How to have Windows 7 installer not install to the 100MB hidden, system partition

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by HotCarl, Sep 2, 2009.

  1. HotCarl

    HotCarl MDL Addicted

    Jul 21, 2009
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    The best way is just to format your hard drive the way you want it *before* you install Windows 7...

    And complicated? ...how complicated is:

    1) start windows 7 install
    2) when the installer prompts you to create the system partition, click OK on the popup window
    3) select the 100mb system partition
    4) click "Delete" to unallocate it
    5) proceed as normal
     
  2. dumppq

    dumppq MDL Junior Member

    Mar 3, 2008
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    TrueCrypt won't encrypt a system partition/drive if the boot files are stored on the 100MB partition. Might be addressed with a newer version of TrueCrypt, but for now it won't work with it.


    Not complicated at all. :) It certainly is the *easier* way, even though it only takes about 30 seconds to figure out diskpart and save yourself the 100MB. diskpart still is the way to go.

    I find it depressing that people care so much about computers and technology to download and activate Win 7 with a loader, but are still too lazy to bother figuring out how to use a command line.
     
  3. HotCarl

    HotCarl MDL Addicted

    Jul 21, 2009
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    #23 HotCarl, Sep 3, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2009
    (OP)
    I totally agree with you, and there are definitely better ways to do things if you know what you are doing, or are willing to ask questions and follow directions (but there is always the problem that some people do not even know the right questions to ask beforehand...). Your suggestions are valid, and are great alternatives (probably preferred ones since they will not leave the small 100mb partition unallocated on the hard drive, it does not really matter unless you really need that extra 100mb, but it is nice to not have the partition at all) if the user is the type that wants to learn something as opposed to those who just want to push a button.

    My sole intention in typing what I did in the OP was to make a simple, 1 click solution (during Windows 7 install) to save a lot of people (like myself) from getting headaches from helping other people solve the same "100mb hidden system partition" problems over and over again...I typed a very simple solution to "just get rid of it" and save a lot of novice users a lot of trouble during activation... I am glad that you seem to understand now where I am coming from my friend. :) :)
     
  4. HSChronic

    HSChronic MDL Expert

    Aug 25, 2007
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    Then it is only for Server 2008 R2, but since they are both the same I would assume the installers are the same. If I have a 1tb HD with a partition that is 20gb in size AND formatted NTFS it will not make the 100mb system part. if the drive is partitioned but NOT formatted it will break the partition and create the system drive, or if the drive is not partitioned it will do the same.
     
  5. HotCarl

    HotCarl MDL Addicted

    Jul 21, 2009
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    #25 HotCarl, Sep 3, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2009
    (OP)
    ...or (like I was saying before) if you use the installer to delete all the current partitions and then have it format the drive as just 1 partition to install Windows 7 on, it will force the 100mb partition as well. Try it next time you install (if you can). Maybe it is like trying to install Win7 on an unformatted drive at that point since you delete all the current partitions (and basically have an unformatted drive), then create a new one to install 7 on, so it forces creation of the 100mb partition...if that makes sense. :)
     
  6. frwil

    frwil MDL Addicted

    Sep 22, 2008
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    I think (or rather hope) that there should be some unattended way (through unattended.xml may be?) to "fix" this unwantedly forced partitioning.
     
  7. HotCarl

    HotCarl MDL Addicted

    Jul 21, 2009
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    I imagine that you can do an unattended install without worry if you preformat the hard drive *before* you attempt a Windows 7 installation (USB boot disk is an easy method). That is the best way to ensure the hard drive will be setup as you want it to be. :)
     
  8. HSChronic

    HSChronic MDL Expert

    Aug 25, 2007
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    as much as people don't want this partition it helps rather than hurt. All your recovery environment stuff is on this partition (as well as that secret donkey porn you don't want us knowing about, but we do!!), so it helps in that aspect of not needing a disk to boot up the RE.

    In terms of activators, well the instructions are pretty easy to follow, and to the people that make the scripts or batch files or installers, you can have diskpart assign a drive letter through a script then have it remove the drive letter too.
     
  9. RW-One

    RW-One MDL Novice

    Sep 30, 2009
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    100mb, big deal...

    I did an install with the partition on an older Dell, and used one of the activators located here with no issue.

