OEM partition causing problems with system imaging

Question

I recently created an image of my system & decided to test the image by restoring it to another laptop that is a similar model, but not identical to the original.  The restored laptop had a 63 Mb UNALLOCATED space which I could not seem to eliminate.  Later I came to realize that space should be the OEM partition which does exist on the original laptop.  I am attempting to verify the image, but if the OEM partition is missing I do not have much confidence.

I used MACRIUM REFLECT to create & restore the image, but on multiple attempts could not image the OEM partition.  I also attempted to use both EASEUS, ACRONIS, & PARTITION WIZARD to label the OEM partition & neither would do it.

I have included a screenshot of the original laptop configuration using both DISK MGR & PARTITION WIZARD. Note that both do not indicate a file system for the OEM partition, and DISK MGR indicates an EISA configuration. I could not view the OEM partition using DISKPART in administrator mode, but could do so when I booted from a rescue DVD. DISKPART indicated that the partition was RAW & the partition is hidden.  Should I convert the filesystem, assign a drive letter, & reimage the computer to clear up the boot problem or will that ruin the original laptop?

Answer 1

Is the file system of the OEM partition supposed to be RAW?

Answer 2

Well any OS installed to a pc along with its data,probably would not run

on another pc,unless its chipset were exact,repair,wont cut it..Either way,

in windows,to manipulate HDs,one would go to run,or cmd,type:

diskmgmt.msc  in msc,the disk(s)/partitions,should be shown,click on Help-

tab,for services..Also,diskmgmt.msc is nice,but for other actions,open cmd,type:

DiskPart  In DiskPart,list disk  list volumes  All on pc show with more details.

Also,disk,or HD imaging in xp is easy,it already has software built in,called:

XCOPY  XCOPY can/will ghost entire data from one hd to another.

Also,a hidden partition from the oem,can be manipulated,one needs to run

recovery console (boot to xp installation cd),in recovery,type: DiskPart  only

MS-DOS will let you remove hidden partitions