Cloning HDD to SSD, How To Remove System Reserved Partition Without Windows Install Disc

[Silven]

I just purchased a new Samsung 850 EVO 500gb SSD. The 1TB HDD that was previously the primary and only Drive installed in my rig held an OEM install of Windows 7.

I bought the rig years ago from a Fry's Electronics store and have gradually upgraded the hardware over the years to the point where I'm pretty sure the only thing that's still original on/in it is the Operating System. Anyways, as a result, I do not have a Windows Installation Disc.

My new Samsung SSD came with Drive Cloning Software, and after trimming a lot of excess fat off my HDD, I cloned the roughly 400gb of data over to the new SSD using direct SATA connections to the motherboard for both drives. Cloning worked without a hitch, BIOS boot priority has been set to the SSD, and the performance improvements are already being observed.

Both Disk Management and the Windows Browser are now showing 4 drives in total, and one of them is a System Reserved drive. I'm new to this subject matter so I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure the System Reserved drive is on the old HDD. It's my understanding from the research I tried to do that this means that my system won't boot if the HDD were to fail or be removed, and this isn't what I want. It's also my understanding that this will cause the system to not boot as absolutely fast as possible?

http://postimg.org/image/4ad9g3uin/

The reading I've done has all said to simply do a fresh install of Windows with the HDD unplugged from the MoBo, but I can't do this as I don't have the disc.

So in summation, my questions are these:

1) How do I remove the System Reserved partition from my HDD so that all boot files are solely located on the SSD without a Windows Install Disc?
See Best Answer

2) What is the Q:/ Drive and why does Windows tell me it can't be accessed when attempting to open it?
See Best Answer

(These questions are mostly just out of curiosity and an interest to learn.)
3) If I disconnected my HDD would my system fail to boot?
If cloned properly, no.

4) Why is it that when I boot from the SSD the System Reserved size is 61.8mb free of 99mb, and booting from the HDD the System Reserved size is 7mb free of 99mb?
Unanswered, irrelevant

5) Does having the System Reserved partition on the HDD slow the boot process when the rest of the main Windows files are located on the SSD?
Unanswered, irrelevant

 

[USAFRet]

Before doing anything, disconnect your old HDD.
See if the system boots up properly from only the SSD. It should.

We can proceed from there.

 

[Silven]

Removed SATA and Power cable from HDD, booted PC without problem. However my computer did hardlock for some strange reason as I was trying to type this reply... Maybe an isolated incident?

Anyway, I'm typing this now with the HDD disconnected, and here's the new screenshot of Disk Management and Windows Browser.

http://postimg.org/image/etirlus4f/

IMG tags aren't working for some reason, sorry.

 

[boosted1g]

The clone software should have cloned all HDD partitions to the SSD drive.

You can go into disk management to see what partitions are on the drive.

As USAFRet said, the system should boot just fine without the HDD plugged in.
If that works fine, you really have nothing to worry about.

 

[USAFRet]

OK then...we're good. The required boot info does indeed live on the SSD, as expected.

Reconnect the HDD, Disk Management, and wipe out that 100mb System Reserved partition from the HDD.

For that "Q" drive, what appears when you right click on it?

 

[ArtPog]

1. You can utilize Disk Managment to delete the SR partition on your secondary HDD. (Needless to say you DO NOT want to touch that partition on your boot drive.) Just right-click on the SR graphic in DM and select the Delete Volume option. Just ensure you don't inadvertently right-click on the disk's F: partition containing all your data.

You might also want to delete that 25 GB "OEM partition". I assume there's no longer any need for it. You may first need to assign a drive letter to that partition in order to delete the volume but first try just right-clicking on the partition to determine whether the submenu will open with an option to "Delete Volume". After the deletion the diskspace will be "unallocated". You can then use DM (again) to right-click on the F: partition and select "Extend Volume" so that the F: partition will incorporate the 25 GB of diskspace.

2. Take a look at http://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-mysterious-q-drive-on-windows-7 for info re that "Q" partition.

 

[Silven]

Okay, I've deleted the SR partition from the F: drive. Right clicking on the 25gb OEM partition only displays a "Help" option, so I'm assuming I need to assign it a drive letter like you mentioned? I don't know how to do that.

I was also going to extend volume on the F: drive to include the new 100mb of unallocated space but it gave me some warning about converting the basic disk type to a dynamic disk and not being able to start installed operating systems. Decided to wait on your feedback before proceeding.

Right clicking on the Q: drive displays the same dropdown options you'd see when right clicking the C: drive. Did you want me to click properties??

http://postimg.org/image/bhbgn9hsj/

 

[ArtPog]

1. Don't bother with the SR partition after you deleted the partition. It uses only a trifling amount of diskspace - 100 MB or so. Just leave it as unallocated diskspace. It will pose no problem.

2. Re: the 25 GB OEM partition. Ordinarily right-clicking on the partition would display a submenu with one of the options being "Change Drive Letter and Paths" and that command would allow you to assign a drive letter to the partition. But apparently the partition was set up in a way to prevent that command (and others in DM). I believe the partition may be deleted via the Diskpart command. It gets a trifle tricky and I'm wondering whether since the partition occupies a comparatively small amount of diskspace relative to the 1 TB HDD, perhaps leave well enough alone. Perhaps some other responder may want to comment on this.

3. Re: the Q partition. Did you access the link I provided. If not, take a look there and see if there's any info you can use re that partition.

 

[Silven]

I read your link on the Q drive, but it seems to state that the only solution is to uninstall Microsoft Office?? I'd rather not do that if there is an alternative. It's also odd considering Office was obviously on the HDD and I never saw a Q drive before installing the new SSD.

Also, side question, it's safe to completely delete the Windows folder and related systems files completely from the HDD now, correct?

 

[USAFRet]

Also, side question, it's safe to completely delete the Windows folder and related systems files completely from the HDD now, correct?

Personally, I'd delete that actual partition instead of just the folder, but to answer your question, yes.

 

[Silven]

Awesome, thank you both for all your help. Wish I could mark the whole thread as Best Solution. 😛

Regarding the Q Drive, I did go ahead and uninstall "Microsoft Office Click-To-Run 2010" via Control Panel Programs, which forced an uninstall of "Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - English". After a reboot, the Q drive was gone. Attempting to open a word document could only be done after accepting a prompt to reinstall Office Starter again though. And then, again, after a reboot the Q drive is back.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with the unclickable Q.

 

[ArtPog]

I read your link on the Q drive, but it seems to state that the only solution is to uninstall Microsoft Office?? I'd rather not do that if there is an alternative. It's also odd considering Office was obviously on the HDD and I never saw a Q drive before installing the new SSD.

Also, side question, it's safe to completely delete the Windows folder and related systems files completely from the HDD now, correct?

It's apparently a partition created by the OEM - possibly as some kind of license-related agreement with MS when the Word program is installed by the OEM. But I'm just surmising and really don't know that as a fact.

Yes, as USAFRet advised it's safe to do as long as you're sure you have a bootable, completely functional SSD. I'm assuming there are programs & other data on that HDD that you want to retain. Obviously if that weren't the case the ideal procedure would be to format the disk so you could start "clean". Good luck.