System Reserved Partition - Delete

How to Remove the 100MB "System Reserved" Partition in Windows 7​

   Information

The 100 MB System Reserved partition is included when doing a clean install of Windows 7 on an unallocated disk. The System Reserved partition serves two functions. First, it holds the Boot Manager code and the Boot Configuration Database. Second, it reserves space for the startup files required by the BitLocker Drive Encryption feature. If you ever decide to encrypt your system drive using BitLocker, you won’t have to repartition your system drive to make it possible.

This tutorial will show you how to delete the 100MB System Reserved partition created during the installation of Windows 7.

   Warning

This involves deleting the boot partition, then repairing. Failure to follow these instructions exactly may leave your computer in a non-bootable state.

   Note

• Make sure the C drive is a Primary partition before you begin. Type diskmgmt.msc into the start menu to access the above window.
• You must have a Windows 7 Installation or Repair disc to do this. If you do not have a DVD, you can create a Repair Disc.

EXAMPLE: 100 MB System Reserved Partition


Here's How:

   Note

Press enter between each of these commands.

1. Boot from your installation or repair disc.

2. When you get to the language screen, press Shift+F10.

3. Enter diskpart, then list disk after diskpart is loaded.

4. Enter select disk [Windows disk number].

5. Enter list partition, followed by select partition [100MB partition number].

6. Enter delete partition override.

7. Enter select partition [Windows partition from step 5], then enter active.

8. Close the command prompt.
We have deleted the partition, and Windows will be unable to boot at this point. Now it is time to write a new boot loader and BCD to the Windows partition.
9. Follow the instructions in Brink's tutorial for running a startup repair.
That should do it! If you have any problems, feel free to ask for help below.

Related Tutorials

---

• Create the System Reserved for Dual Boot use
• How to Create the Windows 7 System Reserved Partition after Installation

 

[TheSchaft]

JK - Good stuff, but wouldn't "bootrec /FixMbr" as step 8 (7A?) write out a new boot record and eliminate the need for step 9?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Possibly Schaft, but that wouldn't rebuild the BCD.

Of course, you could also run bootrec /rebuildbcd, but I trust startup repair more.

To be honest, I don't have very much experience with bootrec, so I tend to recommend the startup repair.

 

[TheSchaft]

Possibly Schaft, but that wouldn't rebuild the BCD.

Of course, you could also run bootrec /rebuildbcd, but I trust startup repair more.

To be honest, I don't have very much experience with bootrec, so I tend to recommend the startup repair.

I can't say that I have a lot of experience with bootrec either, but I found it the fastest way to get rid of GRUB's multiple boot menu when I wanted to unload Ubuntu - just rebuilt the MBR and then went in under Windows 7 and deleted the partitions.

 

[Night Hawk]

I found the 100mb of repair tools quite useful lately when the host drive's installation ran into a problem where Windows would stall at the logo screen. The automatic startup repair tool came to life on it's own plus the option to restore a system image created.

Note when originally partitioning the drive using GParted the separate 100mb section was never created. Instead the repair tools were somehow packed into the solid C primary. When partitioning the drive using the Windows drive tools during the installation however you see the 100mb section created.

Apparently using a 3rd party partitioning program is another option if you do not want the 100mb section created from the start. The image here shows hows the host drive looks in the DM without the 100mb being seen. Having the repair tools already on the drive however can eliminate the need for the 7 dvd when a problem comes up. Just something to pass along here.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Apparently the 100MB partition is created when setup does not find any active partitions.

 

[Night Hawk]

When you are first installing 7 on a new drive or one previously wiped no longer seeing a primary you would be using the MS drive tools options found on the dvd there. You will also note the 1-8mb of unallocated drive space for changing between the Basic type of volume used mainly on desktops or the Dynamic for server geared.

The MS drive tools also prepare the 100mb reserved as part of the installation for 7 to include the repair tools. When the drive is already seeing an active primary as you are pointing to the installer still places the repair tools tucked away at the beginning of the existing primary eliminating the need for the separate 100mb section.

I had initially been wondering if the repair tools wouldn't be available until seeing the startup repair come up while trying to debug a sudden hardware or lack of hardware detection problem. Suddenly no internet, no tuner card available, and the sound went out?

