Multi Recovery Partitions

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  1. azizuddin
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7, 8.1, 10
       New #1

    Multi Recovery Partitions


    Folks:
    I have a Dell Venue 8 Pro with an upgraded Windows 10 installed. Always perform Windows Update but did not pay attention too closely. When the drive space was low and started looking a little bit closer, I found out that I have several Recovery Partitions. From Disk Management display, from left to right are the partitions:
    500MB EFI | 40 MB OEM | 490 MB Recovery | C: OS 22.8 GB | 450 MB Recovery | 4.75 GB Recovery
    The problem is I do not know which partition that Windows 10 actually created as its Recovery Partition. I do know that the 4.75 GB partition is my original Dell Venue 8 Pro Recovery Partition. Which one can I remove to allow the expansion of my C drive? What gives?
    Last edited by azizuddin; 06 Mar 2016 at 21:13.
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  3. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #2

    First thing I would do is install Macrium Reflect Free and make a backup of your 32GB memory onto a flash drive or SD card. That way if you need anything in the future you will have it.

    Then I would install MiniTool Partition Wizard. From the looks of it you can delete the 40 MB OEM, 490 MB Recovery and 4.75 GB Recovery partitions. Move the 450 MB recovery partition to the end of the "disk". Then expand the C: drive partition both at the front and at the end to fill the remaining space.

    Also, it would be a good idea to make the Macrium Reflect Free rescue USB flash drive - which will take about 1 GB more of your space on the "hard drive" - but you can also make the Macrium rescue USB on another computer as well.

    Also note: you will probably see a small MSR partition in MiniTool Partition Wizard that you don't see in Windows Disk Management. If that is in the way of expanding your C: drive partition at the front - just delete it. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth and someone will post here shortly that deleting the MSR partition will be the beginning of the apocalypse - but there are plenty of us who have deleted this empty "reserved for future use" space and have had no issues at all.
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  4. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #3

    This is my tablet's configuration. I've also shrunk the EFI and Recovery partitions:

    Multi Recovery Partitions-capture.jpg
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  6. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       New #4

    The 3 recovery partitions seem to be standard. At least 2 of them are really tiny. So no need to play around with them.
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  7. cereberus
    Posts : 15,480
    Windows10
       New #5

    NavyLCDR said:
    This is my tablet's configuration. I've also shrunk the EFI and Recovery partitions:

    Multi Recovery Partitions-capture.jpg
    You could squeeze a little more space by using Kyhi's win pe image to make an image backup of tablet to a flash drive, or sd card, then you could delete the recovery partition as not really needed then.
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  8. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #6

    cereberus said:
    You could squeeze a little more space by using Kyhi's win pe image to make an image backup of tablet to a flash drive, or sd card, then you could delete the recovery partition as not really needed then.
    I have an image on the SD card, but I want to keep the troubleshooting menu.
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  9. cereberus
    Posts : 15,480
    Windows10
       New #7

    NavyLCDR said:
    I have an image on the SD card, but I want to keep the troubleshooting menu.
    The only part that disappears is the ability to reset pc. I can still access firmware etc via the troubleshoot menus and I have no recovery partition.

    In my personal experience, both my tablets screwed up using reset option anyway, so I always use MRF instead.


    Still not worth it removing it really for 350 MB though I guess.
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  10. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #8

    cereberus said:
    The only part that disappears is the ability to reset pc. I can still access firmware etc via the troubleshoot menus and I have no recovery partition.

    In my personal experience, both my tablets screwed up using reset option anyway, so I always use MRF instead.


    Still not worth it removing it really for 350 MB though I guess.
    Well, I can certainly try it, it's easy enough to put back in place if I don't like the results
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  12. Kyhi
    Posts : 4,142
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       New #9

    Well, I too have a Venue Pro...
    So I will share my experience with windows 8.1 (PBR- Push Button Reset) and (Bare Metal Reset Recovery Media)
    vs
    the same recovery features with Windows 10....

    The Recovery features between 8.1 and 10 are very different.... And the venue being a touch tablet makes matters worst..

    500MB EFI | 40 MB OEM | 490 MB Recovery | C: OS 22.8 GB | 450 MB Recovery | 4.75 GB Recovery
    Here is the break down for this upgraded Venue..

    500MB EFI (System) Partition > only needs to be 100MB

    40MB OEM Partition > Dell's PC Diagnostic Utility Partition > maybe nice to have, but will probably never use or need it...

