Disk Image & System Reserved Partition

[hama]

In the past I used Norton Ghost 2003 to create images of my installation to allow me a very quick reinstallation of Windows and the most important programs. I might retire NG 2003 and instead use DriveImage XML. In any case, Win7 creates a new partition "System Reserved" (100MB) but DriveImage XML does not see it for backup. Do I need to image that or is it enough to image C which I could play back on a newly partitioned HD, i.e. "System Reserved" is missing? What is that partition for anyways? Note that I have Windows 7 Home Premium.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello hama, welcome to Seven Forums!



The Windows 7 created "System Reserved" partition is where the boot files needed to boot/start Windows are stored and if it is not included in a created image of Windows 7 you will not be able to use that image and Windows 7 will not start without doing startup repairs to create new boot files to the re-imaged Windows 7 partition.

Below is an excellent free program fully compatible with Windows 7 for creating system images; have a look at this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Imaging with free Macrium

 

[hama]

Bare Foot Kid, thanks for the reply. I just found the "Backup and Restore" feature built into Windows 7. It looks like this will create an image with Windows and all my programs and I can also create a repair disc which I assume allows me to partition the HD before putting the image back. How does the "Backup and Restore" differ with the program you mentioned?

Btw, the link you gave indicates there is an option not to have this separate 100Mbyte partition. Windows 7 did not give me any option NOT to have that partition. So how do you achieve not to have it?

 

[zzz2496]

Create a partition, format it as NTFS, install Windows to it - instead of just selecting a disk and be done with it...

zzz2496

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

If you have the 100MB System reserved partition it is best left in place and included in the created images; removing it is more trouble than it's worth.


I'm not really the best at backup questions, keep checking back though as I'm sure someone will answer these questions for you.

 

[whs]

Generally there is no need to image the 100MB boot partition. It is enough if you image your C partition and leave the little partition alone. Just make sure that you do not mark the C partition as "active" and do not check "restore MBR" during a possible recovery. Both those functions pertain to the 100MB boot partition. If you read the instructions of the tutorial and follow the video, you will know what I am talking about.

 

[hama]

Create a partition, format it as NTFS, install Windows to it - instead of just selecting a disk and be done with it...

zzz2496

That is what I did. I booted from the Win7 DVD, created a partition for the OS as I want the data on a different partition and then installed Win7 on the OS partition I just created. However, Win7 still insisted on that 100Mbyte partition. What am I missing?

Btw, I am using an upgrade (Windows 7 Home Premium). The original HD only had one partition so I had to delete it and create the OS partition as described above.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

When Windows 7 is installed to a new (unallocated) Hard Disk Drive it automatically creates the System reserved partition.



If you really want to recover that space, have a look at Option Two in this tutorial at the link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

 

[hama]

I actually don't care too much about having these last 100Mbytes. The only thing I want to avoid is any complications later on when putting the image back on the machine. It seems to me there is much less risk doing this if you only have one partition to recover than some 'secret' additional partition.

Having said all that, I guess the built in "Backup and Restore" should work just fine. That actually makes me wonder why there is this Macrium software. What is the advantage over the "Backup and Restore" function for simple disk images and restores? I checked their website but did not find a clear answer.

 

[whs]

I actually don't care too much about having these last 100Mbytes. The only thing I want to avoid is any complications later on when putting the image back on the machine. It seems to me there is much less risk doing this if you only have one partition to recover than some 'secret' additional partition.

Having said all that, I guess the built in "Backup and Restore" should work just fine. That actually makes me wonder why there is this Macrium software. What is the advantage over the "Backup and Restore" function for simple disk images and restores? I checked their website but did not find a clear answer.

The difference is complicated versus easy. If you are a seasoned Geek and can wrestle with the /7 imaging, then use it. If you want to make your life easy, use Macrium.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

The difference is complicated versus easy. If you are a seasoned Geek and can wrestle with the /7 imaging, then use it. If you want to make your life easy, use Macrium.

