System Reserved Fragmented - Auslogics

[meridius21]

I have been using Auslogics Disk Defrag for quite some time. Then going into the Windows Defragmenter, I noticed the System Reserved partition was at 6%. I then defragmented again and it went to 8%. It hasn't moved from there. Is this anything to worry about? All my W7 os's never moved from 0% in the System Reserved partition.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Meridius,
Thats VERY concerting.
The system reserved partition is usually only 100MB and NOT used for or by anything else.
The question becomes whats been using it.
Have you been infected recently?

Roy

 

[Eric3742]

Hi meridius


First, is this System Reserved partition hidden, if not then changed to hidden.

It is best to left it as it is.

That is to say, sometimes this is default.

Is there any problem in the computer &or system.

If there is no problem, then do not do anything.

 

[meridius21]

OK. I did a full scan with Kaspersky Internet Security and no viruses. Also a disk boot sectors and hidden startup objects scan with Kaspersky Rescue Disk and also no viruses (I will do a full one with Kaspersky Rescue Disk tomorrow).

I can only access the System Reserved partition from disk management so does that count as hidden?

Other than that there is no problem with the os. Is there anything else I should do?

N.B. Auslogics algorithms moves system files to the beginning of the HDD but that shouldn't be anything to do with the System Reserved partition.

 

[Eric3742]

As i had mentioned, do change this System Reserved partition as hidden.

This is where the OS will check during booting process.
Should there be any issue, the computer may hang and trigger something else.

As the System Reserved partition will occupy the very first part of the HDD for booting, as this is the purpose.
Since you can access, do copy it to the C:\ drive in case this System Reserved partition is damaged.
You can set C:\ drive to enable to boot, instead of the System Reserved partition.
There are 3 main files & folders, which is necessary for the system to boot up.

As currently there is no issue, then do nothing and set as hidden.
System Reserved partition do not need to be defrag, as it only contain a few MB.
As for the size, it is not necessary to be 100 MB exact, as long as there are 3 files & folder.



Recently when i bought a laptop and while doing cloning process (as backup) using Mini Tools Partition Wizard.
I did not check properly, and somehow this System Reserved partition was turn off.
Upon switching on the laptop, the Windows did not boot, as it go into black&white (like DOS mode) then it crashed.
Went back to the repairman, he mentioned that the system failed.

 

[torchwood]

There are only 4 folders/files in that partition

your System Reserved partition shoud be like this, see screenshot, if the file sizes are different
something IS wrong.
Once installed THEY ARE NOT ADDED TO, so they should NOT need defragging
UNLESS your dual booting
note bootmgr date should beyour original OS install date


This partition will be AT the front of the DRIVE otherwise no boot, Auslogic will not have moved it

suggest you run specific rootkit tools.
How to use Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to remove rootkits from a Computer
RKill Download
GMER Download
TDSSKiller Download


Roy

 

[Megahertz07]

On normal, Legacy - MBR, win 7 installation there is no System Reserved partition. There is a RAW MSR partition (no format) and a big NTFS partition for Windows.
On UEFI you will also have a 100M Fat32 partition.

System Reserved partition are created by OEM builders and has maintenance tools, sometimes the boot loader, as Roy mentioned, and Factory Recover images. They can be ~10 to 15G in size.

Please open disk manager, expand the columns, with sniping tool take a snapshot and attach the image so we can have a look.

 

[meridius21]

I have some basic questions:

- How exactly do I hide the System Reserved partition?

- Where (i.e. in what directory/folder) do I access the files for the System Reserved partition?

I attach a snapshot of Disk Management.

 

[Megahertz07]

Don't see any thing not normal. It only has the boot loader as Roy mentioned.
What you mean by hide the System Reserved partition? It's already hidden.
As the partition doesn't have a letter assign to it you can't see it in Explorer. I don't think Windows will allow, but, on Disk Manager, try to assign a drive letter to the partition. Then you'll be able to see it in Explorer.

 

[meridius21]

At this stage I probably won't do too much more except for scanning. If I have to, a reinstall...

Also how good is Kaspersky Rescue Disk? I ran a scan for a full 3 hours yesterday and it found nothing. Does it also scan the boot files?

 

[mjf]

I have been using Auslogics Disk Defrag for quite some time. Then going into the Windows Defragmenter, I noticed the System Reserved partition was at 6%. I then defragmented again and it went to 8%. It hasn't moved from there. Is this anything to worry about? All my W7 os's never moved from 0% in the System Reserved partition.

Leave it alone and let the Windows OS software handle it. Don't defrag it and don't assign a drive letter - ie keep it hidden.

This may explain a little of its original purpose when MS designed its original architecture:
reflect updates
It is post 24 that is the relevant post.

The PBR, bootmgr and BCD are key elements in this small partition that are critical in the MBR boot process. If you want these functions can be incorporated into the main OS partition using for example:
Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD

The 100mB system reserved partition must have ~ 50% free space if you want to use Windows inbuilt system imaging but most people here prefer system imaging software like (free) Macrium Reflect.

 

[meridius21]

Thanks for the information and especially on EasyBCD which remains an option.

I guess theoretically System Reserved is better in security terms as the essential boot files are not mixed up with the C drive i.e. less susceptible to viruses.

Also is it possible that the defragmenter is misreporting? Is there any way to reinstall the Windows defragmenter?

 

[mjf]

I guess theoretically System Reserved is better in security terms as the essential boot files are not mixed up with the C drive i.e. less susceptible to viruses.

I tend to think not.

I think one of the objectives of the system reserved partition was to facilitate mutibooting through the BCD (boot configuration data), it did have the bitlocked security facility but I was never comfortable with this.
I believe in keeping your OS partition and installed programs of a manageable size ( 256GB SSD should be plenty) and keep a number of system images. I keep large data on other drives and back it up independently. If a nasty hits me it will be a pain in the neck but recoverable I hope.