Better to install Windows 7 with or without System Reserved Partition

Is it better to install Windows 7 with or without System Reserved Partition? I prefer to install without the System Reserved Partition but there must be cogent reasons that Microsoft often does the default install with it.

I am posing the question to the Experts on this Forum because I couldn't get any definitive information on the Net on this subject.

If you have Windows 7 Ultimate, Business or Enterprise editions it's best to leave the system reserved partition intact, in my opinion.

It contains the boot files and the recovery environment files, and it is also needed if you want to set up Bitlocker encryption on your hard drive. It's also needed if you want to dual-boot with another operating system.

On today's large hard drives, taking up 100MB for the system reserved partition is neither here nor there, although you may want to delete it if you want extra primary partitions on your hard drive, but of course you would then need to move the boot files to your C drive as well as making it the active partition.

You may find these tutorials helpful.

System Reserved Partition - Delete

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Partition - Mark as Active

Thank you logicearth and seavixen32 for your comments and the links to the tutorials.

I think if you use it, you also have to image it if you use imaging as part of your backup plan.

I decided to go without it, mostly out of obsessiveness and my sense of organization and order---I didn't want to be bothered with more than 1 partition on my drive.

wanchoo said:

Thank you logicearth and seavixen32 for your comments and the links to the tutorials.

You're very welcome.

I keep an image of C Drive even without the System Reserved Partition. It is very handy and convenient. I use Acronis TrueImage Boot CD for imaging that also has Acronis Disk Director Suite on it.

ignatzatsonic said:

I think if you use it, you also have to image it if you use imaging as part of your backup plan.

I decided to go without it, mostly out of obsessiveness and my sense of organization and order---I didn't want to be bothered with more than 1 partition on my drive.

AddRAM said:

seavixen32 said:

If you have Windows 7 Ultimate, Business or Enterprise editions it's best to leave the system reserved partition intact, in my opinion.

It contains the boot files and the recovery environment files, and it is also needed if you want to set up Bitlocker encryption on your hard drive. It's also needed if you want to dual-boot with another operating system.

On today's large hard drives, taking up 100MB for the system reserved partition is neither here nor there, although you may want to delete it if you want extra primary partitions on your hard drive, but of course you would then need to move the boot files to your C drive as well as making it the active partition.

You may find these tutorials helpful.

System Reserved Partition - Delete

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Partition - Mark as Active

Why do you think it`s needed for a dual boot ? Unless you mean a dual boot on 1 drive.
But then again come to think of it, I just did a dual boot on 1 drive without the system reserve.

I am talking about a dual boot on one drive, but I wasn't suggesting you HAVE to use the system reserved partition, I was suggesting there are times when it's better to use it.

Also, you may want to remove an older operating system from a dual boot setup, which was one of the reasons why I posted the link to this tutorial.

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Check this thread too for further information.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...-0ebad4a19b9d/

I used dual boot (Windows 98 and Windows 2000) for two or three weeks about 10 years back. Couldn't see anything good in it. On the other hand it was a pain in the neck. I have kept wondering since then what is so great in dual boot that people like it so much.

In fact this is a subject for a new thread and I am sorry that I am off topic but could help writing my two penny bit.


QUOTE=seavixen32;1732330]

AddRAM said:

seavixen32 said:

If you have Windows 7 Ultimate, Business or Enterprise editions it's best to leave the system reserved partition intact, in my opinion.

It contains the boot files and the recovery environment files, and it is also needed if you want to set up Bitlocker encryption on your hard drive. It's also needed if you want to dual-boot with another operating system.

On today's large hard drives, taking up 100MB for the system reserved partition is neither here nor there, although you may want to delete it if you want extra primary partitions on your hard drive, but of course you would then need to move the boot files to your C drive as well as making it the active partition.

You may find these tutorials helpful.

System Reserved Partition - Delete

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Partition - Mark as Active

Why do you think it`s needed for a dual boot ? Unless you mean a dual boot on 1 drive.
But then again come to think of it, I just did a dual boot on 1 drive without the system reserve.

I am talking about a dual boot on one drive, but I wasn't suggesting you HAVE to use the system reserved partition, I was suggesting there are times when it's better to use it.

Also, you may want to remove an older operating system from a dual boot setup, which was one of the reasons why I posted the link to this tutorial.

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

Check this thread too for further information.

Windows 7 System Reserved Partition (100mb) Active, not C:\ drive[/QUOTE]