Solved "System Reserved" - Options to Skip at installation or Create at 200MB

[LateToWin7Party]

"System Reserved" - Options to Skip at installation or Create at 200MB

Eventual goal: Windows/Linux dual boot

Intermediate goal: Clean install Windows 7 (upgrade from Vista) using a pre-SP1 Upgrade disk or a Digital River .iso with SP1

I have been reading for days but these questions remain concerning System Reserved partition:

1.) Will the Windows 7 Installer accept and use a [200 MB] System Reserved partition that I myself create at the start of Installation using the diskpart utility - but which it normally seeks to create on its own? I understand that the "select Language" installation step is where to do this.

I will pre-designate it as an *active* 200MB NTFS partition with a System Reserved label. I want it to be 200MB instead of the standard 100MB just to be cautious.

To try to compel acceptance of this configuration, I will create a second NTFS partition over all remaining space and which will be shrunk later (very soon) to make space for Linux Mint.

- Is it an error to pre-designate this as "Active" with diskpart? I saw one comment that the Windows seeks to make "the first active partition" as the System Reserved partition.

- Will pre-designation as "active" cause any dangers at next boot up process? If I don't pre-label it as "active" I worry that the Windows installer might not pick it up as the System Reserved partition.

:::

ALTERNATE OPTION: (Single C:/ partition for Windows; no SysRsrvd)

2.) If I forego creation of the System Reserved partition -- by using diskpart to create one single NTFS partition over entire disk at the start of Installation -- can a Windows/Linux dual-boot system be successfully configured on a system where the boot files are present on the C:/ drive (Windows)?

- What might be the boot load (Win or Linux Grub, etc.) issues or problems I would meet with a "single partition" Windows OS?

- Is it better to have a System Reserved partition present on a dual boot system?

 

[SIW2]

If you create 200mb sys reserved, mark it active and 7 will install boot critical files to it.

Is it better to have a System Reserved partition present on a dual boot system?

No, it doesn't matter.

can a Windows/Linux dual-boot system be successfully configured on a system where the boot files are present on the C:/ drive (Windows)?

Yes

What might be the boot load (Win or Linux Grub, etc.) issues or problems I would meet with a "single partition" Windows OS?

None. You can let grub2 install to mbr and use the grub boot menu to control evrything, or you can install grub2 to the linux partition, then add it to windows boot menu (That is what I do, but just slightly complicated).

 

[Golden]

Agree with SiW2. I prefer no System Reserved with a Linux dual boot - this is the way I do it:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/257048-dual-boot-windows-7-linux.html

 

[LateToWin7Party]

Grateful thanks to SIW2 and to Golden.

Your replies give me great assurance in moving forward.

My interest was in avoiding the System Reserved partition if possible -- especially in a dual boot situation -- and your answers give me confidence that it is quite acceptable and recommendable to do so.

Thanks again.