100MB System Reserved in Windows 7

[CyberZeus]

Stupid question, maybe: where is the advantage in removing the reserved 100 MB partition?

 

[iseeuu]

I was trying to teach people of my computer club how to create a seperate data partition. And each time a few come forward with their brand new laptops showing me the problem with the 4 default primaries. And since these people are mostely non-Geeks, I usually end up fixing their systems.

Hummmmmm ... would an external hard drive be a quick fix for those laptops, plus allow for external storage for a Windows image?

 

[osu1357]

i just did a fresh reinstall. i know for a fact you can delete the partition during setup and the install will go fine!

That is more or less the answer I was looking for .. I don't care if the 100MB partition is there, I just didn't want 2 of them ..

 

[gregrocker]

100mb SysReserved works best for Dual Boots so that you don't lose another OS's bootability if Win7 won't start. It also places the Repair console on the Advanced Boot Tools available by tapping F8 at boot, which is a convenience worth considering on its own.

I strongly suggest you follow BareFootKid's tutorial linked to optimize the HD by Diskpart Clean All (zeroes HD), then also use his steps given to create the partition with Diskpart if you don't 100mb.

If you have a partition you don't want cleaned off the HD (and can't move the data to do so) then use the trick Bill2 posted to avoid 100mb when partitioning with installer. However, the fact that you are saving one of your partitions should preclude installer from issuing 100mb.

 

[derekimo]

i just did a fresh reinstall. i know for a fact you can delete the partition during setup and the install will go fine!

sorry mate, i deleted all partions during install and yes its back, sorry i didnt get back to you sooner!

i just did a fresh reinstall. i know for a fact you can delete the partition during setup and the install will go fine!

That is more or less the answer I was looking for .. I don't care if the 100MB partition is there, I just didn't want 2 of them ..

I don't think you have to worry about 2 of them.

 

[CyberZeus]

100mb SysReserved works best for Dual Boots so that you don't lose another OS's bootability if Win7 won't start. It also places the Repair console on the Advanced Boot Tools available by tapping F8 at boot, which is a convenience worth considering on its own.

Thank you for your explanation. I won't delete it since it's useful.

 

[gregrocker]

100mb SysReserved works best for Dual Boots so that you don't lose another OS's bootability if Win7 won't start. It also places the Repair console on the Advanced Boot Tools available by tapping F8 at boot, which is a convenience worth considering on its own.

Thank you for your explanation. I won't delete it since it's useful.

Is there a specific reason you are not wiping your HD before reinstall, like a recovery partition you want to save?

If not then I would copy my data off externally and wipe the HD first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[CyberZeus]

100mb SysReserved works best for Dual Boots so that you don't lose another OS's bootability if Win7 won't start. It also places the Repair console on the Advanced Boot Tools available by tapping F8 at boot, which is a convenience worth considering on its own.

Thank you for your explanation. I won't delete it since it's useful.

Is there a specific reason you are not wiping your HD before reinstall, like a recovery partition you want to save?

If not then I would copy my data off externally and wipe the HD first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

I mean that I will not delete the Reserved Partition from my actual installation.
I always wipe my HD before reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

Reinstalls are also a good time to test your hardware: 5-6 passes with memtest86 CD, http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html of the HD, and full HD diag/repair CD scan using maker's utility: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

 

[sandman]

I always do an advanced install and format the drive before installing and i do not get the 100mb reserve partition on my installs, but the ones that I do not use the advance feature, show the 100mb reserve partition I am not sure that is how it works, but that is my experience with this issue.

 

[gregrocker]

To reiterate, if you format using the Installer's "Drive options (advanced)" then it will issue the 100mb SysReserved partition.

If you have a blank HD and do nothing with "Drive options," it will likely issue the 100mb Sys Reserved partition, since it auto-creates and auto-formats the partition if you do not.

Only if you have already an pre-partitioned HD or are installing to a pre-formatted partition does installer not issue the 100mb SysReserved partition.

To avoid it on the fly during install if it is issued: simply delete the partition given to install Win7, click on 100mb given for SysReserved partition to expand it to the size you want Win7 to be, format it, Install there.

 

[sandman]

I have installed windows 7 Ultimate on 4 systems and on two of then I selected advance format and they don't have the 100mb reserve partition, but the other two installs i didn't choose the advance format option and they have the 100mb partition on those two systems all installs were on new drives.


I guess it is better to leave those 100mb partitions alone and avoid a boot problem.