Win-7 partition issue

I'm sorry to appear like a broken record but there seems to be so much contradictory views on this topic even on this forum. I think I used System Restore term incorrectly.

I will be using Win-7 to create System Image, Repair disk etc. in case I need to re-build just my System/OS Drive later on. So you are absolutely sure that i can do this without having system reserved?

I am still in the initial stages of installing Win-7 and can make those changes without too much trouble.

thanks for your assistance.

see comments in bold

nkaufman said:

I'm sorry to appear like a broken record but there seems to be so much contradictory views on this topic even on this forum. I think I used System Restore term incorrectly.

Yeah; System Restore has nothing to do with images or "Windows Backup" or whatever they call it.

I will be using Win-7 to create System Image, Repair disk etc. in case I need to re-build just my System/OS Drive later on. So you are absolutely sure that i can do this without having system reserved?

I am not sure about System Reserved and Windows built in backup. But I cannot recall hearing about it. If you do have a System Reserved, you would of course have to include it in your image or make a separate image of it. I suspect Windows 7 would regard it as necessary and therefore include it by default in any backup. My guess would be that if it didn't see a System Reserved, it would just backup C--but I don't know that for a fact.

Having said that, using Win 7 for imaging is generally frowned on here. It works, but it's cryptic, has its own peculiarities, and isn't very flexible. Macrium Reflect seems to be the most used here. Windows Backup can work out OK if you understand it, but many don't and then get in a jam when they want to restore.

I am sure you don't need System Reserved with Macrium.



I am still in the initial stages of installing Win-7 and can make those changes without too much trouble.

Yeah, that's what I thought you might want to do. I've never missed System Reserved, but gave up on Windows built-in backup long ago.

I can't recall hearing about any issues with a repair disk and System Reserved either.

thanks for your assistance.

ok. thanks for your time, effort and above all PATIENCE in helping me with this query.

The one advantage that I have in deleting this partition is that I can have my 4 Partitions like before. And I have no problem in using Macrium for system image backup if that helps.

thanks again. will rep you as well.

OK;

get Macrium here:

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

The key thing about it is to be SURE that the boot disk you must make will in fact boot your PC. You can make a Linux based disk or a Win PE based disk. Choose Win PE and you'll have the standard Macrium interface when you boot from the disk--good.

The Linux method can work fine, but is more prone to driver issues that can cause the disk not to boot your PC and therefore prevent you from restoring an image. You'd be screwed.

Macrium image files take up about 40 percent of the occupied space on chosen partitions. Takes me about 6 minutes to make an image file of a 32 GB occupied C partition. I do one a month. I use something else for personal data backup.

Great interface on Macrium. Easily understood and not cryptic.

There is no reason at all to remove the System Reserved partition. It is not a problem.

You should base how many partitions you want on what you want to do with them. Many of us like to keep the OS partition small for imaging purposes, with only the OS and Programs, and the User data folders on another partition. This way if Win7 becomes irreparable you can reimage it to C and your data will be current and safe on its own partition.

There are two ways to link your data from the Data partition: User Folders - Change Default Location
or Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums

As far as the other partitions go, I'd delete them and put all of your storage in Data partition unless you prefer another configuration. If you have any questions about these options, just ask back.

gregrocker said:

There is no reason at all to remove the System Reserved partition. It is not a problem.
.. ...
As far as the other partitions go, I'd delete them and put all of your storage in Data partition unless you prefer another configuration. If you have any questions about these options, just ask back.

Like I mentioned earlier in the thread, my current config in XP is - OS+programs, Data, Music+Pics, VMs and that is what I wanted to mimic in my Win-7 box.

The pic that I uploaded earlier shows - System; C:\ ; and D:\ as primary partitions and E:\ and F:\ as logical drives. which can also work.

However, a suggestion was made in this thread to remove System Partition and thereby get my four partitions - C,D,E and F as Primary Partitions.

There is no reason to prefer Primary over Logical partitions. In fact Logical are best for data partitions, and are expandable to as many as you want.

It's best to split partitions by purpose and not by the normal User folder subject, since that is the point of User folders. Sorting your files into User folders always works best for finding thing, storage and backup.

There is no reason to get rid of the System Reserved partition, or even give a second thought to whether you have it or not.

Well, ignatzatsonic seems to think that it is of no use (unless one is using BitLocker). Please see his posts in this thread.

I think he is thinking of a few years ago when we had problems with Win7 backup imaging because programs were writing to SysReserved and clogging it, causing the System Volume Information file to not expand enough to allow imaging. This was resolved by removing the driver letter and is no longer an issue unless a user pro-actively assigns a drive letter, so we have no issues with System Reserved now.

Some simply don't like it, but I personally don't think that is reason enough to take the risk or bother of removing it. Sometimes the boot files won't move successfully, and if a user has deleted it they cannot boot their Win7. In addition we have had problems with moving the boot files using EasyBCD which in some cases will not restore the F8 System Recovery Options which leaves a user without the ability to repair Win7 unless they have the disk with them.

These may be things that someone who's not here 4-8 hours a day every day since beta might not have seen.

The question is not just of having issues but rather the usefulness of System Preserved. if it is not useful then why have it, at least that is what I got from his posts.