Need to resize System Reserved partition

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

tony359 said:
MSR is the 16MB one, right? If so, I don't have a Move/Resize option for that partition - see the attached in my previous post.

I see now. Sorry for the confusion. You can resize the MSR with NIUBI Partition Editor Free Edition.

tony359 · Nov 13, 2025

no worries @hdmi

I have already done with GParted, but this was my original question: can we resize the EFI with Minitool?

Others say yes but I am unable to do so on an actual system so I'm puzzled.

glasskuter · Nov 13, 2025

I did not want to assign a drive letter to the EFI partition. I successfully resized it using Minitool OFFLINE but was unable to resize using Minitool ONLINE.

larc919 · Nov 13, 2025

tony359 said:
no worries @hdmi

I have already done with GParted, but this was my original question: can we resize the EFI with Minitool?

Others say yes but I am unable to do so on an actual system so I'm puzzled.

I went back and read your original post. When using Minitool Partition Manager, it's best to set what you want to do just one event at a time. If you need to shrink a partition to get things started, do only that. Then click on "Apply" at lower left. Once the first task is done, go to the 2nd and then Apply. Continue until everything is set to your satisfaction.

JLArranz · Nov 13, 2025

I'm now in my Win11 with GPT disk. MiniTool (free) offers move/resize for every partition (EFI, C: , Recovery) except MSR. This is a miniPC with Win10 initially and upgraded to Win11 through WU. Its internal disk has always been GPT.

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

tony359 said:
can we resize the EFI with Minitool?

Yes, but you can't extend the EFI if the MSR comes directly after it, as that would require to move the MSR, BUT... we can resize/move the MSR with NIUBI (or can delete/re-create the MSR with Windows' built-in Diskpart utility whenever we feel like typing on the command line like we did in the early 1980s, I digress).

tony359 · Nov 13, 2025

larc919 said:
I went back and read your original post. When using Minitool Partition Manager, it's best to set what you want to do just one event at a time. If you need to shrink a partition to get things started, do only that. Then click on "Apply" at lower left. Once the first task is done, go to the 2nd and then Apply. Continue until everything is set to your satisfaction.

thanks for re-reading my post. That is what I did a few posts above, thinking exactly what you said: a step at a time.

Yet, I now have unallocated space AFTER the MSR and I am unable to move the MSR so I am unable to expand the EFI.

To clarify again: I have already done what I had to do using GParted. Laptop is happy.

This is now basically to answer the below.

garlin said:
I think the question most people want answered, is "Does it work from the free edition?"

tony359 · Nov 13, 2025

ok well, having to delete a partition in order to move it - though it's the MSR one - might not qualify as "everything" as other software allows you to move the partition and not worry about the content of the partition!

I guess it's like if I wiped the disk and re-created all the partitions the way I wanted and say "I did it"

(Yes, I know it's not a perfectly matching example!)

gunrunnerjohn · Nov 13, 2025

My MBR partition is first, then the EFI, then C: and finally the recovery partition. I didn't bother doing anything with the 16MB MBR partition, I just left it.

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

tony359 said:
ok well, having to delete a partition in order to move it - though it's the MSR one - might not qualify as "everything" as other software allows you to move the partition and not worry about the content of the partition!

Even when the MSR only acts as a placeholder (to reserve some space) so that it doesn't contain any valid data when Windows is actively running on the system, deleting the MSR when Windows is still actively running on the system is not completely without risk. For this reason alone, doing so should generally be discouraged. Windows' built-in Diskpart utility can also be used in an elevated command prompt that can be opened by pressing Shift+F10 after booting in WinPE or by booting in WinRE with Advanced Startup options (so as to avoid Windows actively running on the system), but you already know that this isn't exactly the most hassle-free way to skin a cat.

glasskuter · Nov 13, 2025

tony359 said:
I am unable to move the MSR so I am unable to expand the EFI.

You can't move the MSR. You have to delete it, resize EFI leaving at least 16mb of unallocated space after the newly expanded EFI. You re-create the MSR in this space.
To recreate MSR:

Boot into a Windows installation/recovery disk.
Open Command Prompt

diskpart

list disk

select disk 0 (replace 0 with your system disk number)

create partition msr size=16 (or whatever size. It must be at least 16)

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

Well if you place the MSR first, the EFI second, and you make the MSR 128MB (not 16MB), then you should never have to worry about the MSR. That's what I did. lol

glasskuter · Nov 13, 2025

This thread had become very convoluted. For anyone finding this who needs to increase the size of his EFI partition, Here is a step by step using ~~Minitool~~.
GParted. Keep in mind the example numbers used are to increase EFI from 100mb to 400mb. Change according to the sizes you want.
First and foremost image your system before you mess with partitions. If you do not use imaging software, a good free one is Hasleo Backup Suite. Be sure to create Hasleo recovery boot media so you are able to recover if everything goes sideways....

Note:When booting from ANY 3rd party boot media, you may have to temporarily turn off secure boot in bios for the tools to work. You can re-enable secure boot after the changes.

~~1. Create the MiniTool Boot Disk~~

~~Download & install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free.~~
~~In the program, go to Bootable Media → create a bootable USB stick.~~
~~Restart your PC and boot from that USB (you may need to change boot order in BIOS).~~

THIS IS A CORRECTION FOR STEP I. Minitool Free WILL NOT allow you to create a boot disk. You will have to use a GParted boot disk instead or any other 3rd party partitioning software that allows offline partition management.
GParted download GParted -- Download
GParted manual here GParted -- GParted Manual

2. Delete the MSR Partition

Once ~~MiniToo~~l GParted loads, you’ll see your disk layout.
Identify the 16 MB MSR partition (usually between EFI and C:).
Delete this partition and apply change
This frees up space directly next to EFI.