When interrupting a restore point the startup repair tool suddenly stepped in showing that the Windows installer still sucessfully placed them on the drive without the need for the 100mb taken away. The concern when removing the 100mb section when not having a 7 dvd would be the need to burn a repair cd with 7 fortunately now seeing that option included!

The 3 cards were simply removed and reseated to suddenly hear ping, ping, ping "you must restart to see the changes put into effect"! when the system was started afterwards. Windows 7 again solved it's own dilemna with the fresh detection as well as seeing the repair tools onhand having used a 3rd party drive tool.

For those who want to reclaim the 100mb of drive space be sure to burn a repair cd to have onhand since that can also save on handling the 7 dvd itself as well as for those not having one in the case of 7 being preinstalled. For those about to install 7 on a bare drive and want to avoid the 100mb being taken then the use of a 3rd party drive tool is something to consider as well.

 

[EzioAuditore]

@Jk
After deletioin, it is seen as Unallocated space. How do I add this space to my system partition (C? Will Extend command under diskpart do the job?
Better yet, if u could provide the exact steps, would be nice. I dont wanna mess up with these things...

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello EzioAuditore,

You will need to extend your C partition to include that space. The Windows Disk Management tool cannot extend space to the left of the volume, so you'll need to use a third-party tool. I recommend Partition Wizard Free Edition: Magic Server Partition Manager Software - Resize partition for Windows Server 2003, 2008 and 2000.

Using Partition Wizard, right-click on the C partition, and select Move/resize. Then drag the edge of the box to the left, to include that unallocated space.

When you're done, be sure to select Apply actions.

 

[EzioAuditore]

@JK
That's really a nice tool. But it's shareware and wont let me do my job until i register it.. Cant afford now. Any freeware alternative?
Thanks anyways.

 

[Jonathan_King]

There is a free version, that will do what you want. Try downloading this one: Partition Wizard Home Edition - Reviews and free Partition Wizard Home Edition downloads at Download.com

 

[EzioAuditore]

Silly of me to not notice the home version..
Anyways, thanks again Jonathan. It work'd like a charm.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Great, I'm glad it's working now.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

Thank You Jonathon King, I just followed your tutorial after building a new system and wanting to get rid of the 100 MB partition in hindsight. Everything went smoothly including the use of partition wizard which I already had installed.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Glad to hear that, thanks for posting!

 

[Henfracar]

JK,
Might be no big thing for those of us who know a bit about using command prompt, but for a 'noob' I would humbly suggest that you indicate the need to hit "ENTER" after those written commands in your tut.
Thanks for a very informative tut, never-the-less.
Frank

 

[Jonathan_King]

JK,
Might be no big thing for those of us who know a bit about using command prompt, but for a 'noob' I would humbly suggest that you indicate the need to hit "ENTER" after those written commands in your tut.
Thanks for a very informative tut, never-the-less.
Frank

Thank you Frank, I will take that seriously.

Your input is appreciated!

 

[Karan999]

im getting an error while deleting the partitons.
In my computer i have 3 partitions on a 500GB HDD.
1> c: drive of 53GB on which my windows 7 64bit Ultimate edition is installed. NTFS
2>d: drive of 382GB NTFS
3> e: drive of 30GB NTFS

but when i went in to the dos prompt as shown in step 1,i get to see 4 partitions.
1>a 1mb partition.
2>a 100mb partition.
3>my c: drive
4> my rest of the HDD space merged all into one partition and displayed.

i dont understand how the first two have come.please help me in deleting them.
this is what the error i got while deteling a partition -

this operation is not supported by the object.
The specified command or parameters are not supported on this system.

 

[mjf]

In advance:
A Disk Management screen shot using the snipping tool might help Jonathan help you.
1 MB is typical storage space for dynamic disks - hopefully the disk isn't dynamic.

 

[Karan999]

Hi all,when i deleted the 100mb system reserved partition,and now when i go to disk management,i also deleted my E: drive which was empty.

So then i had 2 unallocated drives.one was the 100mb one and the other one was the E: drive.

Then i extended my D: drive and now i have 3 D: drives been shown in the disk management which is actually one when seen in 'my computer'.

Here is my problem. - http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9779/problemml.png

please help.