Windows 10: Macrium finds extra partition

I did a backup and I noticed that Macrium shows 5 partitions while disk management shows 4 partitions, at least graphically. What is that 3rd 128 mb partition about shown in Marcrium. Is it okay to leave it there/leave it be?










:)

 

System image and Windows 10: Can you create but not use?

I have used windows image programs in the past and found them to be very quirky. When I had windows 8.1 the program wouldn't even run and it seems the solution was to change partition sizes, a process that couldn't be done through windows. So I solved the
problem by downloading Macrium reflect free. The program is more compliant and works in situations where windows just tells you that it's your fault.

Macrium will also clone your hard drive, a feature I use more often than imaging. Yes I have an extra hard drive for each computer, but I get a feeling of security knowing all I have to do is swap hard drives and I'm back running.

I believe with windows image you click on "select another backup to restore file from" and then navigate to the hard drive that has your image. I have gotten that far before, just to find out windows didn't like the new hard drive. Luckily I didn't trust
windows and also had made a Macrium image. So even if you find the image good luck.

No I do not work for Macrium, just a fan based on my experiences.

 

Windows 10 Creators Edition

"AEOMI Backupper which is a free download but wont clone the drive without paying for it!"

Where did you get that idea ? The have a free and pay for version which has extra features, but you can

clone Windows with the free version. They use the term 'migrate' rather than clone, and they also use the phrase

'migrate OS to SSD', but you can migrate/clone to HDD as well.

Free Partition Manager - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard

btw - Macrium Reflect also have a free version.

 

That is a hidden partition reserved by Microsoft for future use.

I (personally) would not delete it. Just create a full system image and you should be good to go.

Hope this helps,

 

Hi,

For future use ? It's the GPT file system partition, that's all.

Cheers, *Wink

 

Oh really? I thought it was the MSR partition?
https://wiki2.org/en/Microsoft_Reserved_Partition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micros...rved_Partition

 

Hi,

Well yes, but it's the "for future use" that triggered my reply. It only varies in size depending on the size of the drive (16Mb to 128Mb).

If you convert a blank (as in in factory fresh or cleaned using diskpart) drive to GPT it will be the first partition on that drive.
You won't find it on Bios/Non-Efi systems as these do not support GPT.
The position of most partitions isn't all that critical on EFI systems although some positions may be inconvenient for practical reasons.
I've never experienced that GPT partition change in size, never.


Cheers, *Wink

 

WOT is mostly correct. The MSR partition is a bit of an enigma as nobody seems to be clear on its exact purpose, although some say it is/will be used by bitlocker for example.

I have many installs where it is not present with no impact at all. It is a real PITA actually as it is the only partition that cannot be moved once created even with tools like minitool partition wizard.

Leaving it there is no big deal, but on my 32 GB tablet, I delete it and all recovery partitions to gain a bit of extra space, only leaving the 100 MB EFI fat32 partition and the Windows partition.

The MSR partition was always 128 MB until W19 where by default it is now 16GB. It is always installed second after the Recovery partition on clean installs.



Wikipedia:

A Microsoft Reserved Partition, or MSR, is a partition of a data storage device, which is created simply to reserve a chunk of disk space for possible subsequent use by the operating system software of a Windows operating system. No data is stored within the MSR; Windows may take from the MSR partition for the creation of new partitions, which themselves may contain data structures.

 

Me too. If I do any customizing of the front part of the drive, the MSR partition gets deleted. Never has presented an issue on any computer that doesn't have it in my house.

 

It is often not realised you only need two partitions - efi and the windows partition. Rest are optional.

 

Hi,

Yep. I found that out when I created a Windows To Go stick where only the basic two partitions are created.

Cheers, *Wink