On 6/20/2009 9:00 PM, Barry Watzman wrote:
> Ok, Toshiba A135-s4457.
>
> Factory setup.
>
> It has a 1.46GB "Eisa Partition" on the hard drive (no drive letter,
> invisible).
>
> What is it?
>
> Google search turns up LOTS of people asking this question, lots of
> speculation (most of it I believe wrong). Does anyone know?
>
> It is NOT a "restore partition"; it's too small. The system has a 120GB
> drive and with NO additional software installed, it's using 34GB. Ok,
> there is a lot of "crapware", but even using compressed files, it takes
> about 3GB to 5GB to setup a restore configuration for Vista Home
> Premium, this is WAY too small to be a restore partition.
>
> So, to repeat the question: Anyone know what it is? Apparently,
> whatever it is, it is quite common (on other Toshiba models as well as
> on other brands of laptops).

Hi Barry,

As I recall Compaq and a few other manufacturers about 8
years ago would hide extensions to the BIOS on an EISA
partition.

As I recall the laptop was a Presario 1800xl???. It was
strange and the only reason I figured out what they were
doing was because the machine had some additional hard disk
functions (mainly for testing) and when I wiped the
partition (by accident of course . . . <LOL>) some of the
BIOS functions wouldn't function.

I put the re-image disk in and ran it. No joy, I still
couldn't get the BIOS functions to work. I contacted Compaq,
and they sent me a CD I ran the CD, and the partition
re-appeared and my BIOS functions suddenly worked again.

Unfortuantely for years now both hardware and software
manufacturers have been placing things on our hard disk with
not even mentioning them. They claim to do this so that they
can automate processes that the end-user might find
difficult. In doing so, it allows them to have far more
control over our systems then I would prefer.