Windows 10: Cannot expand HDD because of 450 MB Recovery space allocation

I want to 'clone' my C: drive to a bigger HDD. However, my C: drive has 450 MB of 'recovery space' that MS Technet says:

'MS has set aside a portion of your HDD for that unique Internet install they developed. That secret partition is not to be messed with, as that has all the recovery information and re-install information if you decide to do a clean re-install or just have some files replaced that may have gotten corrupted for one reason or another.'

Because of this space, I cannot expand C: to use the entire space on the bigger HDD.

I upgraded Win 7 Pro to Win 10 Pro and then to Win 10 Anniversary Pro. I'm perfectly happy with the way the OS is operating and have no wish to revert back. How can I remove (or move to another HDD) this 'useless' captured space so I can move to a bigger HDD?

Thanks.

:)

 

Moving the 450MB Recovery Partition of Windows 10 to the end of system partition

This is the proper way to "Expand" a partition. However it depends on the "Unallocated" space to be right next to partition to be Expanded. The space cannot be interupted.

In my situation, Windows_10 placed a "450 MB healthy (Recovery Partition)" inbetween my "C:" System partition and the "Unallocated" space. What I need is a way to "Move" this Recovery Partition to the end of the unallocated space
so that I can "Expand" my system partition.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

Error: We couldn’t update the system reserved partition

Try moving the 15.35GB (D HP Recovery partition to the right so its immediately next to the C: (915GB) Windows partition. Next move the 450 MB recovery partition to the right so its next to the HP Recovery partition.

You should now have the "Unallocated" space immediately next to the EFI System Partition. Now try expanding the size of the EFI System Partition to include the "Unallocated" space.

 

Hi, you do need to keep that (not useless) partition. By using a partition manager you can shuffle partitions to achieve what you want.
E.g. Minitool partition wizard. Free bootable medium.
Bootable Partition Manager| MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

(Move, shrink, expand....)

 

Well, I'll give it a try. I am using Macrim Reflect to clone the C: drive and I thought that putting the 1G C: data on a 2G drive would allow expansion but that 450MB Recovery area prevents the expansion. Then, Windows treats the extra area as a new partition, not allowing expanding.

Hope this works.

Thanks.

 

Please include a Screenshot of Disk Management windows lower pane showing your Disk with the various partitions.
A recovery partition is used if your computer wont' boot and you want to restore the computer back to Factory Defaults by pressing a certain key at bootup, depending on the make of computer.
If you are cloning your smaller HDD to a bigger one, you do not have to expand the C: drive, You should be able to Clone the whole HDD including the Recovery Partition and the Hidden System Reserved Partition. The Clone opperation will determine that the new drive is larger and make adjustments and automatically expand the C: drive. If you want the cloned HDD to boot, you need to include the System Reserved Partition as this holds the boot information.

 

Actually, my C: drive crashed tonight. Thought it was a perfect opportunity to restore Sunday's macrim backup onto the bigger HDD. That worked, of course, and showed the 1/2 of the new drive as unallocated space. Just expanded the volume and it filled the drive.

Thanks for your help!

 

Good- great you used disk imaging. Do nonetheless post a screenshot of your drive as suggested using e.g. Minitool partition wizard (Disk Management doesn't show the small partitions e.g. System reserved at 16Mb), and confirm if you're using legacy BIOS or UEFI.