Move 100MB reserved partition (Win 7 x64)

[boxleitnerb]

Hi,

I have two drives in my computer:

Drive 1 (contains Windows 7 x64)
Drive 2 (contains the 100MB reserved partition)

I want to remove Drive 2 and move the reserved partition to Drive 1.

I made a 100MB partition on Drive 1 (shrunk it first). Then I shut down the computer and disconnected Drive 2. Then I inserted my Win7 DVD, started the computer and selected "startup repair". According to the log, it did repair something (I even let it run 3 times). But when I remove the Win7 DVD, the system won't boot. Only when I re-connect Drive 2 (which still contains the 100MB reserved partition), it will boot.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

 

[Kaktussoft]

Post screenshot of disk management please.

Another question. Do you really want to keep "system reserved"? It's used for:

• Bootmanager and bootmenu
• Bitlocker encryption.

You definitely want bootmanager and bootmenu on a separate partition?

 

[Kaktussoft]

But when I remove the Win7 DVD, the system won't boot.

What error message do you get?

 

[boxleitnerb]

If I can ditch the reserved partition altogether, even better. I only have one OS and I don't use encryption.

In the meantime I have attempted to solve the problem (probably a mistake), following this guide here (in German):
https://www.bauer-martin.com/window...00mb-boot-partition-wiederherstellen-604.html

Basically I marked the only partition on Drive 1 as active and then executed those three repair/fix commands.
But the bootrec /rebuildbcd command didn't work: It found the installation alright, but no matter what I selected (Y/N/A), I got the error message "The requested system device couldn't be found".

Now my system won't boot even with Drive 2 connected, stating "BootManager missing".

 

[Kaktussoft]

Disconnect drive 2. Are you very very sure drive 1 has only 1 partition? That partition is marked "active"?
If so... do a startup repair 3 times.

 

[Kaktussoft]

If I can ditch the reserved partition altogether, even better. I only have one OS and I don't use encryption.

In the meantime I have attempted to solve the problem (probably a mistake), following this guide here (in German):
https://www.bauer-martin.com/window...00mb-boot-partition-wiederherstellen-604.html

Basically I marked the only partition on Drive 1 as active and then executed those three repair/fix commands.
But the bootrec /rebuildbcd command didn't work: It found the installation alright, but no matter what I selected (Y/N/A), I got the error message "The requested system device couldn't be found".

Now my system won't boot even with Drive 2 connected, stating "BootManager missing".

bootrec/fixmbr : It rewrites the Master Boot Code on physical disc. That was fine already.
bootrec/fixboot : It rewrite the volumes boot sector. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it should put the bootmgr on the volume as well.

As said before... just do a "startup repair" 3 times.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Solved it. I failed to mention that I use an USB drive instead of a Windows 7 DVD.

The bootrec /rebuildbcd command only works if the USB drive is plugged into an USB 2.0 slot, not 3.0. Because then the recovery tools don't recognize it and the aforementioned error message appears. Now the command was executed successfully, startup repair found the installation (contrary to before), repaired it and my system boots flawlessly now with the reserved system partition on C just the way I wanted it.

Thanks anyway!

 

[Kaktussoft]

Solved it. I failed to mention that I use an USB drive instead of a Windows 7 DVD.

The bootrec /rebuildbcd command only works if the USB drive is plugged into an USB 2.0 slot, not 3.0. Because then the recovery tools don't recognize it and the aforementioned error message appears. Now the command was executed successfully, startup repair found the installation (contrary to before), repaired it and my system boots flawlessly now with the reserved system partition on C just the way I wanted it.

Thanks anyway!

"startup repair" does all the bootrec steps when needed.
"with the reserved system partition on C" ... hmmm???? Do you have only C on that disk or also a "system reserved" and which one is marked active? totally confused

 

[AddRAM]

I would love to see if it actually made a system reserved partition, ( highly unlikely ) could you post a shot of disk management ?

But, if you mean the system files are now on C and C is now active, that`s exactly what startup repair should have done.

 

[boxleitnerb]

"startup repair" does all the bootrec steps when needed.
"with the reserved system partition on C" ... hmmm???? Do you have only C on that disk or also a "system reserved" and which one is marked active? totally confused[/QUOTE]

Right now there is no separate system reserved partition (iirc there wasn't before). Only the attribute "system" has switched from the old disk to the new one.

@AddRAM:
Yes it should have, but it didn't work. Possibly it could have if the USB pen drive had been in an USB 2.0 slot from the very beginning.

This is what it looks like now. Before, "system" was on the volume "Downloads" on disk 1.

 

[AddRAM]

No, it should not have made a System Reserved partition, which it didn`t, everything is on C now and it`s perfect, Good Job

Now if windows is exactly how you like it, make a disk image and store it on 1 of the other drives, I keep 2 dedicated partitions on 2 separate drives just for images.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

 

[gregrocker]

The paging file has incorrectly landed on DISK1 which is a possible problem.

To resolve this turn off the paging file, reboot and turn it back on as System Managed on C.

Change Virtual Memory Paging File

 

[AddRAM]

I saw that too Greg, but thought maybe he did that on purpose :sarc:

Without knowing how much ram you have, we can not advise you on whether to turn off the page file or not.

Do as Greg has advised to correct the page file.

And Please fill in your computer specs

 

[boxleitnerb]

It is on purpose. I always have it on another physical drive for performance reasons. I have 16 GB of memory, but the paging file is required for some programs/games, regardless of how much RAM one has.

 

[AddRAM]

Thought as much

Do you actually notice the performance ?

With 32 gigs in mine, I have turned off the page file, otherwise it takes a nice bite out of my ssd, and we can`t have that... no no no

And I haven`t come across any issues with it yet.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Not really, but I have become used to handling it that way.
I have 5 SSDs here, over 1.5 TB disk space. No problem

 

[theog]

If you what to make a new System Reserved, but it will made at the end of drive.

From diskpart
Shrink C: by 400
Create partition
format fs=ntfs
Add Letter =*
Mark active
bcdboot C:\Windows /s *:
set ID = 27