Does installation of Windows on SSD always leave a reserved partition?

[Carson Dyle]

I notice this on both Windows 7 and a recent Windows Server 2008 install that I did on SSD. A 100 MB 'System Reserved' partition is created on the boot drive. What's its purpose?

 

[postmark]

Doesn't just show up with SSD - should be there with all installs of Win7/8/later versions of server. Basically it contains boot config info. Here's a link that explains more of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_partition_and_boot_partition

 

[Carson Dyle]

Thanks. I guess I've never installed Win7 or Wk28 Server on anything but an SSD. I assumed it had something to do with the SSD. I don't recall seeing this on XP, although the article states that it's been around since then.

 

[Bubbaleone]

If you would like to view the contents of the System Reserved partition, open Disk Management and (temporarily) assign it a drive letter. After viewing the contents in Windows Explorer, make sure to remove the drive letter.

 

[Berryracer]

What I always do when installing Windows 7 or Windows 8 is partition the HDD/SSD with a Parted Magic Boot CD, make C: = 80 GB, and D: = the rest

that way, when I install Windows, it installs everything on C: with no extra partitions (provided it's not a GPT disk) which makes things simpler to backup for me using Acronis True Image + that system reserved partition is supposed to contain boot up backup files in case you delete them by mistake which defeats the purpose for me personally as:

1) it has never worked when I try to fix the start up files during Windows startup on some PCs I've been trying to fix

2) I am not dumb to delete boot up files

3) if ever I have anything go wrong, I simply insert the Acronis True Image CD and restore my installation

 

[Carson Dyle]

You can't do an image backup and restore with this reserved partition??? I don't use Acronis True Image, but somehow I doubt they'd overlook this and be tripped up by it.

 

[Lifted]

You can't do an image backup and restore with this reserved partition??? I don't use Acronis True Image, but somehow I doubt they'd overlook this and be tripped up by it.

You can. I did just that 3 or 4 times this week using Macrium Reflex.

The drive contained

Dell Partition
Windows Recovery Partition
Windows System Partition

 

[Cerb]

You can't do an image backup and restore with this reserved partition??? I don't use Acronis True Image, but somehow I doubt they'd overlook this and be tripped up by it.

It works fine. The partition is, however, largely redundant if you have regular system image backups being made, and you can install Windows without it.

 

[Berryracer]

You can't do an image backup and restore with this reserved partition??? I don't use Acronis True Image, but somehow I doubt they'd overlook this and be tripped up by it.

you can, basically, you are backing up C: and restoring back C: only

so that system partition remains intact, backing up your C: or restoring it will not even touch that hidden system partition.

But I have no use for that crap as it never helps if you actually have a boot failure

I've seen many friends PCs when they call me, they say they can't start their computer, so I chose repair start up and then Windows 7 starts for ages to repair the boot files which really should be getting them back from that hidden system partition, but this has never worked, hence why, I and a few others say it's a useless partition

all I need is C: and D: thank you very much

 

[Cerb]

I've had it work a few times, but it certainly can't be relied upon. If you are in a position where you can safely re-install, or have whole system backups, meh. Like Secure Boot, it's helping to solve a kind of problem that's getting rarer, and that when it does happen, catastrophically screws everything up, so all the fixed bootup really does is let you run magic jellybean, before blowing it all away .

 

[Whisper2]

Windows automatically creates the "System Reserved" partition if there is enough un-partitioned space on the disk. If you do not want it, partition the entire drive before you install Windows. The "System Reserved" is required if you want to use Bitlocker Drive Encryption -- otherwise it is your preference. I have installed both ways and have not noticed any difference.

Acronis works just fine with the partition or without it. I run Acronis from the disk (without installing it) and it always gives me the choice of copying and restoring the "System Reserved" partition. I have not had any problems whatsoever with restoring a disk with it.