+1
​

 

[mjf]

The bottom line is that Windows imaging will gray out the option to untick the 100MB System Reserved Partition because it knows it is an essential link in the boot sequence. Windows will also store away the critical Master Boot Record (MBR) which lives on the first physical sector of the disk. When windows reimages it puts the MBR, System reserved (100MB), C:, selected other partitions back in exactly the same position they were imaged from. This way you can even put them back on a new disk.

Macrium stores away the MBR with each partition it images and gives you the option to replace it each time you reimage a partition. Generally you have to reimage each partition in turn. The 100MB system reserved partition is treated like any other partition and is optional. I suggest do image it each time. Reimaging C: alone will often work because the system reserved partition has not been changed or damaged. But when it has been damaged or altered you will need the correct image. A simple example your BCD store gets screwed up - you will need your image of the 100MB partition because that's where the BCD lives.

 

[hama]

Ok, I will give this a try but have one initial question. It says

"mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace."

So how would I handle the case to make a complete new install (including the MBR) or loading the image onto a bigger HD? Will I have to do two images, one for the C/OS drive and one for the "System Reserved" partition? Then I would first restore the MBR and have that marked as Active and DO REPLACE MBR (which on a new HD would not be there). Then in a second step I would restore the C/OS drive marking the partition as primary and NOT replacing the MBR? In other words, I would use a two step process both for backup and restore as described above?

 

[mjf]

Ok, I will give this a try but have one initial question. It says

"mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace."

So how would I handle the case to make a complete new install (including the MBR) or loading the image onto a bigger HD? Will I have to do two images, one for the C/OS drive and one for the "System Reserved" partition? Then I would first restore the MBR and have that marked as Active and DO REPLACE MBR (which on a new HD would not be there). Then in a second step I would restore the C/OS drive marking the partition as primary and NOT replacing the MBR? In other words, I would use a two step process both for backup and restore as described above?

What says ("It says....) and in what context.

 

[hama]

...
Macrium stores away the MBR with each partition it images and gives you the option to replace it each time you reimage a partition. Generally you have to reimage each partition in turn. The 100MB system reserved partition is treated like any other partition and is optional. I suggest do image it each time. ...

First question: I installed the software and it lists the "System Reserved" partition but you cannot select it TOGETHER with the C partition. However, considering your comment it seems if you select C then it will also automatically include the "System Reserved" partition, correct?

Second question: What you said contradicts with what was advised, i.e. "Rather mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace. Else, your restored system will become unbootable." With your suggestion the first part still applies (mark as primary). The contradiction is on the second part where they claim the system will become unbootable. So what is correct?

 

[hama]

Ok, I will give this a try but have one initial question. It says

"mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace."

So how would I handle the case to make a complete new install (including the MBR) or loading the image onto a bigger HD? Will I have to do two images, one for the C/OS drive and one for the "System Reserved" partition? Then I would first restore the MBR and have that marked as Active and DO REPLACE MBR (which on a new HD would not be there). Then in a second step I would restore the C/OS drive marking the partition as primary and NOT replacing the MBR? In other words, I would use a two step process both for backup and restore as described above?

What says ("It says....) and in what context.

I was referring ot an earlier post that had the following link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[whs]

Ok, I will give this a try but have one initial question. It says

"mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace."

So how would I handle the case to make a complete new install (including the MBR) or loading the image onto a bigger HD? Will I have to do two images, one for the C/OS drive and one for the "System Reserved" partition? Then I would first restore the MBR and have that marked as Active and DO REPLACE MBR (which on a new HD would not be there). Then in a second step I would restore the C/OS drive marking the partition as primary and NOT replacing the MBR? In other words, I would use a two step process both for backup and restore as described above?

That sounds right. Another option is to make a clone of the disc. For that you should use the free Acronis because the free Macrium does not have that function - the Pro version does.

