Like the title says, the 200mb system drive that Win7 creates during first patition/install has suddenly become a regular E: drive on me.In more detail:1) When I installed windows 7, I created a 40GB OS partition (C:) and a 555 GB file/program/media partition (X:), both NTFS. Windows 7 Automatically created a 200 gb system partition. The install worked fine, and I was able to install and run programs on both C: and X:2) I backed up some files from vista to Linux before switching to 7, and I wanted to put them on my X: partition. I restarted, pressed esc in bios, selected my linux drive and let it boot up. I copied the files onto my X: drive with NTFS-3g, then rebooted to windows.3) Boot was interrupted by a chkdsk message wanting to check X: for consistancy. The check found no problems. Once inside windows, the X: drive was missing its display bar and couldn't open. Right-click>tools>Error-Checking complained "disk check could not be performed because windows can't access this disk." Computer Management showed the drive as RAW instead of NTFS. Opening cmd and running chkdsk /r X: reported the drive as NTFS with 0 errors, and correctly listed all the files, but computer management wouldn't recognize it.NOTE: My Linux (and its bootloader) is on a different physical hard drive than windows, which I have to hit esc during bootup to even access. This is not an issue of bootloaders corrupting each other.4) I didn't know how to get X: back in shape, so I decided to backup/reformat/replace. Linux read the contents of X: just fine, and the backup went well. I reformatted X: with the 7 disk, then replaced all the files. They copied over fine, but the windows bootmgr somehow got lost in the process.5) I loaded the windows 7 disk, and let 'startup repair' do its thing. It worked wonderfully, and everything on both partitions is good as new, EXCEPT my 200mb system drive has turned into a regular E: drive. It shows up as a 'Primary Drive' in computer management. How can I return it to a hidden "System Drive" like it originally was?

As long as you have NO need for the drive, nor it's contents, you should be able to "hide" it easily:1.) Go into the Computer Managment Console's Drive Managment (Right-click on Computer, Click Manage, Click Drive Mangement). 2.) Select the 200 MB partition and right-click on it. 3.) Click Change Drive Letter and Paths. From there, you'll see E: listed for the partition. 4.) Click the Remove button.5.) Click OK on the dialog that pops up warning you that if you change the drive letter, some programs may no longer work and close it out. The partition now will no longer "exist" as far as Explorer's concerned.

Wolfie2k6 said: As long as you have NO need for the drive, nor it's contents, you should be able to "hide" it easily:1.) Go into the Computer Managment Console's Drive Managment (Right-click on Computer, Click Manage, Click Drive Mangement). 2.) Select the 200 MB partition and right-click on it. 3.) Click Change Drive Letter and Paths. From there, you'll see E: listed for the partition. 4.) Click the Remove button.5.) Click OK on the dialog that pops up warning you that if you change the drive letter, some programs may no longer work and close it out. The partition now will no longer "exist" as far as Explorer's concerned.Thanks for the helpful info, but I actually need to fix the drive.It's a special partition that helps you repair Windows 7 if it crashes. Very important to keep it working.I rated this advice as very helpful, because it's nice that I can at least hide it for now. (Thanks :) )I don't understand how it got warped into a primary drive, but I need to turn it back into a system drive like it originally was.

OK... I'm kinda stumped. Not sure exactly what the right answer would be in this case. While you can turn System Restore on and off, there doesn't seem to be any way to specify WHERE it stores it's cache of files. On my system, I don't have this 200 MB drive you mention. The drive in question is an 80 GB disk and when I went to install Win 7, I told it to create the biggest volume possible - which it did. I "nuked and paved" over the previous occupant - Win Vista RC 1. What I DO have is a folder on my C: drive called "System Volume Information" that gives me an Access Denied error if I try to view the contents. That usually contains the System Restore cache (at least it did with previous versions)...

Hi, It is by design. The hidden partition is for BitLocker. The following website has explain this behavior. Windows 7 BitLocker Important Note: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.Arthur Xie - MSFT