Sizes of hidden Windows partitions

real_aurgathor

Does anyone know the sizes of EFI system, MSR, and recovery partitions for Win 10 and 11?

For reference, these are 100, 120, and 300 MB with Win 8.1.

Guy54435

My windows 10 has 100MB EFI system and 499 MB Recovery I don't have MSR.

Kathy_9

Generated by Perplexity AI

The sizes of EFI system, MSR, and recovery partitions for Windows 10 and 11 have evolved over time to accommodate new requirements and ensure better system performance. Here's a breakdown of the recommended sizes for each partition:

EFI System Partition (ESP)

The EFI System Partition is crucial for booting UEFI-based computers. For Windows 10 and 11:

Minimum size: 100 MB[1][2]
Recommended size: 260 MB for 4K sector drives[5]
Format: FAT32[3]

While 100 MB was initially considered sufficient, it's now recommended to allocate more space to accommodate future updates and third-party software needs[2].

Microsoft Reserved (MSR) Partition

The MSR partition is used for partition management and service operations:

Size: 16 MB[1][3]
Purpose: Simplify partition management and used for service operations[1]

Recovery Partition

The recovery partition stores the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) tools:

Minimum size: 300 MB[3]
Recommended size: 650 MB to 1 GB[5][13]

The increase in recommended size is due to:

The Windows RE tools requiring additional free space (250 MB recommended)[3]
The recovery image (winre.wim) typically being 500-700 MB[3]
Recent Windows updates requiring more space[5]

Partition Layout

The default partition layout for UEFI-based PCs running Windows 10 and 11 is:

EFI System Partition (ESP)
Microsoft Reserved (MSR) Partition
Windows Partition (C🙂
Recovery Tools Partition[3]

This layout supports Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption and allows for automatic failover[3].

It's worth noting that while these are the recommended sizes, actual partition sizes may vary depending on the specific Windows version, manufacturer settings, and user customizations. For optimal performance and to avoid potential issues with updates, it's advisable to allocate more space than the minimum requirements, especially for the EFI and Recovery partitions[2][5].

Citations:
[1] https://woshub.com/how-to-repair-deleted-efi-partition-in-windows-7/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/13yeh3d/windows_11_new_efi_system_partition_requirement/
[3] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions?view=windows-11&redirectedfrom=MSDN
[4] https://www.elevenforum.com/t/efi-and-recovery-partition-size-recommendations.30968/
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1c9tzzh/windows_os_partition_sizing_and_ordering_going/
[6] https://xdaforums.com/t/windows-11-partitions.4518237/
[7] https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/how-to-esp-windows-setup.html
[8] https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-increase-efi-and-recovery-partitions-size/e27e3ca1-9f39-40ad-868d-5be54ebdf502
[9] https://www.tenforums.com/drivers-hardware/211990-partition-changes-between-win10-win11.html
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA0BaQoWi5w
[11] https://superuser.com/questions/1212546/clean-install-what-partitions-can-be-removed
[12] https://www.tenforums.com/installation-upgrade/34336-what-partitions-does-windows-automatically-create-during-instalation.html
[13] https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/default-sizes-and-order-of-gpt-partitions-for-windows-10.3844339/
[14] https://www.elevenforum.com/t/microsoft-recommendations-regarding-recovery-partition.11460/

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

real_aurgathor

Kathy_9

I did some major 'enlargements' although it was a bit more involved than I originally thought since initially GPARTED had some serious issues with the MSR partition, and even after upgrading to the latest, 01/31/2025 version, it was still not fully OK with it.

Furthermore, it could not resize partitions without having some free space next to the partition to be resized. Does anyone know of a partition editor that can resize partitions that are sandwiched in-between two partitions? (assuming there is sufficient unallocated space somewhere else on the drive, so one or more partition can be moved)

Somewhat-Reticent

As long as we're listing useful resources, note the white-hat forums at MyDigitalLife.
( Generated by Human Wisdom®. )

danf

Note that for the Recovery Partition a larger size is preferred.

Windows updates were failing as it had an update for the RE, but because of low disk space, the update would continually fail. Not sure if Microsoft now creates a larger RE partition by default on new installs.

Kathy_9

real_aurgathor Okay, this is all Greek to me but here's what Perplexity AI has to say.

