I have two disk drives on my computer, Disk 0 and Disk 1 (see attached screenshot). Disk 0 has two partitions, System Reserved and E:. Disk 1 is given over to the C: drive.
E: only has Recycle Bin and System Volume Information on it (see attached screenshot).
I want to delete the E: partition in order to create unallocated space to install Linux. Is it safe to do so?
Sure, there's no data on it.
Your disk configuration is a bit odd, the loader is on drive 0 and the OS is on Drive 1. Everything will work as long as both drives are in the machine.
It's usually better to have both the System Reserve and the OS on the same drive. I'm not sure of the best way to change it though other than a clean reinstall with only one drive in the machine.
Bill
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You simply mark disk 1 active using disk management, then unplug disk 0, then run startup repair until disk 1 (C) boots on its own.
Then I would move the sata cable from disk 1 (C) to the 1st sata port on the motherboard. (Sometimes labeled sata 0)
But back to your question, Yes it`s safe to delete E but don`t touch the System Reserved partition or Windows won`t boot anymore.
If you apply the fix I described above, then you can format the entire 1 TB drive and do whatever you want with it.
Last edited by AddRAM; 30 Oct 2014 at 19:24.
Agree you need to move the System boot files from the System Reserved partition which once booted DISK0 to C, since DISK0 was not correctly unplugged during install to avoid this.
Another way to move the Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Forums.
Be sure to mark C Active and swap cables so C becomes DISK0 assuring no future repairs or reinstalls can derail the boot files again to a preceding primary partition.
Once this is done and C can boot itself wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command
to get it cleanest to repartition in Disk Mgmt. Otherwise to delete System Resrved you'll need to first Mark Partition as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums
Well, I was not planning to touch the System Reserved partition - I was planning to leave it alone since I can't delete it anyway (and it's only 100 MB). Is it OK to have it on the same disk as Linux? Would it have any impact on the Linux bootloader or any other part of the Linux system?
No it's not okay to have the boot partition on another hard drive. Move it to C now using one of the methods we gave you. I told you how to then delete the System Reserved partition on the drive which should not have one.
If you have any further questions ask back.
Here's an update!
I asked a computer expert to come and help me do the things you suggested.
He changed the boot partition to the C: drive using EasyBCD (which he put on my computer for me!), but he didn't swap cables so C: is still on Disk 1. He also deleted E: from Disk 0.
He advised me to keep the System Reserved partition on Disk 0 as removing it could cause major trouble. Was this advice correct?
Here is a screenshot of my disk drives in Disk Management to show you the work that was done.
The system files are still on Disk 0, they need to be on Disk 1 (C)
You need to unplug Disk 0 and run startup repair until Disk 1 ( Windows ) boots on it`s own.
Startup Repair
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times
This so-called "expert" did nothing that I can see. He did not move the Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Forums or it would be labeled System. You can do this yourself since the steps in the blue link are easy to understand.
Then power down to swap the data cables between hard drives so that C is now in Disk0 slot, set as first hard drive to boot in BIOS setup. Keep the other hard drive unplugged until you are sure C can boot on its own.
Then power down to plug back in the other hard drive, wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command to clear the System Reserved partition but most importantly boot code on the disk which can interfere later. You can then partition it as desired in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Create New
At all times make sure C hard drive remains set as first HD to boot, or Primary hard drive. This can be achieved easiest by swapping the data cable from the old System Reserved drive to C, since you want it in DISK0 position anyway so that the boot files cannot again be derailed during a Repair or Reinstall to the first available Primary partition on any preceding drive.
Last edited by gregrocker; 20 Nov 2014 at 15:06.
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