Windows 10 "Recovery Partition"?

[stockhausen]

The Windows 10 that I have just installed on an aged laptop has got an 836 MB "Recovery" partition - what is this and do I need it?

I am interested because I want to shrink the 97 GB "System" partition that comes before it in order to leave more space after it for a "Data" partition larger than the 14 GB currently available for it.

 

[edscdk]

clean install deleting all old partitions?

failing that just be sure you can fix boot issues deleting that might cause (other than boot nothing bad will happen) I've deleted those partitions loads of times

 

[stockhausen]

. . . I've deleted those partitions loads of times

There is no mechanism in Computer Management to delete the Recovery Partition - how did you delete it?

 

[Django x2]

There is no mechanism in Computer Management to delete the Recovery Partition - how did you delete it?

During install. It's a pretty useless thing to do though as it can be a the difference between easily recovering a laptop and having to completely rebuild it.

 

[brendy]

Diskpart commands should help if its genuinely not necessary.

 

[PiKe]

Wouldn't bother with a data partition, just make it all one.

 

[stockhausen]

Diskpart commands should help if its genuinely not necessary.

Most of the online research I have done seems to suggest that the Recovery Partition is pointless - I will try deleting it with Diskpart - thanks

UPDATE:
Well I have now deleted the Recovery Partition using DISKPART (CMD, DISKPART, LIST, SELECT Disk #, SELECT Partition#, Delete Partition Override, Exit); rebooted; Shrunk the (remaining) "System" partition, rebooted again and so far, all seems good

 

[joey1211]

Awaits "Deleted my recovery partition... help!" thread in a couple of months

 

[PiKe]

You need a 500MB recovery partition at the start of the drive typically, good luck if you ever need to get into recovery mode.

 

[brendy]

You need a 500MB recovery partition at the start of the drive typically, good luck if you ever need to get into recovery mode.

Windows 7 recovery on an upgraded windows 10 pc never works anyway. Keep the first partition and boot partition and bin anything after that.

 

[stockhausen]

Just to elaborate and to clarify my opening post:

• I have what was a clean, unused 120 GB SSD installed in a laptop with 6 GB RAM.
• I installed Windows 10 on this SSD.
• It ended up with a 97 GB "System" partition, followed by an 836 MB "Recovery" partition and then some 14 GB unused space.
• I then installed some software that is "tied" to the specific installation.
• I have subsequently deleted the 836 MB "Recovery" partition using Diskpart.
• The system seems to be fine.

You need a 500MB recovery partition at the start of the drive typically, good luck if you ever need to get into recovery mode.

The 836 MB "Recovery" partition was 836 MB, not 500 MB; it followed the "System" partition.
I have made an image copy of the System partition (using Acronis) and I would never, under any circumstances use Microsoft's "recovery" process - EVER!
"Luck" doesn't come into it

. . . Keep the first partition and boot partition and bin anything after that.

I take it that you are talking about the MBR and the "System" partition here? That is what I have done, apparently without any problem.

 

[brendy]

Just to elaborate and to clarify my opening post:

• I have what was a clean, unused 120 GB SSD installed in a laptop with 6 GB RAM.
• I installed Windows 10 on this SSD.
• It ended up with a 97 GB "System" partition, followed by an 836 MB "Recovery" partition and then some 14 GB unused space.
• I then installed some software that is "tied" to the specific installation.
• I have subsequently deleted the 836 MB "Recovery" partition using Diskpart.
• The system seems to be fine.

The 836 MB "Recovery" partition was 836 MB, not 500 MB; it followed the "System" partition.
I have made an image copy of the System partition (using Acronis) and I would never, under any circumstances use Microsoft's "recovery" process - EVER!
"Luck" doesn't come into it



I take it that you are talking about the MBR and the "System" partition here? That is what I have done, apparently without any problem.

Yea then expand your main partition with any remaining free space.

 

[pc-guy]

I am pretty sure that partition is used by windows if you ever run into boot issues or mid crash issues. Both are rare but it happens.

 

[b00merang69]

On an UEFI install you will have 4 partitions which you can see with DiskPart (you will only see 3 partitions in Disk Management).