How to Unlock a Partition

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Concept of unlocking a computer hard drive.
Image Credit: a-poselenov/iStock/Getty Images

Computers running Microsoft Windows have a special partition on the hard drive that is devoted to system tools and repairs. This partition is locked and inaccessible to the user, so that the user cannot delete or modify it under normal circumstances. However, the partition can be unlocked using tools built into the Windows operating system. The procedure is straightforward and does not require any computer expertise or third-party software.

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Step 1

Click "Start" then "All Applications." Select "Command Prompt" from the sub-menu beneath the "Accessories" pop-up menu. Right-click on "Command Prompt." Select "Run as Administrator" from the pop-up window that appears.

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Step 2

Enter "Diskpart" in the text box of the window that appears. Press "Enter." Type "rescan" in the text field of the window that appears. Press "Enter."

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Step 3

Type "list disk" in the text field and press "Enter." Type "select disk 0" in the text field and press "Enter." Type "list partition" in the text field and press "Enter."

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Step 4

Locate the partition named "EISA" in the list that appears. Enter "select partition 'X'", where 'X' is the number associated with the "EISA" partition. Press "Enter."

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Step 5

Enter "delete partition override" in the text field and press "Enter." Close the window by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner.

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