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I am using Windows 7 and I wanted to make a System image (using Windows 7), but Windows 7 checked 3 partitions as System (100mb + C (install partition) + D (my partition for my files, all programs are installed at C)). I don't want to backup my D partition, but that is not really the point. I don't want Windows messing with my other partitions and making them system. Is there a way to limit Windows 7 just to partition C (install partition)?

If there is no way to stop Windows from making other partitions system, can I at least delete the files that make partition D system?

p.s. All these 3 partitions are on one physical disk, partitions from other disks aren't treated as System.

Thank you for your time and answers.

EDIT READ THIS: Due to the confusion about my question, I'll explain it again.

FACTS: desktop PC, no OEM partitions, I personally have installed Windows 7 (many times) on C partition

I want to know why is my D partition checked as System partition when I try to create a System Image (using Windows 7 Ultimate built in tool), even though Windows (and all the software) are installed on C partition.

And if there is a way to make D "normal" /non system partition.

Also here is a picture of how it looks like if I try to create a system image, once again why is D also system partition. enter image description here

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IS this on a machine that you built and installed yourself? or is this on a pre-built system (like HP or Dell)? – MaQleod Sep 9 '11 at 17:48
@MaQleod, I've addressed that in my answer wrt OEM configuration, but I've +1'd you all the same. – Randolph West Sep 9 '11 at 17:52
I didn't build it, but it was customized, and I also added one more hard disk... It's a desktop PC. I manually installed Windows 7 (many, many times) on it, but now I decided to make use of System restore via System image. Also I didn't get any software or anything with it, and there are and never were any OEM partitions. – Ben Sep 9 '11 at 17:54
Hi Ben. Based on the amount of confusion from our answers (mine included, which I've since deleted), perhaps you could make your question clearer. We're focusing on the 100MB partition while your question is really about the System status of your D: drive. – Randolph West Sep 9 '11 at 18:24
@Randolph West Yes, my question is why is D partition also marked as system. And how to avoid that. I also updated the question, so if you could help me out, I would be really thankful. – Ben Sep 10 '11 at 9:27
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3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you have a newer computer, one with an EFI or UEFI "bios". Some of these systems do not like to boot directly into NTFS partitions, and so the Windows 7 installer will create a "small" 100mb partition at the front of the drive to handle part of the boot process. You need this partition, and should not mess with it. It's not a recovery partition and is an important part of your system.

It should be safe to mark your D: partition as a non-system partition, but as always when working with partition tables I recommend that you make sure you have a good backup of the files first.

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I've deleted my answer. Yours makes more sense. +1 – Randolph West Sep 9 '11 at 18:22
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The small 100MB partition is actually for when people decide to use Bitlocker. EFI will boot into Windows just fine without a dedicated system partition. – surfasb Sep 10 '11 at 0:04
Thanks, but I wanted to know why is my D partition also marked as a system partition, as I thought that there are only 2 system partitions. – Ben Sep 10 '11 at 9:25
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up vote 0 down vote

If you install Windows 7 yourself from normal installation CD/DVD, you can install it to just one partition. There's nothing in Windows 7 that would require multiple partitions, while you can split the disk if you so want.

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I know that, but I don't understand why my D drive is also checked as System partition during System image creation using windows 7 utility. – Ben Sep 9 '11 at 18:00
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up vote 0 down vote

I suspect the partition is set to Active, and therefore Windows considers it a System partition. Make sure you back up your system before doing this.

  • From an elevated command prompt, type diskpart.
  • At the DISKPART prompt, type LIST DISK
  • At the next prompt, type SELECT DISK # (where # is your D: drive)
  • At the next prompt, type LIST PARTITION
  • At the next prompt, type SELECT PARTITION # (where # is partition you want to mark inactive)
  • At the next prompt, type INACTIVE

Source: http://bit.ly/nQdPGh (I've paraphrased it a tiny bit)

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I know why I have 3 partitions (though I have more, but I didn't mention them). I was asking why are 3 system, I know about the first two (100mb + installed partition (C)). But I don't know why my manually created D partition is shown as system in windows system image creation process. – Ben Sep 9 '11 at 17:56
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