To resize a partition that is "sandwiched" between two other partitions, you will likely need to use a partition editor that allows moving partitions and reallocating unallocated space from elsewhere on the disk. Here are some tools and methods to address your issue:

Tools for Resizing and Moving Partitions

EaseUS Partition Master:
- This tool allows you to move partitions and allocate unallocated space from another partition to the target partition. It offers a user-friendly interface for resizing, moving, and extending partitions without data loss[1].
GParted:
- GParted is a free and powerful tool for resizing, moving, and managing partitions. However, as you experienced, it requires unallocated space adjacent to the target partition for resizing. To address this limitation, you can use GParted to first move the partitions around the target partition to create adjacent unallocated space[10].
MiniTool Partition Wizard:
- MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition is another reliable option for resizing and moving partitions. It supports complex operations such as merging or extending partitions by reallocating space from non-adjacent areas[8].
AOMEI Partition Assistant:
- This tool provides advanced features like "Merge Partitions" and "Allocate Free Space," which can help reallocate disk space even if partitions are not directly adjacent[8].

Steps to Resize a Sandwiched Partition

Backup Data:
- Before making any changes, back up all important data on the disk to avoid accidental loss.
Move Adjacent Partitions:
- Use tools like GParted or EaseUS Partition Master to move adjacent partitions and create unallocated space next to the target partition.
Resize Target Partition:
- Once unallocated space is adjacent, resize the target partition using the same tool.
Apply Changes:
- Confirm and apply all changes. Some tools may require a system reboot to complete operations.

Additional Notes

Windows Disk Management has limited functionality and cannot move partitions or handle non-adjacent unallocated space effectively[5][7].
Always ensure that your chosen tool supports your file system (e.g., NTFS, ext4) and works with your operating system.

These tools should help you overcome the limitations you encountered with GParted when dealing with sandwiched partitions.

Citations:
[1] https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/resize-and-move-partition.html
[2] https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/how-to-partition-a-hard-drive-in-windows-10/
[3] https://www.realself.com/surgical/penis-enlargement
[4] https://askubuntu.com/questions/126153/how-to-resize-partitions
[5] https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/rearranging-partition-order-on-nvme/c8b6fcc6-8d8a-4ebb-95c1-2ecd8b3a147e
[6] https://www.auanews.net/issues/articles/2023/december-extra-2023/an-update-on-penile-girth-enhancement-procedures
[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/a2b56u/rearranging_order_of_partitions/
[8] https://www.techrepublic.com/article/five-free-tools-for-managing-partitionss/
[9] https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/penile-enlargement-penis-men-health-anxiety-surgery-223403162.html
[10] https://gparted.org

Answer from Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/did-some-major-enlargements-al-Z47iSitGTDSbR0U0MBp1Og?utm_source=copy_output

takeahike

real_aurgathor Does anyone know of a partition editor that can resize partitions that are sandwiched in-between two partitions? (assuming there is sufficient unallocated space somewhere else on the drive, so one or more partition can be moved).

I use NIUBI Partition Editor to do that--for example disk 0 pictured below was originally four partitions and now only two after using NIUBI to resize the partitions I want to keep after deleting the recovery and reserve partitions that gave me the space to expand the ones kept (you do this after Windows is installed). I've always kept just the minimum of partitions. With MBR I had only one and with GPT two because that is the minimum. A good backup is way better than depending on the MS recovery partition to fix any OS problems. The third partition on Disk 1 in the pic has to be there because it is a Linux distro.

real_aurgathor

Kathy_9 Okay, this is all Greek to me but here's what Perplexity AI has to say.

LOL. 😉
I think that AI may not be fully aware of certain attributes, or lacks the ability to take them into account.

I'm fairly certain that I've had Minitool free installed at one point in time, but didn't use it much, if anything at all. The same may be true for AeseUS, but I'm less certain about that one. Lastly, I haven't heard of AOMEI before, possibly because I've been using GPARTED for some 15+ years.

In any case, a possible issue with them is that they are all Windows based programs, and I'm not certain if they can muck with Windows system partitions while Windows is up and running. That's why GPARTED, or programs that boot their own OS, be it DOS, WinPE, or some variant of Linux/Unix etc., are handy since they:

do not rely on operating system services provided by the installed OS.
their operation cannot and will not directly interfere with the installed OS

I guess the only way to be sure is to install and try them to see if they can execute certain tasks.

BTW, the MSR partition is a bit weird since regardless of its size, certain other programs report it as having 100% filled. 😐

Somewhat-Reticent

Another approach is that of Hiren's Boot CD (HBCD) PE (Preinstallation Environment).
AKA Boot a Windows base (independent of your installation) with toolset.