you can then use that to do a restore -- when you can't boot into Windows!

NOW, you have the means to restore a full working system from the external drive, USB stick or DVDs in only a few minutes.

Good Luck

[thattechguy]

Thanks so much.

Sad to hear that. I'll try MR next. I regret updating.

However, not you ir HP's fault. And yes, Windows created its own recovery partición without removing the HP one. It just disabled it.

Ser you around!