When you are installing Windows 7 in a fresh hard disk that has unallocated space, the setup will create a hidden partition at the starting of the hard disk drive which will be around 100MB in size. Windows 7 creates this hidden or recovery partition to store system files and bootable files that are required to boot your computer in recovery mode. Below is an example where we can see the system created hidden or recovery partition:
I generally don’t prefer to have a separate small partition at the beginning of my hard drive so here is how to prevent Windows 7 from creating hidden or recovery partition.
How to Prevent Windows 7 from Creating a Hidden or Recovery Partition during Installation
Note: This procedure is applicable only if you are doing a clean install on hard disk that contains unallocated space. Doing this procedure in a hard disk that already contains data will cause data loss.
1. In this case we are going to install the Windows 7 in a hard disk of 30GB capacity i.e with 30720MB. When the partitioning screen is encountered select the Drive options (advanced) to access the partitioning options.
2. Now using the ‘New’ button try to create a partition.
Enter the partition size that you intend to create and apply the settings.
3. Now Windows 7 will prompt a message that reads “To ensure that all Windows features work correctly, Windows might create additional partitions for system files”. Click the OK button, now you will see there are two partitions one is of 100MB in size and other is with 29.9GB in size.
4. Now delete the bigger or second partition using the delete the button option.
Windows will prompt you with the following message, “ The partition might contain recovery files, system files, or important software from your computer manufacturer. If you delete this partition, any data stored on it will be lost.”
After the second partition is deleted it will again go to unallocated state again.
5. In this step we would have to extend the system reserved partition of 100MB
In the extend option enter the partition size of the your choice. Say if you have a 30GB hard disk and wish to have a partition of 20GB and 10GB then enter 20GB and click apply. This will now create a partition of 20GB and remaining 10GB will be in unallocated status. Again use the ‘New’ option to create a partition of 10GB, your partition should look like this.
Though the 20GB partition here is referred to as ‘System Reserved’, Windows 7 will be able to install in this partition due to the free space availability. If you want to use the entire disk then in the extend options enter the size of entire remaining free space and you will use the entire disk and it would look like this:
In case of any questions please post it in comment section.
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