

Service data of the BitLocker encryption subsystem.Windows bootloader ( bootmgr), and a file with the bootloader configuration BCD (Boot Configuration Data).This solution helps to protect the bootloader files from users and improve the stability of Windows. Starting with Windows 7, MSFT developers added a separate hidden System Reserved partition to store bootloader files. In earlier versions of Windows, boot files were on the partition with the installed OS. Use of System Reserved Partition on Windows In this case, the Boot Manager bootloader files are on the same volume where Windows is.

If we are installing Windows to a disk with existing partitions, the installer does not create a separate 500 Mb System Reserved partition. This is how the contents of the System Reserved volume look like: We can set the drive letter through the Disk Management Console ( diskmgmt.msc) or using the PowerShell command: Get-Partition -DiskNumber 0 -PartitionNumber 1|Set-Partition -NewDriveLetter R On computers with UEFI in native mode and GPT partition table, there is no SRP partition.īy default, the SRP does not assign a drive letter. We use the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table on the system disk of such computers. The System Reserved partition is only present on BIOS computers or UEFI devices that have the Legacy Compatibility Support Module (CSM) enabled. The following volume attributes are assigned to the SRP: Primary partition, Active and System. As we can see, in Windows 10, the 500MB SRP is in front of the system partition (C:\). Run the Computer Management, mmc snap-in and select Storage -> Disk management.

In Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 the size of the System Reserved partition is 100 MB, in Windows 8.1/Windows Server 2012 R2 it is 350 MB, and in Windows 10/Windows Server 2016 it is increased to 500 MB.įirst, let us find the location of the System Reserved partition and how to view its contents. This is a hidden partition with the NTFS file system, which is not assigned a drive letter by default and does not appear in File Explorer. When we perform a clean OS install, Windows Installer creates a special System Reserved Partition (SRP) on the Master Boot Record (MBR) disk partition table. Today, let us focus on the various aspects of System Reserved Partition on Windows. ‘Couldn’t Update the System Reserved Partition’ on Windows triggers since the SRP is smaller in previous Windows versions.Īs part of our Server Management Services, we assist our customers with several Windows-related queries.