3. Shrink C: Drive

Shrink your C partition by 300mb and apply change
Make sure the free space is created before C: (adjacent to EFI). Between EFI and C: you should now see 316 mb of unallocated space.

Restart & boot back into ~~Minitool~~ GParted boot drive
4. Expand EFI Partition

Resize the EFI partition (100 MB)
Extend this to be 400 mb, leaving 16 mb unallocated.
Apply the change and, then restart , Boot into GParted again to make sure everything is sized like you want.

This step uses Windows installation disk
5. Recreate the MSR Partition

Boot into a Windows installation/recovery disk.
Open Command Prompt → run diskpart using these commands:

diskpart

list disk

select disk 0 (replace 0 with your system disk number)

create partition msr size=16

This recreates the 16 MB MSR partition in the correct spot.

6. Verify

Back in Windows, open command prompt as admin and run these commands:

diskpart

list partition

You should see:

EFI partition = 400 MB (or whatever size you chose)
MSR partition = 16 MB
C: partition = rest of disk
Recovery partition (if you have one)

Safety Reminders

Always keep a full backup before resizing.
Perform these steps offline (boot disk) — resizing EFI/MSR while Windows is running is unreliable.
~~If MiniTool refuses, you can use GParted Live (Linux‑based boot disk) for the same process.~~

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

The free version of NIUBI effectively eliminates the need to create a boot disk or anything like that. Better yet, it conveniently shows when a reboot will be required vs not. See: NIUBI Partition Editor Hot-Resize Technology.

Also, if you choose to use the free portable version of the program, you don't need to install it. Granted, the same also holds true about MiniTool, but NIUBI is less convoluted because, unlike with MiniTool, you don't need to create a boot disk nor need to futz around with Windows' built-in Diskpart utility.

hdmi · Nov 13, 2025

I forgot to mention, there exists a reason why, with a default installation of Windows 11, the size of the MSR is 128MB, not 16MB. The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) explanation is because it avoids convoluted threads getting even more convoluted. lol

tony359 · Nov 14, 2025

glasskuter said:
This thread had become very convoluted.

I agree but it's convoluted because, allow me, there are lots of messages with inaccurate information which can and will mislead visitors.

glasskuter said:
1. Create the MiniTool Boot Disk

Download & install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free.

In the program, go to Bootable Media → create a bootable USB stick.

Restart your PC and boot from that USB (you may need to change boot order in BIOS).

MiniTool Partition Wizard FREE DOES NOT support Bootable media!

glasskuter said:
You can't move the MSR. You have to delete it, resize EFI leaving at least 16mb of unallocated space after the newly expanded EFI. You re-create the MSR in this space.

GParted moved the MSR for me.

My final understanding of this convoluted conversation is that MiniTool cannot be used to resize the EFI partition without having to delete the MSR partition as well.

GParted is a better choice - though it required MiniTool to expand the EFI partition at the end.

glasskuter · Nov 14, 2025

tony359 said:
there are lots of messages with inaccurate information which can and will mislead visitors.

Yes and some are you own. So let me

tony359 said:
MiniTool Partition Wizard FREE DOES NOT support Bootable media!

Yes, it does despite you saying over and over it doesn't

tony359 said:
GParted moved the MSR for me.

No one ever said Gparted couldn't move the MSR. But according to MS it's not supposed to be moved.
What I wrote addressed if one wants to keep the DEFAULT Windows partitioning scheme & that is, Windows expects the MSR to be between the EFI and C partitions.
The default partition layout for UEFI-based PCs is: a system partition, an MSR, a Windows partition, and a recovery tools partition.

diagram of default partition layout: system, msr, windows, and recovery

UEFI/GPT-based hard drive partitions

learn.microsoft.com

As far as the size of the MSR,
Microsoft changed the MSR partition size from 128 MB to 16 MB with the release of Windows 10. Previous versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 and 8.1, used a 128 MB MSR partition on GPT-formatted drives.

Windows 7 and 8/8.1: Used a 128 MB MSR partition.
Windows 10 and later: Uses a 16 MB MSR partition on all new GPT drives.

So folks who still have a 128mg MSR partition is an indication that their drive was either partitioned under an earlier version of windows OR he partitioned the drive himself and used the requirements for an earlier version of windows.. A clean install of Windows 11 on unallocated space creates a 16mb MSR, no matter what size one's system drive is.

gunrunnerjohn · Nov 14, 2025

glasskuter said:
No one ever said Gparted couldn't move the MSR. But according to MS it's not supposed to be moved.
What I wrote addressed if one wants to keep the DEFAULT Windows partitioning scheme & that is, Windows expects the MSR to be between the EFI and C partitions.
The default partition layout for UEFI-based PCs is: a system partition, an MSR, a Windows partition, and a recovery tools partition.

I did a clean install of Windows 11 in March of this year, and the MSR partition is actually before the EFI partition. That's the way that MSC installed it.

glasskuter · Nov 14, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
I did a clean install of Windows 11 in March of this year, and the MSR partition is actually before the EFI partition. That's the way that MSC installed it.

They must have changed it between Oct ( when I did mine.) and March (when you did yours) I know there were a lot of complaints on feedback hub about how difficult it i was to expand the EFI because the MSR was in the way.
Don't guess they updated their documentation either because that screenshot above is directly from MS documentation.

KevTech · Nov 14, 2025

gunrunnerjohn said:
I did a clean install of Windows 11 in March of this year, and the MSR partition is actually before the EFI partition. That's the way that MSC installed it.

Odd it is only 15.98 and not 16 in Minitool.
Mine is 16.

Need to resize System Reserved partition

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