Installing Windows 7 on unallocated space -recommended?

[Teerex]

If you delete all the partitions on your disk, except, say, a for-data partition you had before, and perform a clean install of Windows 7 on unallocated space, it will automatically partition and format the space it has on its disposal.

It did in my case, and this brings some tangible benefits - the System Reserved mini-partition that is created this way has the Recovery Options loaded on it (no need for your installation disc for startup repairs and such), and it also makes it possible for you to use BitLocker on your system partition without having to go through the procedure of creating a BitLocker partition later.

Would it be wise then to have a recommendation here on this forum to install Win 7 this way, especially if someone has Windows 7 Ultimate?

This is what it looks like on my rig:

 

[torrentg]

True. I don't have the special 100 mb partition because I installed to a previously used disk/partition. Consensus here is that it is good to have that partition.

 

[phoenix404]

If you delete all the partitions on your disk, except, say, a for-data partition you had before, and perform a clean install of Windows 7 on unallocated space, it will automatically partition and format the space it has on its disposal.

It did in my case, and this brings some tangible benefits - the System Reserved mini-partition that is created this way has the Recovery Options loaded on it (no need for your installation disc for startup repairs and such), and it also makes it possible for you to use BitLocker on your system partition without having to go through the procedure of creating a BitLocker partition later.

Would it be wise then to have a recommendation here on this forum to install Win 7 this way, especially if someone has Windows 7 Ultimate?

This is what it looks like on my rig:

The 100Mb space take is the space reserved for OEM .i.e. Original Equipment Manufacturer...and it is not required for others to have the same...!!...so, you can install windows 7 as you said...

 

[Teerex]

No, it is not reserved by OEMs, OEM's wil reserve a much bigger partition (1-4 GB)to restore their customized image of Windows 7.

This one is a nice feature of the Windows 7 installation process which should be used, at least for Ultimate IMO.

 

[sup3rsprt]

I don't have the special 100 mb partition because I installed to a previously used disk/partition.

Same here. And since I do not use Bitlocker to encrypt my Windows drive (I'd rather use TrueCrypt), I find the extra 100MB partition unnecessary.

 

[theog]

Hi Teerex

This is not a new feature, can be done with Win2000 & XP.

 

[Teerex]

Hi Teerex

This is not a new feature, can be done with Win2000 & XP.

How can it be done? Does it do this by default? I don't think so.

 

[Teerex]

In addition to the usual bcdedit entries, I have these additions to the list:

recoverysequence
recoveryenabled

 

[buythiscomputer]

Install windows on unallocated space

Hello,

Thank you I found this page first on Google when searched about installing windows in unallocated space, my new Lenovo had no system and I am installed Windows 7 from USB.

I saw unallocated space and didn't know if it was good or not to install windows there.

Now I'm sure <3

 

[gregrocker]

Unallocated Space is what is left after your delete partitions, that's all. If you had Logical (data) partitions there then it will be called Free Space, and is not fully Unallocated until you delete it again in Disk Mgmt.

It's up to you if you proceed with install before creating New partitions(s) and Formatting using the Drive Options shown in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7. If you do nothing the installer will create and format for you a full disk partition with the small 100mb System Reserved which is no problem at all and not even worth discussing one way or other other.