Changing from Active OS Partition to Active System Reserved Partition

[traceyw]

Hi

We have three PCs connected on a network. One is dual boot with Win7 and Win10 (very recently sorted with help from Gregrocker) whilst the other two are both Win7 only with no System Reserved partition. What I want to do is to have both latter PCs with a System Reserved partition and remove the boot files from the OS partition. I know most people seem to want to go the other way but I believe there may be advantages when the time comes to remove Win7 and use Win10 only.

I've been going through the motions of creating a System Reserved partition of size around 100MB (without actually doing it - I can't use Bitlocker and I use TrueImage to backup/restore). However, it goes a bit further than just creating the partition as I have to get the boot files into it. I believe I have to mark the partition as active which would mean the OS partition would become inactive. I would then have to do three repair installs to get the boot files into the System Reserved partition.

I would appreciate it if someone would confirm this or put me right where my thinking is in error. I look forward to hearing from someone on this.

Thanks
Tracey

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I believe there may be advantages when the time comes to remove Win7 and use Win10 only.

I've been going through the motions of creating a System Reserved partition of size around 100MB (without actually doing it - I can't use Bitlocker and I use TrueImage to backup/restore). However, it goes a bit further than just creating the partition as I have to get the boot files into it. I believe I have to mark the partition as active which would mean the OS partition would become inactive. I would then have to do three repair installs to get the boot files into the System Reserved partition.

I would appreciate it if someone would confirm this or put me right where my thinking is in error. I look forward to hearing from someone on this.

I'd be curious to know what you think the advantages to this would be "when the time comes to remove Win7 and use Win10 only".

You appear to be on the right track if you want to go through with it, although I can't recall anyone else who wanted to do this. You might investigate the EasyBCD tutorial on this site which is used to copy boot files---typically in the other direction as you mention. I'm not positive, but I'd assume it could be used to copy them in the direction you prefer.

 

[GokAy]

I would try: assuming there is only C
- backup/image the drive with current partition scheme - Acronis
- delete all partitions - partition wizard free
- create 100MB system reserved with correct format - PW free
- restore C to the rest - acronis
- boot normally
- use EasyBCD to move bootmgr to system reserved - easybcd
- set system reserved active and reboot to try - disk management
- if it fails use backup/image to restore original state - acronis

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[Pauly]

as above ^^^ but im not sure it would be necessary to wipe the drive only to free up 100MB at the start, and of course as long as you take a system image before you start you can always revert back to where you are.

 

[GokAy]

Possibly you don't Pauly, not home to actually check PArtition Wizard.

 

[gregrocker]

Absolutely no reason whatsoever to do this except to cause yourself problems.

But if you're determined to do this experimentally, then follow the last-resort step for how to create a System Reserved partition in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

 

[traceyw]

Hi All

I've considered all your replies and perhaps it is better to just leave things as they are. It was probably a stupid idea anyway so I'm leaving it. Nevertheless, thanks for your responses.

Tracey