Just installed a new M.2 SSD into an MSI GE72 laptop running Windows 10. First used MSI's Burn Recovery tool to copy the recovery to a USB flash drive. Restored onto the SSD and wiped the HDD. The resulting partitions on the SSD are shown in the attached image. So I end up with 6 partitions:
1 - EFI Recovery
2 - Hidden Windows partition
3 - C: or first usable partition
4 - 900 MB Recovery partition
5 - D: or second usable partition
6 - MSI's OS recovery image partition
The issue I'm having is that I'd like to collapse partitions 3 and 5 into one large partition for the C: drive. I am unable to do this because of the 900 MB recovery partition between them. Disk Management does not give me any options for this partition. Since I plan on dual booting with Linux installed on a second partition on the HDD, I assume I can use GParted to move the recovery partition to partition 5. I also assume that by doing this, I'll break the recovery function as WinRE is still pointing to partition 4. Also, since I'll then collapse the two usable partitions into one, the partition numbers of that 900 MB partition and the MSI OS recovery partition will change. I'm guessing that there is a way to update the settings but I've run across different forum threads that say the OEM recoveries are custom set up by them. So any generic Windows 10 guides I find may not be applicable.
Of course, I have no basis for a lot of these assumptions as this is my first foray into a Windows OS after Windows 7. Also my first time owning a machine with UEFI, which seems to be fighting against me installing Linux.
I don't understand why MSI would decide to split the large usable partition into two? Even more confused as to why they decided it was a great idea to create an untouchable 900 MB recovery partition in between them?
Maybe also try to convince me how UEFI and Windows 10 is so much better than Windows 7 with a custom recovery in a less than 5 GB custom made recovery partition?
The 18.5GB partition has to be the factory recovery partition...
Download my recovery tools ISO (in sig below)
Copy contents of ISO to USB
Boot from USB
use Aomei Partition assistant and resize (shrink) C: from the left by 900MB - Apply
Move the 900MB partition to the front of C: into the freespace you just created - apply
Resize C: or D: to fill the space left by the move - apply
Wouldn't moving the partition change its partition number? Wouldn't that then break the recovery because the WinRE and OS image partitions are specified in the recovery info shown with the reagentc command?
I have come across some guides for updating the recovery paths using reagentc but would they still apply to the OEM recovery?
Yes it would break the Link.. But an easy fix...
Reagentc /setreimage /path \?GLOBALROOTdeviceharddisk0partition4RecoveryWindowsRE /Target C:Windows
to
Reagentc /setreimage /path \?GLOBALROOTdeviceharddisk0partition3RecoveryWindowsRE /Target C:Windows
I just noticed you used the MSI recovery Media USB to restore the factory Image ????
We could also modify two files on the recovery media and setup the disk anyway you want to...
need to see inside the sources folder on Recovery USB
I prefer to assign the recovery partition a temporary drive letter and then just use the drive letter path to set reagentc paths, then remove the drive letter when done.Yes it would break the Link.. But an easy fix...
How do you make changes to the recovery media with regards to the partitionYes it would break the Link.. But an easy fix...
Reagentc /setreimage /path \?GLOBALROOTdeviceharddisk0partition4RecoveryWindowsRE /Target C:Windows
to
Reagentc /setreimage /path \?GLOBALROOTdeviceharddisk0partition3RecoveryWindowsRE /Target C:Windows
I just noticed you used the MSI recovery Media USB to restore the factory Image ????
We could also modify two files on the recovery media and setup the disk anyway you want to...
need to see inside the sources folder on Recovery USB
Explain what you are trying to do...How do you make changes to the recovery media with regards to the partition
You can modify two file that where created, when you created the recovery media...
PBR-DiskpartScript.txt
PBR-Resetcfg.xml
By modifying those two files , you can create your own partition layout, and determine where WinRE places the files..
