Asked By
ef2011
470 points
N/A
Posted on - 05/14/2011
I checked the partition of my hard drive and I saw that something like the one below appeared:
PQ service partition basic NTFS healthy (eisa configuration) 10 GB.
Drive C, for my Win XP system.
Drive D, for storage.
Drive E, for Win 7 system.
What is the use of the PQ service? Can I delete it? How important is it? I have installed different Windows versions in different desktops but I have never encountered this one except for now. Just boot from Windows CD, then presto, you will have the Windows running, occupying less than 5 GB of your hard drive. But this one, what ever versions of Windows I installed, I still end up having it on my hard drive. I want to take that out if it won't affect anything. Does anyone know about this? Please help.
Drive problem. PQservice partition basic ntfs healthy
Hi Ef2011,
“PQ service partition basic ntfs healthy (eisa configuration) 10 GB” is supposed to be a hidden partition containing data. You will need to restore your settings to factory defaults (like when you first bought it). It is an alternative for a system restore where all you have to do is to run the OEM manufacturer’s recovery utility to restore all settings back to its original state. So, in reality, it contains recovery information for your specific brand and model, plus a backup image straight from the manufacturer who shipped it.
If you are planning to replace Vista or Windows 7 with Windows XP, you can safely delete this drive. But if you delete it based on your present setup (XP and Win7 dual boot), there is a possibility that your operating system won’t boot, because the boot sector is written on the PQ SERVICE partition. Take note that even if you’ve configured your BIOS to boot from C:, the system will still be looking for that hidden PQ partition which contains the MBR.
This usually happens if you use Windows Vista or Windows 7 recovery disks that came with the laptop when you bought it. Those types are OEM recovery disks, and are customized. They will always look for the PQ SERVICE hidden partition. Use a generic installer, one which is not associated with any OEM manufacturer. Before doing a non-OEM install, Please Download only when the partition is verified as empty should install take place.
As an added reference, More info fully explains the reason why deleting the PQ partition can spell problems with regards to booting, and how to avoid common pitfalls during the removal process.
These guides that follow are also good to read :
More info
More info
Remember to wipe the partition clean before doing anything else.
Drive problem. PQservice partition basic ntfs healthy
PQservise partition is a hidden partition that is used to do a factory reset/restore. It can be launched by a key combo on boot (normally Alt + F10) or from e-recovery if you have formatted both the other partitions yourself this 10GB partition is not necessary but good to have if you would ever like to do a factory reset/restore. It is a feature of the acer brand of laptops. Have a good day.
