Can I GPT (Reserved) partition on drive with no OS?

jtcgiants56

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Can I delete a GPT Reserved partition on drive with no OS?

See screenshot below. I know that I shouldn't delete the GPT reserved partition if I had an OS installed on this drive, but I don't. It's a pure data drive. I'd like to keep the J: and delete the Other partition if possible. Is this safe?


Capture.PNG
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
Do not remove the Reserved partition.

The Reserved partitions.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
unplug or remove that drive - then verify that windows will boot..

with that drive removed and if windows boots - you can remove the partitions from that disk 3..
As this is disk 3 you MAY have another OS disk that has the required reserve partition that is actually being used..

can't really say for sure what is what - because you have only shown one disk, out of several
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
unplug or remove that drive - then verify that windows will boot..

with that drive removed and if windows boots - you can remove the partitions from that disk 3..
As this is disk 3 you MAY have another OS disk that has the required reserve partition that is actually being used..

can't really say for sure what is what - because you have only shown one disk, out of several


Good Idea will try removing and rebooting. I don't even have Reserved GPT on my C: drive.. I think I read somewhere it's only for UEFI BIOS installs of Windows which I don't have.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
yes the 128MB reserve partition is created on UEFI systems..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
See screenshot below. I know that I shouldn't delete the GPT reserved partition if I had an OS installed on this drive, but I don't. It's a pure data drive. I'd like to keep the J: and delete the Other partition if possible. Is this safe?


View attachment 60950

That efi partition is there to Run UEFI/GPT so that you can use your 3TB hard drive as one partition Since BIOS/MBR only allow maximum 2 TB
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
That efi partition is there to Run UEFI/GPT so that you can use your 3TB hard drive as one partition Since BIOS/MBR only allow maximum 2 TB

Good to know - I knew of the 2TB limit - but did not realize or even notice the 2.73TB drive size
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
That efi partition is there to Run UEFI/GPT so that you can use your 3TB hard drive as one partition Since BIOS/MBR only allow maximum 2 TB

Good to know - I knew of the 2TB limit - but did not realize or even notice the 2.73TB drive size

Yep I had to look for a bit too. But I knew this was possible as my old P7P motherboard did not support UEFI but when I installed a 3 TB drive I guess window must create the UEFI GPT partitions to allow the full 3 TB partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
See screenshot below. I know that I shouldn't delete the GPT reserved partition if I had an OS installed on this drive, but I don't. It's a pure data drive. I'd like to keep the J: and delete the Other partition if possible. Is this safe?


View attachment 60950

That efi partition is there to Run UEFI/GPT so that you can use your 3TB hard drive as one partition Since BIOS/MBR only allow maximum 2 TB

Hmm, that's interesting you say this because I have another 3TB HD that only has a single GPT partition where all my data resides. No other partitions at all on the drive. For whatever it's worth this drive is connected through SATA while the one I took the screenshot for above is on eSATA.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
See screenshot below. I know that I shouldn't delete the GPT reserved partition if I had an OS installed on this drive, but I don't. It's a pure data drive. I'd like to keep the J: and delete the Other partition if possible. Is this safe?


View attachment 60950

That efi partition is there to Run UEFI/GPT so that you can use your 3TB hard drive as one partition Since BIOS/MBR only allow maximum 2 TB

Hmm, that's interesting you say this because I have another 3TB HD that only has a single GPT partition where all my data resides. No other partitions at all on the drive. For whatever it's worth this drive is connected through SATA while the one I took the screenshot for above is on eSATA.

connections make no difference BIOS MBR only support up to 2 TB UEFI GPT does not have that restriction. Back up your data and delete the EFI partition if you think its ok, I don't I only see 1 3TB hard drive on the screen shot you gave us? Since its only a DATA drive you can convert it to MBR Mini Tool partition Wizard
Support for Disk Drives Beyond 2.2 TeraBytes (TB) and 4K Advanced Format Sectors

My Experience was that my none UEFI system created a GPT partition 3TB when I installed it. My system now is UEFI so I can't look to see if there is a EFI partition. That drive still has the 128mb partition another one used for back up is GPT also and does not, however my computer is now UEFI new mother board.

Ok so my ext 3tb does not have the EFI partion and my internal one does have it I suspect that was a hold over from the last MB Agan my whole system is UEFI
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Since this is a Data Drive, one could remove the 128MB volume.. Verify that the drive is or is not working and showing proberly.. 3TB vs 2TB
Now if there was an issue with the drive in any way - one could re-create the reserve partition..

diskpart
list disk
select disk # (# being the disk number to the 3TB drive)
create partition msr size=128
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
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