No MSR partition after converting from MBR to GPT a while back?

topgundcp said:

Sorry but this is incorrect. It does not mean if Minitool can't do it then no other software can do it.
Since I know you use Macrium and I can tell you that Macrium can do things that Minitool is unable to.

@iarejohnsmith
Even lots of people claim that you don't need it and they don't have any clear explanation for it except Windows will work without it and I am not going to debate about this. However, every time you initialize a GPT disk, there will be an MSR partition created and MS also state that this partition is needed for partition management of a GPT disk, Now who should I believe other than the creator of Windows.

With a fresh install of Windows 10 version 1709. The partition layout is: 500MB Recovery, 100MB EFI partition, 16MB MSR and the rest is C drive.
If you keep it in this layout, you won't have any problem for future feature update, otherwise you would see a lot of extra Recovery partitions created even though Windows is still working.

Honestly, I don't see how by deleting a 16MB partition will save any space. Surfing the internet will create cache files left and right in order of several hundred MB's in one session.

If you are interested in rebuilding the partitions so it look as if you do a fresh install then let us know.

Yeah I knew MRF could do it in effect, but you are deleting and restoring rather than moving using a partition manager moving functions.

Re. MSR needed - that is not a requirement of the minimum UEFI standard, so MS have to comply with minimum and allow Windows to work with only two partitions, EFI and OS drive.

Superfly said:

Yup. I think Windows Update uses the MSR - I would leave it be as well....not sure why it's so small though - maybe just for temp boot files?

MSR is not part of minimum UEFI standard, so pc has to work even without it. I have deleted on various devices for years and things still work. It is not used now for sure.

cereberus said:

MSR is not part of minimum UEFI standard, so pc has to work even without it. I have deleted on various devices for years and things still work. It is not used now for sure.

M, you guys are the experts ... just IMHO.. :)

Any suggestions on approaching these issues?

Yes, we will rebuild the whole thing.

Here's the steps:

1. Copy this code and save it in a file called: EFI.txt to an external HD.
   IMPORTANT: The code uses Disk 0 on first line, make sure you use the same disk #, if not, change it.
   select disk 0
   clean
   convert GPT
   create partition primary size=499
   format quick fs=ntfs
   set id=DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC override
   gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
   create partition primary size=99
   format quick fs=FAT32
   set id=C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B override
   create par MSR size=16
   list par
   exit
2. Download Macrium Rescue disk ISO.: MacRescue.iso - Google Drive
   build a bootable USB, use: Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way
3. Boot up the PC with the USB. NOTE: there are 2 boot up modes: USB-XXX and UEFI-USB-XXX
   Since your Windows is GPT, Must use: UEFI-USB-XXX
4. Make a complete backup image of your current Windows Disk 0 including D: partition to the external HD.
   (Click on image this disk)
   IMPORTANT: Make sure you verify the image
5. Next, Click on the command icon on the bottom left to open the command windows then type:
   diskpart /s Drive:\EFI.txt where Drive is the the drive letter of the external HD.
   This will create the 1st 3 partitions: 500MB Recovery, 100MB EFI System, 16MB MSR
6. Go back to Macrium Windows, click on Backup tab, click on Refresh
7. Next, click on Restore Tab and select the backup image created in step 4
   Select the destination disk (Disk 0)
8. Drag the Cdrive from top row and drop to the empty space next to 16MB MSR, then drag D: and drop next to C:
   Click next->Finish
9. Once restore completed. Click on "Fix Windows Boot problem". Follow the screen to rebuild the BCD.
10. Reboot

You should have: 499 MB Recovery, 99 EFI System, 16MB MSR and C drive + Drive (16MB MSR is hidden from Disk Management)
Here's a screen shot without Drive D since I only have Windows partitions on disk 0


At this point your Windows Recovery Environment is broken, we will fix that next.

If you have any question. Please ask !!!