When installing W7, it makes def. a "system reserved partition", why ?

ghiamkiii · 30 Mar 2013

When you install a new copy of W7, in my case Professional 32bit, 1TB disk, it
makes default a hidden "system reserved partition" with a size of 100Mb.
On this partition there are system files.

Why does W7 do this, what is the use of it, is it an advantage or more a disadvantage ?

I also discovered that you can install a copy of W7 without this "system reserved partition",
then everything is on the same partiton.

what is wisdom ?

please advice

gregrocker · 30 Mar 2013

It's hardly worth fretting about. I can take it or leave it.

If you use Bitlocker or plan to Dual Boot then it's best to have it.

If not and you want to avoid it, prepartition the HD with Partition Wizard boot CD and then choose the partition to install upon.

whs · 30 Mar 2013

You can avoid the 100MB partition if you install into a predefined active primary partition. Then the bootmgr is placed on the C: partition. Else it is on the 100MB System Partition.

But if that bothers you, copy it to the C: partition and you can forget about the 100MB partition. But it's not worth reclaming that itty bitty little space.

Alejandro85 · 30 Mar 2013

By default, this partition holds the boot code that is first run right after you power on the PC, and it then loads the rest of the OS. The reason for this is to support BitLocker (full disk encryption). Because you need to have an unecrypted volume from which the bootloader can successfully start, the boot files are by default stored separately from the bulk. Then the OS and the rest of data and programs are encrypted, but the boot code is left alone, and at boot time it decrypts the OS as needed.
Of course, if you don't use BitLocker, the partition doesn't serve any purpose and can be created or not. I personally prefer to not have it to make a potential recovery simpler thereafter, but having it doesn't harm either.