Imaging partitions on a GPT disk

On a Windows 7 MBR disk it is recommended to backup the 100MB System Reserved Partition along with the Windows Partition. On a GPT disk, there is also a 128MB Windows Reserved Partition that does not show up in Disk Management but shows using DiskPart. Does an imaging program include this Windows Reserved Partition automatically? The reason I ask is because using Windows own built in imaging program required me to do a full disk backup on the GPT disk. I cannot select an individual partition as I could on a laptop I had with a MBR disk. I should note though that the laptop did not have the 100MB System Reserved Partition as I partitioned and formatted the drive before install.

I have a computer with the following: Windows 7 SP1 64 bit

100MB System Reserved Partition
128MB Windows Reserved Partition
C: Windows Partition
D: OEM Recovery Partition

I wanted to resize the C: Partition and create another for Data making the image smaller. But, I am not sure how an imaging program handles the 128MB Windows Reserved Partition. Has anybody used GParted to resize the Windows partition on a GPT disk or Clonezilla to image a GPT disk?
Thanks

 

I don´t have the answers, in fact I have the same questions about how to backup UEFI+GPT computers.

But I think you should backup the first 3 partitions to completely backup "the system". The 100 MB SRP is the boot partition. You could try an image program from the boot CD and check that it shows the 3 partitions and can backup all of them.

The OEM Recovery Partition should be backed up if you want to eventually restore the computer to its "factory" or initial configuration.

 

tgell,

Is your first partition a System Reserved Partition or an EFI System Partition? It should show the label in Disk Management.

 

Sorry, you are right, it is an EFI System Partition.

 

tgell,

I have no practical experience with EFI System partitions but I have played with GPT disks and the Microsoft Reserved Partition.

For backup purposes you would have to image the first three partitions. I noticed in a recent BIBM update...

"Added support to use BCD Edit on EFI System partitions"

 

Windows needs the Microsoft Reserved Partition in order to see the disk properly. I've always just backed up and restored it (when restoring disk images). When restoring just partitions it should already be on the destination drive. Normally, one wouldn't make changes to that partition.

 

What would be the procedure to restore to a new, blank disk? Just restore the 3 partitions, in the correct order?

 

If the disk is already initalized, you can restore the partitions. If restoring to a blank drive or if you want to replace the entire contents, restore everything. That's what I do, anyway.

Just restoring the three partitions (EFI SR, Recovery, Win won't properly configure the drive. The Microsoft Reserved Partition is a fairly "invisible" partition, but won't be present on a new/blank drive.

 

Yes. I was referring to the EFI SP, the MSR, and the Windows partition.

 

Being that the MSR is fairly invisible, is it shown on whatever imaging program you use? So, to image the Windows partition, I would include the EFI System Partition, MSR, and Windows Partition. Correct? When I get some time, I am going to see if Clonezilla can see the MSR. I use Macrium Free but I understand you need the pro version to image a GPT disk.

 

The TeraByte imaging apps see it and can create images and restore images of that partition.

 

Okay, thanks for that info.

 

GParted doesn't see it. It sees 128 MB of Unallocated Space which is better than Windows Disk Management.

 

Thanks again. I wonder why MSR does not show in Disk Management? I think it should.

 

You can see the partition with diskpart.

 

It doesn't show in Disk Management because it's a special partition type and hidden (maybe just because it's hidden -- haven't tested that). I mostly use BIBM and IFW, both of which see it fine.