    490MB Recovery (WinRE for windows 8.1) > Here is where there is a difference - that WinRE.wim also has the 8.1 touch and system drivers added into it.... So your tablet will function without the need for a USB input device while in Recovery..

    C is the OS

    450MB Recovery is WinRE for Windows 10 > this is the standard 10 winre.wim and does not contain any system or touch drivers for the venue.. so a USB input device will be needed within recovery...

    4.75GB is the windows 8.1 recovery image partition... Windows 8.1 uses this Factory image to Reset windows... The image is a capture of the OS, Factory Programs, System Drivers, etc.. (the Sysprep OS)

    Here is the second major difference - windows 10 uses a different method to Reset itself - it uses the file backups from within itself to Reset the OS.. (winSxS)

    Windows 10 Reset is also an OS only reset feature - not special drivers or programs...
    To included or apply those drivers and programs - A provisioning package (custom.wim) must be included into the recovery process... This is a process you would have to do manually as it is not part of the OS installation...

    So in closing, due to the difference in the creation and recovery processes of 8.1 and 10 recovery on the venue..
    I have had No luck creating and resetting my venue with the Standard Windows 10 Recovery Method....

    I have the Windows 8.1 Factory Bare Metal Reset Recovery Media, saved to an external drive and USB stick... Because it works every time...

    There are several other more reliable methods to create windows 10 recovery and BMR recovery media, but it is all done manually...

    I manually build off the windows 8.1 recovery (use as a template) to create the Windows 10 Recovery Media.. By swapping in a few prepared windows 10 images..
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  13. cereberus
    Posts : 15,480
    Windows10
       New #10

    Kyhi said:
    Well, I too have a Venue Pro...
    So I will share my experience with windows 8.1 (PBR- Push Button Reset) and (Bare Metal Reset Recovery Media)
    vs
    the same recovery features with Windows 10....

    The Recovery features between 8.1 and 10 are very different.... And the venue being a touch tablet makes matters worst..



    Here is the break down for this upgraded Venue..

    500MB EFI (System) Partition > only needs to be 100MB

    40MB OEM Partition > Dell's PC Diagnostic Utility Partition > maybe nice to have, but will probably never use or need it...

    490MB Recovery (WinRE for windows 8.1) > Here is where there is a difference - that WinRE.wim also has the 8.1 touch and system drivers added into it.... So your tablet will function without the need for a USB input device while in Recovery..

    C is the OS

    450MB Recovery is WinRE for Windows 10 > this is the standard 10 winre.wim and does not contain any system or touch drivers for the venue.. so a USB input device will be needed within recovery...

    4.75GB is the windows 8.1 recovery image partition... Windows 8.1 uses this Factory image to Reset windows... The image is a capture of the OS, Factory Programs, System Drivers, etc.. (the Sysprep OS)

    Here is the second major difference - windows 10 uses a different method to Reset itself - it uses the file backups from within itself to Reset the OS.. (winSxS)

    Windows 10 Reset is also an OS only reset feature - not special drivers or programs...
    To included or apply those drivers and programs - A provisioning package (custom.wim) must be included into the recovery process... This is a process you would have to do manually as it is not part of the OS installation...

    So in closing, due to the difference in the creation and recovery processes of 8.1 and 10 recovery on the venue..
    I have had No luck creating and resetting my venue with the Standard Windows 10 Recovery Method....

    I have the Windows 8.1 Factory Bare Metal Reset Recovery Media, saved to an external drive and USB stick... Because it works every time...

    There are several other more reliable methods to create windows 10 recovery and BMR recovery media, but it is all done manually...

    I manually build off the windows 8.1 recovery (use as a template) to create the Windows 10 Recovery Media.. By swapping in a few prepared windows 10 images..
    Yeah - windows 10 recovery on tablets is a PITA.

    The easiest method (imo) is to simply use Macrium Reflect Free and create a system image backup of a working version, and put Macrium as a dual boot entry. You will need to connect a usb mouse (via an otg cable if a mico usb slot).

    Unfortunately, my Linc does not recognise the sd card when using Macrium, so image need to be on a flash drive (so a usb hub is needed as well). Not sure if this a generic or specific to Linx. I know you can create a custom wim but tbh more trouble than it is worth as I have a suitable hub anyway.
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