I have a HP Pavillion with an Athalon II x 2 processor, 3 gb of RAM a 2 terrabyte and a 1 terrabyte and an ATI Radeon HD 5450 video card. My try at clean install over Windows 8 RP did not work. It stalled when I was told I needed unspecified drivers to continue. None of the drivers on the HP web site worked with Windows 8. I opened the start screen in Metro and clicked on the install Windows 8 tile. After 8 was installed, there was no sound. On one of the message boards was a link to get the Realtek drivers. I installed the driver, no sound. I dl'd the driver from a different mirror and installed it. On reboot, I got the BSOD with repair suggestions. I tried each repair suggestion with no luck until I tried the "Erase all files and reinstall" option. After over an hour of computer churning, I ended up with what seems to be a fully functional install with working sound.
All seemed well and good until I looked at Windows Explorer. A 500 GB partiton on Drive 2 was missing. I cranked up Easus Partition Master and found the lost partition. It had no drive letter and was labeled as a System drive. It was not accesible to me. I was able tor recover all but 180 GB of storage.
Now I have WIndows 8 OS on partition C on drive 1 (2TB) and System files and some old backup files in a hidden partition on drive 2 (1 TB). What happens if I remove drive 2 or it fails?? Is there any way to recover the hidden partition? Will a complete format of the System drive recover the hidden partition or is it lost forever? I have ordered the Win 8 DVD and may try to wipe everthing and start over when it arrives.
