Windows 10: Dual Boot, what partitions can I remove?

I want to install Linux along side of Windows 10. This was a Forced Upgrade from windows 7, and I am somewhat clueless as to exactly what happens when windows 10 comes through like this? I don't know which partitions are left over from 7 and which ones are windows 10.

1. I can only assume the one labeled as 450MB Healthy (Recovery Partition) is from windows 7.

2. along with the FACTORY_IMAGE D: is also from windows 7.

3. It appears that there is only three Primary's, so maybe I can just install along side just the way it is? Or, maybe I can remove those Recovery Partitions and then install Linux in Dual Boot. The Dual Boot part I can handle, it's just trying to figure out if I am indeed seeing only Three Primary's. I will leave the only output I could muster up, if you need a screenshot just say the word. Or a better Command to get the job done, to show all Primary's.


DISKPART> list partition


Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 100 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 Primary 583 GB 101 MB
Partition 3 Recovery 450 MB 583 GB
Partition 4 Primary 11 GB 584 GB

DISKPART> list volume


Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 E DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 SYSTEM NTFS Partition 100 MB Healthy System
Volume 2 C HP NTFS Partition 583 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 D FACTORY_IMA NTFS Partition 11 GB Healthy
Volume 4 NTFS Partition 450 MB Healthy Hidden

:)

 

Replace dual boot XP/Win8.1 with dual boot XP/Win10?

From what I've seen here, it will not be possible to set up a new dual boot system with Windows 10 in one partition, but what about replacing Win8.1 with Windows 10 on a system that is ALREADY dual boot? In other words, can I boot into the existing Win8.1
system, then do the Win10 upgrade to that partition without affecting the XP partition?

 

Install Win 10 Pro as dual boot currently have Win 7 Pro

Can you provide tutorial how partition in disk manager in Win 7 Pro?

Also must format partition e.g. NTFS ... if plan dual boot with Win 10 Pro?

also what partition type must do e.g. Primary or Logical or ... ? Win 10 Pro must installed in only Primary partitions as dual boot[2nd OS]?

 

Partition 1 is the System Reserved Partition that contains the Windows boot loader files (legacy BIOS).
Partition 2 is the C: drive Windows OS partition
Partition 3 is the Windows 10 Recovery Environment (the menu that appears if you hold down Shift and click on Restart).
Partition 4 is the factory recovery partition from Windows 7, which is more than likely unusable now that the OS has been upgraded to Windows 10.

You can delete Partitions 3 and 4. Deleting partition 3 means that to get to the recovery environment menu you would have to boot from a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD.

 

@NavyLCDR, Well that is very interesting, I'll need to think about this and ask questions tomorrow.

I wonder if marking Windows 7 Recovery Partition as Active and Re-Booting would allow to recover it to a usable OS, or if that is any help to me LOL?

I'll probably delete those partitions and install Linux in dual boot for now. Or maybe even leave them, what do you think?

 

The factory recovery partitions are rarely bootable, you can always try. If I wanted to use the space, I would delete them both. And make sure to have a bootable USB flash drive or DVD with recovery capability.

 

I'll go ahead and do that!

 

NavyLCDR

Hello,

Wouldn't it be just as easy to shrink the primary to create a new RAW partition space where he could install his new OS?

I just did 5 dual boot systems with dual SSD's, one Win7 the other Win10. Learned long ago fresh installs are the only way to go when putzing with these beasts to get them running stable. I just use F8 at boot up to select what I want to boot from or change the primary boot disk in BIOS to autoboot to the OS I am dealing with on an extended basis. After the fact when installing the OCZ SSD utility for a few of the SSD's did I learn about over-provisioning. Essentially leaving RAW space for future use when the chips start wearing out so you have fresh unused chips to put back online. Two for the price of one! *Smile So on the boxes that didn't have this utility I was forced to use volume shrinking to achieve the same goal and it all works fine.

Just a thought.
Cheers!

 

No. Delete the factory recovery partition and the OP gets an instant 11 GB of free space without affecting the Windows partition at all. In addition, this is a computer booting in legacy BIOS mode with an MBR partitioned drive which has a limit of 4 primary partitions. Only shrinking the OS partition would still leave the drive with the maximum number of partitions on it and one or more of the existing primary partitions would have to be converted to an extended partition with logical drives.

Deleting the next to useless Windows Recovery Environment partition and he instantly gains another 1/2 GB and reduces the number of primary partitions to 2 existing out of 4 maximum.

 

Re. vols 3 and 4, I think 3 is win 7 old partition, and 4 is Win 10.

 

Windows 7 Recovery will not fit in 450 MB

 

Read first post again. Partition 3 is the large one, and partition 4 is smaller one. I think you have got them back to front.

 

I think you might be looking at the wrong first post.

Partition 3 at 450 MB is much smaller than Partition 4 at 11 GB.

 

Hey guys! I was able to Delete only one: Partition 4 Primary 11 GB 584 GB

How can I Delete the Other one?: Partition 3 Recovery 450 MB 583 GB
I take it this one is only the old Window 7 Recovery Tool, or is it something to do with Windows 10? It doesn't look to be a Primary so Don't really need to Delete it but would like to just to keep things clean.

I will be ready to Dual Boot once I do this.

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 100 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 Primary 583 GB 101 MB
Partition 3 Recovery 450 MB 583 GB
Partition 4 Primary 11 GB 584 GB

 

What is keeping you from deleting the partition?

diskpart
select disk 0
select part 3 <- assuming the recovery partition is still #3
delete part override
exit