What is "msftres" partition


  1. Posts : 189
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    What is "msftres" partition


    Hi all,

    I want to delete all partition that are preinstalled in my new laptop and then I want to install Win 10 Pro.

    I went into GPARTED and I see:

    - EFI 260MB
    - msftres 16MB
    - WINDOWS 50GB
    - WINRE 300MB

    I want to install two new Win 10 Pro in UEFI and SECURE BOOT from the orginal ISO from the Microsoft website (no creation tool), I will use RUFUS.

    It is safe to clear all those FOUR partition and especially the "msftre"?

    I will make some damage to the UEFI of the laptop?

    I repeat, I want to TOTALLY delete the preinstalled Win 10 Home and its partition and I want the new Win 10 Pro will install itself in UEFI and SECURE BOOT.

    And I will also install a SECOND Win 10 Pro after I installed the first.

    Please help, I don't want to damage the UEFI of the laptop (the tools of the manufactorer in the UEFI).
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #2

    MSR partition: Microsoft Reserved Partition - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    A normal fresh install of Windows 10 with GPT partition scheme:
    1. 450MB Recovery partition (Contains trouble shoot tools)
    2. 100MB EFI System (Contains Boot code, without it, won't be able to boot)
    3. 16MB MSR (MS reserved partition)
    4. C Drive.

    If you want to clean install. Assumning you've already saved personal data. With only the HD/SSD connected

    1. Boot up the Installation USB. On the first screen, Hold SHIFT+F10
    2. Type:
      diskpart
      select disk 0
      clean
      exit
    3. Continue, select unallocated partition then click Next (do not format)
    4. Once done, you'd get the partition scheme as shown above. Install drivers needed, Apps etc...

    For second Windows. To save the trouble of re-install again. Here's what I'd do:
    Since you've already setup the 1st Windows with drivers, Apps installed. Shrink C: drive for 2nd Windows
    1. Download Macrium Reflect Free . Install and create a backup image. Also use Rufus to create a Macrium Rescue disk.
    2. From Macrium, click on Restore tab, select the image from step 1.
    3. Select the same disk for destination. Drag and drop C: Drive only to the empty partition that was shrunk earlier for 2nd Windows
    4. Take a note of the drive letter, open Admin Command prompt and type:
      bcdboot X:\Windows ===> X is the drive letter for 2nd Windows
    5. Reboot, you should have a dual boot screen for both Windows.
    Last edited by topgundcp; 08 Sep 2016 at 22:10.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 189
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    You totally save me to wast big time installing the second Windows.

    But, I could use Clonezilla instead?

    I want to proceed in such way, please correct me:

    1) Totally erase ALL partitions leaving GPT
    2) First Win 10 Pro installation in UEFI
    3) Apps and drivers
    4) shrink and create an empty partion
    4) Clonezilla: partition-to-partition from First Win 10 to the empty partition
    5) Run the first Win 10 Pro, CMD as admin
    6) bcdboot D:\Windows
    7) I will see on the next boot a dual Win 10 selection

    This method is valid for UEFI and SECURE BOOT too, right?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #4

    1) Totally erase ALL partitions leaving GPT
    Step 2 using diskpart above is a quick way to delete all partitions and leave it as one single unallocated partition.
    2) First Win 10 Pro installation in UEFI
    Your BIOS is set to UEFI & Boot the Installation USB with UEFI option. Windows will recognize it and will install with GPT partition scheme. Again, leave it unallocated and let Windows creates all needed partitions.
    4) Clonezilla: partition-to-partition from First Win 10 to the empty partition
    I don't use Clonezilla but if it does the job then yes, you can use it. Preferably copy, not clone to make sure that it has different GUID.
    This method is valid for UEFI and SECURE BOOT too, right?
    Yes but it is advisable to disable secure boot while installing Windows to avoid rejection of unsigned drivers being installed (if any). After Windows installation completed, you can re-enable it again.
    Last edited by topgundcp; 09 Sep 2016 at 10:15.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #5

    While this is correct there is another approach you could use and that is to create the partitions before hand. This is useful if you have some other partitions on you disk you don't want to break.

    You can partition your disk using gdisk (I use the Linux version but you can use the Windows one it is exactly the same apart from the initial syntax).

    The order is not important but this is the default.

    You should start in 40 and you should (if you may use another OS) leave 128MB between partitions - see http://rodsbooks.com/gdisk/advice.html

    Make a 450 or 500MB Recovery partition. Format should be NTFS and partition code should be 2700. This one is completely optional.
    Make a 100MB or 200MB EFI. Format should be FAT. This is required and the partition code must be EF00
    Make a 12MB MSR Should be unformatted and partition code should be 0C01. Microsoft are vague what this is for but as it is tiny and there is a possibility it is required so then why not. Windows does work without it though currently.
    Make a <whatever size> C drive. Format should be NTFS and the partition code 0700

    Then when you install Windows, pick C partition and it will figure out the rest and not touch any other partition.

    Alternatively you can copy the loaders from your ISO into the ESP and copy everything else into your C drive. When you boot Windows will install but you'll have to delete the installation directories after. That is a boring and long winded way of installing but is required for old Apple computers for example.

    You can change the GUID after if you have a problem using GDisk.

    It should look like this:
    Code:
    C:\Users\Hali\OneDrive\Programs\Gdisk>gdisk64 0:
    GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.0
    
    Partition table scan:
      MBR: protective
      BSD: not present
      APM: not present
      GPT: present
    
    Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.
    
    Command (? for help): p
    Disk 0:: 236978176 sectors, 113.0 GiB
    Logical sector size: 512 bytes
    Disk identifier (GUID): 94EB0CDB-062F-4EF9-BDED-04F144D52C7C
    Partition table holds up to 128 entries
    First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 236978142
    Partitions will be aligned on 8-sector boundaries
    Total free space is 264277 sectors (129.0 MiB)
    
    Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name
       1              40         1024039   500.0 MiB   2700
       2         1024040         1433639   200.0 MiB   EF00  EFI
       3         1435648         1468415   16.0 MiB    0C01  Microsoft reserved ...
       4         1468416        69982207   32.7 GiB    0700  Basic data partition
    
    Command (? for help):
    Then install Windows (either normally or just copy the contents of the ISO to C drive)
      My Computer


 

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