 

[whs]

...
Macrium stores away the MBR with each partition it images and gives you the option to replace it each time you reimage a partition. Generally you have to reimage each partition in turn. The 100MB system reserved partition is treated like any other partition and is optional. I suggest do image it each time. ...

First question: I installed the software and it lists the "System Reserved" partition but you cannot select it TOGETHER with the C partition. However, considering your comment it seems if you select C then it will also automatically include the "System Reserved" partition, correct?

Second question: What you said contradicts with what was advised, i.e. "Rather mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace. Else, your restored system will become unbootable." With your suggestion the first part still applies (mark as primary). The contradiction is on the second part where they claim the system will become unbootable. So what is correct?

1. you can select multiple partitions. But they must have a drive letter. I do not think that the 100MB partition will be included automatically.
2. in that case, the C partition is a normal primary partition and the boot part is solely with the 100MB boot partition (active partition).

 

[mjf]

...
Macrium stores away the MBR with each partition it images and gives you the option to replace it each time you reimage a partition. Generally you have to reimage each partition in turn. The 100MB system reserved partition is treated like any other partition and is optional. I suggest do image it each time. ...

First question: I installed the software and it lists the "System Reserved" partition but you cannot select it TOGETHER with the C partition. However, considering your comment it seems if you select C then it will also automatically include the "System Reserved" partition, correct?

Second question: What you said contradicts with what was advised, i.e. "Rather mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace. Else, your restored system will become unbootable." With your suggestion the first part still applies (mark as primary). The contradiction is on the second part where they claim the system will become unbootable. So what is correct?

1. you can select multiple partitions. But they must have a drive letter. I do not think that the 100MB partition will be included automatically.
2. in that case, the C partition is a normal primary partition and the boot part is solely with the 100MB boot partition (active partition).

1. you can select multiple partitions for imaging not reimaging with Macrium free (non BartPE disk). You don't need drive letters just valid partitions. With Macrium I am able to image the OEM hidden recovery partition and the 100MB active system reserved partition bothe do not (& should not) have drive letters. It just needs to be a valid partition.
2. don't understand.

 

[mjf]

...
Macrium stores away the MBR with each partition it images and gives you the option to replace it each time you reimage a partition. Generally you have to reimage each partition in turn. The 100MB system reserved partition is treated like any other partition and is optional. I suggest do image it each time. ...

First question: I installed the software and it lists the "System Reserved" partition but you cannot select it TOGETHER with the C partition. However, considering your comment it seems if you select C then it will also automatically include the "System Reserved" partition, correct?

Second question: What you said contradicts with what was advised, i.e. "Rather mark the partition as primary and answer the MBR question with do not replace. Else, your restored system will become unbootable." With your suggestion the first part still applies (mark as primary). The contradiction is on the second part where they claim the system will become unbootable. So what is correct?

My first paragraph refers to Windows imaging and the importance of the 100MB active, system reserved partition is such that MS don't give you the option not to select it. Now If I understand for some reason MS imaging is out of the discussion (why you dismiss it is your business).

Now we are talking Macrium OK.
Imaging: Tick the partition you want to image. Macrium doesn't view the 100MB partition as anything other than another partition. Tick it. C: containing your Windows 7 operating system (Boot, page file,.......). Tick it. You image the multiple partitions ticked.

Reimaging to the existing disk: Macrium stores the partition set you ticked. From the set you restore which partitions you want to. In many (most?) case simply restoring c: is all you need. Because the MBR and System reserved are ok. IF you have problems go back and replace system reserved. If you still have problems go back and select replace MBR. Reimage each partition in turn (for Macrium free).
MS imaging doesn't give you these options. It replaces the lot from the image!

Reimaging a new disk: You will need MBR, Active system reserved, and C:

Reimaging to a larger disk you will get a region of "Unallocated Space". Use MS disk management or the more flexible Partition Wizard to make this usable space.

As for cloning - why bother.