    If there was a problem caused by the partition interfering, I can see a reason for getting rid of it, but other than that, why bother?

    We're not in 1984 where 100Mb took up half of your HD IMHO ...
     
  10. Hazar

    Hazar MDL Guru

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #30 Hazar, Sep 30, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 23, 2017
  11. Lich King

    Lich King MDL Addicted

    Sep 24, 2009
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    thanks for tuts..
     
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  12. xaver

    xaver MDL Novice

    Mar 8, 2010
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    I am wondering. I have installed Win7 32 and 64 several times. Did not even know that it creates a hidden partition. But it did not on my system since all partitions were created already.

    Perhaps this hidden partition would have even helped me. I have RAID and would like to increase the cluster size of the OS partition because of the strip size. But then Win7 will not boot anymore. Perhaps with those 2 partitions I could increase the cluster size of the main partition?
     
  13. g0d

    g0d MDL Novice

    Oct 21, 2010
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    do it the easy way...

    * start with no partitions (all unallocated space)
    * create a small partition (i used 1024 MB) - windows cannot install here, so no prompt for the 'system reserved' partition
    * expand the small partition into the unallocated space

    done!
     
  14. acyuta

    acyuta MDL Expert

    Mar 8, 2010
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  15. davephan

    davephan MDL Novice

    Jul 23, 2011
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    Is there any advantage to having a system partition? I've only heard of disadvantages. If there are no advantages, then why is the system partition ever created by the OS installation?

    Is there a way to eliminate the system partition after the Windows 7 OS has been installed? Or, does it require re-installing the OS from scratch?
     
  16. Daz

    Daz MDL Developer / Admin
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    Jul 31, 2009
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    #36 Daz, Jul 23, 2011
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2011
    It's the first partition on your HDD and contains the boot files so it helps with the boot speed. The partition can also contain WinPE files that are used for recovery purposes and I'm pretty sure it's also a requirement for BitLocker.

    I recommend people to keep the partition but if you really want to remove it then you can probably use EasyBCD to relocate the boot files. Using disk management (diskmgmt.msc) just make sure C:\ is marked as your active partition after the files have been moved. Once the partition is then formatted if Windows won't merge it you can try using Easeus or Paragon partition managers (they're free) :)

    I take no responsibility for what you do to your system. Moving the boot files can be risky and it could force you to format if you do something wrong.
     
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  17. davephan

    davephan MDL Novice

    Jul 23, 2011
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    Thanks for your response. I have a couple of Windows 7 systems with system partitions. I don't use Bitlocker or Windows backup. I backup my computers with both Acronis and Clonezilla for redundant recovery options. If something bad happens, then I can easily recover my systems. I periodically test the recoveries to 'test' hard drives to make sure that I can successfully recover. I plan to install Windows 7 on a third computer, and I will try installing it without the system partition.
     
  18. davephan

    davephan MDL Novice

    Jul 23, 2011
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    I have found a need for no system partition with Windows 2008 R2. The reasons for the system partition that I have found so far is to use BitLocker encryption, the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and the ability to have very large C (boot) drives, such as 2 TB drives.

    We use Symantec System Recovery Server Edition 2011 (SRSE) disk imaging software to recover servers. The Symantec SRSE software does not support EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) system partitions. It does support uEFT partitions, but only if they are not used for booting. The solution in this case is to not use the system partition with the Windows 2008 R2 server build. The BIOS is configured for "Legacy" or "Traditional MBR" and the Windows 2008 R2 software is installed without the system partition option. This allow the Symantec SRSE software to recover a Windows 2008 R2 server from bare metal. If a system partition is used with Windows 2008 R2, then the bare metal recovery process is to stripe the RAID, install Windows 2008 R2, which will create the system partition. Then overlay the C drive image on top of the C drive. If the system partition is not installed in the first place, then the image based recovery is much easier, avoiding the extra step of installing the Windows 2008 R2 operating system before the image based recovery.
     
  19. Super001

    Super001 MDL Member

    Oct 18, 2009
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    thx for the useful info :biggrin::biggrin:
     
  20. Cinebao

    Cinebao MDL Novice

    Jul 19, 2011
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    so I can now erase the 100mb
    good tip
    thanks