Remove Windows 8 System Reserved Partition [How To]
A system reserved partition for system files was created since starting from Windows Vista. The size of this partition is 100 MB, its stored the boot manager code, boot configuration database and start up files needed by BitLocker Drive Encryption. Now Windows 8 system reserved partition increased from 100MB to 350MB, most of Windows users rarely used BitLocker Drive Encryption feature or you want to get more space in disk drive then we can remove this hidden system reversed partition during install Windows 8.
If you want to have a Windows 8 system without the extra partition, you can only do it during the Windows install process, once it Windows system has been created, there is no way to get rid of it.
Remove Windows 8 System Reserved Partition
1. Select 「Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)」 option during install Windows 8 system.
2. Normally we will click 「Next」 to continue install Windows but in here should click 「Drive option」 as shown.
3. Delete all current partitions if your hard disk ever install any Windows system, remember to back up the data. If your owned a brand new hard disk, then unallocated space appeared, click 「New」 option.
4. It will bring out all the hard disk partition space has not been configured, select 「Apply」> 「OK」.
5. Windows create a additional partition for system files with sized 350MB and a partition to install Windows system. Now we need to remove this 350MB system reserved disk by click on 「Delete」> 「OK」.
6. The 350MB partition become unallocated space in hard disk. Select 「New」> 「Apply」, then the unallocated space become primary partition.
7.Now you will notice two primary partitions in hard disk. Choose 「Drive 0 Partition 2」 and click on 「Delete」> 「OK」.
8.The deleted partition becomes as unallocated space, click on 350MB partition > 「Extend」> 「Apply」.
9. All the disk space change to single primary partition and you will not notice any hidden reserved partition in hard disk, now already remove Windows 8 system reserved partition. Click 「Next」.
10. Continue install Windows system.
You should not remove this partition whether you use BitLocker feature or not. Because in Windows 8, it also holds Recovery Image (A version of WinPE) that is mounted when we walk through recovery options.
This depend what we need. If we are need more space (those install Windows 8 in SSD) this is one of the solution getting extra disk space.
I think, everybody misunderstood about deleting System Reserved Partition. If you delete after the installation, YES, you’ll losing the WinPE feature, you need to boot into DVD setup image to do the recovery. But, if you delete the partition BEFORE the installation, NO, you will not lose that WinPE thing. The setup will install all files and folders that suppose to be installed at Recovery Partition into the installation partition. If you setup Windows in C drive, all those WinPE stuff will be in C. Don’t believe me? Just try it or you might want to take a look on various files and folders in your C drive that you don’t know what it was for. I never failed to be in WinPE and interestingly, I never have any partition called System Reserved Partition. :)
Wont work for me as my ssd is on port 1 and the normal hd on 0. The 350 mb system reserved gets created what ever I do….
No matter what I do it wont delete the partition