Moving GPT partitions around...

Windows version: 22H2 (OS Build 19045.2251)...

The system has two Windows 10 installation:

1. Disk 0: Converted disk layout via "MBR2GPT"
2. Disk 1: Default GPT disk layout via new install

The goal is to merge/extend partition C into the free space. The disk manager doesn't allow extending/moving partitions.

Is there a way to change "Disk 0" layout to look like "Disk 1"?

TIA...

PS: Yes, I do have image backup for "Disk 0".

Easy with a 3rd party free partition manager. E.g. Miinitool Partition Wizard - supported by video tutorials etc.

- Best solution is to create a drive image with Macrium Reflect, clean drive 0 and restore the partitions (drag and drop partition by partition) from the image to drive 0.

- You can also Boot from Win 10 (drive 1) and, as Dalchina advised, use Minitool Partition Wizard to move the partitions. More complicated and much more time consuming than first option.

Thanks guys...

This the first time working with GPT partition and as such, it is somewhat daunting at the first time...

Yes, I do have a Reflect image for Disk 0 and could boot to Disk 1 for the purpose of moving partitions around with the Minitool Partition Wizzard. Cleaning Disk 0 and dropping the partition on it in correct order (EFI, C:, Recovery) seem simple. The confusing part is how to move the recovery partition to the end of the drive, instead of right after C: partition. The unallocated drive space should be added first to C partition, not?

Or do I need to boot to Reflect recovery USB and rearrange the partition layout there?

TIA...

PS: Ain't that the truth, quote from Megahertz: "The best software is the one you know how to use."

Cr00zng said:

Thanks guys...

This the first time working with GPT partition and as such, it is somewhat daunting at the first time...

Yes, I do have a Reflect image for Disk 0 and could boot to Disk 1 for the purpose of moving partitions around with the Minitool Partition Wizzard. Cleaning Disk 0 and dropping the partition on it in correct order (EFI, C:, Recovery) seem simple. The confusing part is how to move the recovery partition to the end of the drive, instead of right after C: partition. The unallocated drive space should be added first to C partition, not?

Or do I need to boot to Reflect recovery USB and rearrange the partition layout there?

TIA...

PS: Ain't that the truth, quote from Megahertz: "The best software is the one you know how to use."

Macrium Reflect has an option to drop to the right.
Drag and drop in this order;
- EFI
- MSR (hidden on Disk manager)
- Recovery (drop to the right end)
- C: (between MSR and Recovery. Expand C: to the right till Recovery)

NavyLCDR said:

I have never fully understood the fascination with recovery partitions. They are next to worthless. Run:

Code:

reagentc /disable

Then just delete the recovery partition and be done with it.

Also, once you start MiniTool Partition Wizard Free you will also see the hidden MSR partition on the second disk that the first disk does not have.

Thx...

Presumably, restoring the recovery partition afterward can be done with:

Code:

reagentc /enable

I think Reflect utilizes the recovery disk to install Windows boot menu, among other thing to restore from backup.

I do see the hidden MSR partition with AOMEI, with Disk 1, but not on Disk 0:



What is the purpose of the hidden partition, in light of Disk 0 not having one?

Do I need to run Mini Partition Wizzard from Disk 1 to move around partitions on Disk 0? Or, can it be ran and working from Disk 0?

The Mini have a sale, is it worth for purchasing the perpetual license?

TIA...

- - - Updated - - -

Megahertz said:

Macrium Reflect has an option to drop to the right.
Drag and drop in this order;
- EFI
- MSR (hidden on Disk manager)
- Recovery (drop to the right end)
- C: (between MSR and Recovery. Expand C: to the right till Recovery)

Thanks...

My Disk 0 does not have MSR partition, please see the image in my previous posting. How did NavyLCDR knew this from a disk manager image is a mystery for me.

Would the order without the MSR partition result in a working system? The chances are that the answer is yes, after all, it is working now...

TIA...

Recovery partitions... pfft, phooey.

NavyLCDR said:

I don't bother with a recovery partition. With no recovery partition when you run "reagentc /enable" it creates the recrovery environment in C:\Recovery

Macrium Refect does not use the recovery partition when there is a boot entry for it. It puts its own recovery environment in C:\Boot.

The hidden MSR (Microsoft System Reserved) partition serves no function in the real world that anyone has been able to identify. When you run mbr2gpt on a disk, the MSR partition is not created (as you can see). So, if it was needed by Windows you would think that Microsoft would create it with mbr2gpt but they don't.

You can run MiniTool Partition Wizard Free from any OS (the running Windows, Windows on another partition, recovery environment). But if you attempt to move/resize the Windows partition that MiniTool is also running from, it will tell you that it needs to reboot the computer to make the changes to the disk, and it can be really scary to watch that process, but I have never had it fail.

I've never seen any need to purchase MiniTool - the free version has done everything I have needed.

Thanks for the information about Reflect recovery environment..

Recovery partition is gone for good:

Code:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>reagentc /disable
REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Installed Mini Partion Wizzard free edition, will move the EFI partition front of the C drive, that will be merged with the free space.So, basically, there will be two partition only, C and EFI, right?

I let you know how it went, thanks again...