Hi, I am setting up a fresh install of Win 8.1 x64 on a separate drive and installing all my usual programs, before transferring it to my main SSD. I have noticed however that on this install, Windows created 4 partitions. My question is, are they all needed, and if not what can I delete and how. To be completely clear, I have no need for space and no problem in leaving things as they are. In the screenshot below of Disk Management: disk 0 is the smaller SSD on which I am installing the new system disk 3 is the larger SSD which has my previous install, and on which I will be transferring the final image of the new install when it is ready thanks!
@newbino I only see 3-partitions on Disk 0... the balance of the space is yet to be used for anything (unallocated). The three I see are required for an UEFI/GPT System.
Also, you have Disk 2 market ACTIVE for some reason (it appears to be a DATA disk of some sort... maybe an old left over setting). If that disk winds up on a Legacy/MBR System it will cause issues with BOOTing. You should set that disk as NOT ACTIVE.
Hi Froggy, if I look at the screenshots in the bottom graphical view, yes there are only 3 partitions, but in the upper volume view I see 4 - am I getting confused here? I am also attaching a screenshot from Macrium for greater clarity. Thanks for pointing out about disk 2, hadn't noticed. Probably from older times, as you suggest ...
With UEFI/GPT, the Microsoft spec requires those 4-partitions. The 1st being your OS partition, the 2nd being the Microsoft RECOVERY Partition, the 3rd being the EFI (or System) partition which is used to BOOT through in UEFI Systems and the 4th is the required (but not used in your case) Microsoft System Reserved partition (known as the MSR or SRP). They are all required in the MIcrosoft spec but as you can see with partition 4, they may not all be used. That "unformatted" Primary is for future use in your case. I would image them all, although your System will run just fine if you left out partition #4 since it's currently unused. Windows DISK MGMT never shows the MSRP partition, even when it's really used.
newbino, You have 1 MBR and 3 GPT disks. Each GPT disk has a Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) but the MSR don't appear in Disk Management. You can see the the MSR in Macrium. I suggest reading these web pages which explain the required partitions... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/hardware/design/dn640535(v=vs.85)
