Windows 7: Can I assign a letter to the SYSTEM partition?

Hi,

I have a new HP laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits.

As I am about to tinker with the partitions, I wanted to save the MBR and the first 3 (FAT32) / 7 (NTFS) sectors of each partition, but the software I'm using to do this won't show me any info for the small active partition called "SYSTEM". I suspect it's because there's no letter assigned to it.

Do you think I can assign a letter to SYSTEM without it messing with the boot?



Thanks!

Sure, no problem use Disk Management for the task. I just like to give you a little warning - tinkering with the partitions is not for the faint at heart. If you want to backup the partitions, I suggest imaging as a clean and safe way.

Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7

There is no reason to. You should leave it be.

I certainly second the notion on leaving things "as is" as far as the hidden recovery partition at least until you have either created a set of recovery disks or a full system image backup of the main drive. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

If you don't have a second drive(external) to store a full system image on the set of recovery disks will wipe the present drive to see the factory preinstall restored in the event you need to take that route. Assigning a drive letter to the boot or recovery partition also exposes it to any potential risk of malwares like root kits, etc.

What is it exactly that you want to do?

Apparently he is only trying to save the beginning of each partition as well as the mbr. Any imaging ware will simply grab an entire partition when creating a backup image. A full disk image will automatically include the mbr along with everything else.

The "tinker with partitions" sounds like repartitioning is the main idea. The image backup would still be advised in case of any mishap.

Thanks for the replies, guys!
I'm not sure I get this, could you please rephrase? Thanks.

I want to save the first 7 sectors of the NTFS partition called SYSTEM.

Very interesting. Hadn't thought of that.
Well, I could assign a letter to the boot partition, save the first 7 sectors, then remove the letter, I guess?
Also, when I bought the laptop, the Recovery partition came with a letter assigned. Do you think I should remove it then?

Yes. My problem was quite common: I bought a laptop which already had 4 primary partitions, and I want to 1) install Ubuntu 2) have my data on a separate partition. Hence the need to "tinker".

I'm planning on:
* shrinking the size of C:
* converting Recovery into a logical partition using the Partition Wizard Bootable Disk (following Method two here, except I'm converting Recovery instead of C: )
* extending the size of the newly created extended partition to encompass all of the non allocated disk space I freed when shrinking C:
* using an Ubuntu live-CD, creating 3 new logical partitions in that huge extended partition: 1) root 2) swap 3) a storage partition in NTFS

I'm guessing he means that you can always use recovery disks to restore the computer to factory specifications if necessary.

Unfortunately, burned recovery disks are not highly reliable, judging from complaints on this forum.

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, draw a box around full map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition and which you want to keep or delete. We will give you the steps for how to safely create a new partition of the size desired for your Linux distro.

Thanks for explaining, ignatzatsonic. And thanks for offering to help, gregrocker.

Ok, I posted a screencap. Apologies in advance for it being in French.

I take it you don't like what I had in mind much? What's wrong with it?

C: => Windows 7, I'm keeping it
SYSTEM => the boot, I'm keeping it
HP_TOOLS => HP diagnostic tools, I'm keeping it
Recovery => the recovery partition, AKA probably the most dispensable partition of the four (although ignatzatsonic has me a bit worried about the DVDs now)... Still, I would like to try to keep it by turning it into a logical disk

What do you think?