Windows 10: Partition layout

Hi guys

Reinstalled Windows 10 on my new PC, then cloned the HDD to a new SSD and i wanted to check if the partiions and their layout is correct.
Please see the photo attached and let me know if it's OK.

Also, i'd like to create a recovery drive, should i have it on a USB? and delete the recovery partition from the main drive ?
I tried it on a USB and it says "we can't create the recovery drive, an error has occured"
What i really need is a clean image of my operating system saved somewhere safe.

Thank you very much in advance

:)

 

Boot Problem after SSD Clone on windows 10

You are using a GPT disk but your partition layout contains only the BOOT and SYSTEM partitions.

The proper layout must look as:

DISKPART> list part
Partition ### Type Size Offset

------------- ---------------- ------- -------

Partition 1 Recovery 450 MB 1024 KB

Partition 2 System 100 MB 451 MB

Partition 3 Reserved 128 MB 551 MB

Partition 4 Primary 144 GB 679 MB

Partition 5 Recovery 5168 MB 144 GB

Partition1: [Optional] Holds a WinRE.wim file

Partition2: EFI partition. Must contain BCD boot configuration database files.

Partition3: MSR partition. Contains some boot code (???)

Partition4: Files of operating system (.\Windows folder)

Partition5: [Optional] Holds install.wim file containing Setup files of Windows.

Disregard the offset and size of partitions after Partition3. First 3 partitions are recommended to have the size like listed above.

Please see here to find out how you could create a proper partition layout:

Understanding Disk Partitions

Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart

I also recommend you look at this article that not only explains the guts of GPT/UEFI boot but also provides guidelines to create a proper disk layout for UEFI boot from a GPT disk using PowerShell:

Notes of UEFI, GPT, UEFI boot process, disk partitions, and Hyper-V differencing disks with a Generation 2 VM

 

Windows 10 upgrade failing - UEFI firmware

Your disk drive's partition layout is a standard (non UEFI) layout.

What is the make and model number of your PC and did you purchase it new or used and from who?

:
http://www.pagestart.com

 

This is what mine looks like after a UEFI installation. Bare in mind i also have Samsung Magician software installed hence the unallocated.

 

No. The partition layout is a mess. This is the first time I saw that you have 2 EFI System partitions. The correct partition layout is from the above post: 450MB Recovery, 100MB EFI System, 16MB MSR Partition (This partition is hidden, can only see it using diskpart) and C drive.

 

Thank you for your replies.
So how do i resolve this issue? do i have to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch?
It's strange that it is a mess, i don't know what caused this.
I had Windows 8 on my PC when i bought it 18 months ago, then upgraded to Windows 10, then installed the SSD...

Also, i can't even create a recovery on a USB, it keeps throwing an error

Thank you

 

It's not actually that bad - 2 efi partitions are wrong - one of them is a hangover from earlier install. You could just delete the old one (not so easy to identify though).

A good way to sort this is to image backup C partition using Macrium Reflect Free to another drive, then clean install Windows 10 on existing drive, deleting all partitions. Then all partitions will be in optimal layout.

Then with Macrium, you restore the image backup of your C partition, deleting freshly created C drive partition, dragging and dropping backed up image into space freed up, and then restring image. This way you keep all your programs.

 

You should be able to fix it following the link below:
Solved Small Wrinkle in Anniversary Update....MBR Disk - Windows 10 Forums

 

Hi
Thanks for the advice.
So open Macrium, untick the partitions and leave the C partition ticked, then select "image this disk", is that correct ?
Can the destination be my external HDD ?
Also, the C drive size is 62GB, is that normal ? it seems a lot to me for Windows 10.

When i clean install Windows 10 on the existing drive, do i do it from Windows recovery menu ? cause i don't have recovery discs nor recovery USB

Thanks again

 

OK, looks like I have messed it up.
I created a rescue media on usb when I opened Macrium Reflect.
Now the pc won't boot to Windows, it says :
The boot configuration data for your PC is missing or contains errors.
File: \EFI\Microsoft \Boot\BCD
Error code: 0Xc000000f

Please please help to get the pc back up and running

Thank you

 

No need to panic yet assuming you backed up old c drive partition ok.

First, your previous post

1) you were correct to image backup c partition only. 64 GB is not that big - depends on lots of factors.

2) an external usb hard drive is best for image backup.

Now assuming you did 1 and 2.

3) now create a boot usb drive on another pc using

Windows 10

A reset is not the thing to do here.

4) Boot from usb stick and select custom install.

5) Delete all partitions and install windows 10

6) install Macrium Reflect Free, and create Macrium usb rescue drive

7) boot from Macrium Rescue drive and select to restore the backed up image partition from external drive.

8) delete c partition only on target drive

9) drag and drop selected partition from image source to spare space created on target drive.

10) reboot pc when image is restored.

 

Did you do step 9 in my writeup that TopGun pointed you too ? ( I used @Topgun's instructions actually)

....it's VERY IMPORTANT to run the Fix Windows Boot Problems from the Restore Tab/Menu before rebooting

note it needs to find your windows install on C:\ if not you need to change that 1st. (see step 8)

KB

 

Saw your other Thread , just repeat the process , since you have Win10 backed Up with MR and do EVERY Step.

PS if you have errors ASK ???'s before proceeding.........

KB

 

Hi

So I have reinstalled W10 from scratch, and this is the partition layout I got

 

Hi sorry no ...you are back where you were when this started , did you clean the disk/wipe it before the reinstall?

This is a Clean install right? , it just installed win10 back into the existing partitions , just run Setup again and this time delete all partitions on the SSD, every one of them. this is for Win7 but it is the same AFAIK....

How to delete all the partition of hard drive while installing the windows 7 - Quora


You could also use a Minitool Partition Boot USB to wipe the HDD 1st and then just install Win10 Clean.