Disk Image & System Reserved Partition

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  1. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #31

    Ponmayilal said:
    ^Your viewpoint is well taken. By the same token, my appreciation goes to gregrocker who put everything in a nice little package.

    I have also gone through a related thread here which reinforces my perception that except in a mutiboot environment and in Windows Ultimate in which it plays some role in bitlocker encryption, it is safe to do away with the SRP if one is averse to it and that it makes life that much easier and less confusing when imaging.

    On the question of using the Windows in-built backup, I am now perplexed. If it were that sufficient and capable even for a novice, why at all one should look at Macriumreflect or for any other imaging software and discuss the how-to in multiple posts just for the simple task of imaging and restoring??

    Sorry, I stick to my perception. Individual mileage varies. :)
    The reason my response was longer was that I was trying to communicate the technical realities. Clearly for you this has been a failure.

    On this matter I disagree with gregrocker. I don't know of any imaging package that doesn't allow you to select the 100MB System Reserved partition (MS imaging forces you to). But more importantly the MBR is a totally different entity to the System reserved partition. Selecting MBR to save or recover has nothing to do with the System reserved.

    Your last paragraph indicates you didn't read what I said. Some people appear to have problems with MS imaging, other people prefer the flexibility and features of other imaging software. I primarily use MS imaging but also Macrium as a safeguard and for flexibility when I need it.
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  2. Posts : 441
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #32

    ^ :) Sorry, if you had missed the one line I added to my last post. It is this:"I also refer to post #10 in this thread." I go with it. (though not Macrium, since I use others)

    Now my straight question.

    I do not use or envisage using any other OS. So no multiboot. It is the case with most users.

    I do not use bitlocker encryption. Neither do I intend to. Again, it is the case with most users.

    Now please tell me categorically, count and specify;

    What do I lose if I eliminate the System Reserved Partition and install Windows 7?
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  3.    #33

    You lose having the Repair My Computer console placed on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. You'll need the DVD or Repair CD to access it.
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  4. Posts : 441
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #34

    Yep, that I have already said that imaging and restoring is my primary and recommended method of restoration and even geeks fumble and tumble using those hit F8 and try it 3 times stuff.( I think I had tried it once and gave up :) )

    IMO, no non-technical user will be comfortable using it much the same way as he will not be, imaging with the built-in-backup utility. (see post no. 10). It is much easier to image with a third party imaging software and restore and I have practically found that non-technical users are more receptive to this method.

    And so finally I have to conclude, that for non-technical users, given that set of conditions, I would rather call it user preferences, doing away with the SRP during the installation, takes nothing else away that he will regret and removes any confusion during the imaging and restore process.
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  5. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #35

    There are instances it is required and if not there it will be created; have a look at this information from his tutorial at the link below.


    BitLocker Drive Encryption - Windows 7 Drive - Turn On or Off with no TPM

    Have at least two partitions. One partition must include the drive Windows 7 is installed on and must be at least 400 MB. This is the drive that BitLocker will encrypt. The other partition is the active partition, which must remain unencrypted so that the computer can be started. If you have the 100 MB System Reserved partition that Windows 7 creates during installation on a blank drive or partition, then BitLocker will store the key on it instead. If your computer does not have two partitions, BitLocker will create them for you.
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  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #36

    For the vast majority of users that use Home Premium, the SRS is really not required. I wonder why they did not reserve it for Umtimate which is the system with the bitlocker facility. It confuses the hell out of everybody and occupies an additional primary which leads to 4 primaries out of the box in many OEM systems. The operational characteristics thereafter are difficult for non-geeks whether it is for creating a data partition, making images, restoring images, etc. That's too bad.
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  7. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #37

    whs said:
    For the vast majority of users that use Home Premium, the SRS is really not required. I wonder why they did not reserve it for Umtimate which is the system with the bitlocker facility. It confuses the hell out of everybody and occupies an additional primary which leads to 4 primaries out of the box in many OEM systems. The operational characteristics thereafter are difficult for non-geeks whether it is for creating a data partition, making images, restoring images, etc. That's too bad.



    Maybe it's time for MS to move to Extended/Logicals with a single System Reserved for booting.

    System Reserved : Multi Boot from Logical Partitions
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  8. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #38

    That would be the way to go - especially the OEMs should be more sensible and adopt that approach.
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  9. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #39

    whs said:
    That would be the way to go - especially the OEMs should be more sensible and adopt that approach.


    That's an even better idea mate!
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  10. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #40

    Ponmayilal said:
    ^ :) Sorry, if you had missed the one line I added to my last post. It is this:"I also refer to post #10 in this thread." I go with it. (though not Macrium, since I use others)

    Now my straight question.

    I do not use or envisage using any other OS. So no multiboot. It is the case with most users.

    I do not use bitlocker encryption. Neither do I intend to. Again, it is the case with most users.

    Now please tell me categorically, count and specify;

    What do I lose if I eliminate the System Reserved Partition and install Windows 7?
    Your question here is now a new question.
    Under the constraints:
    * Using one operating system only.
    * Don't need/want any additional functionality that might be provided by the System reserved partition

    Can you dispense with the 100MB partition: YES
    Some people don't have it.

    BUT the critical boot elements (as shown in my little flow diagram) of this system Reserved partition simply have a new home in the now active OS partition.

    So what have you gained in the exercise: An extra primary partition letter. Use of extended/logical offsets this apparent gain.

    The limitation of 4 primary partitions per disk is imposed by the partition table constraints in the 512 byte MBR. With UEFI this constraint is lifted and Microsoft have a MSR (Microsoft System Reserved) partition which you'll have to live with.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    To save an extra Post - responding to misc others.
    Any suggest to the novice that this 100MB partition is useless is going to cause them grief when they simply delete it.

    Macrium users should always save the 100MB system reserved in their partition set. They don't have to select it in recovery but they will need it if they are recovering to a new disk. Macrium always makes a copy of the MBR with every partition set just in case you need it in recovery.

    Any statement that Windows imaging is for Geeks is just baffling.
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