Solved Windows 11 Clean Install - Unknown "Unallocated" Partition

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

Well i guess here is the best place to get an answer to my question as Google just throws up 100000000000 useless answers.

I did a Clean Install of Windows 11 Pro 22631.2715 downloaded from uupdump.net using Rufus.
When it came to the select where to install I did as many have suggested to format all the partitions and then install to the C drive as one usually does.
All went smoothly without any issues, did all the updates and got my system back how I wanted it.

On checking my Disk Management I noticed all the usual partitions are there again i.e EFI, WinRe and C Drive but I also saw there is an Unallocated one of 588MB that serves no purpose as below:

Went and checked it in MTPW also outta curiousity and it shows up there also:

So now my Question is this: Where did it come from and is this something I need to be concerned about???

Much appreciated

kelper · Nov 26, 2023

As your C drive is quite modest it would be worthwhile using that space. See if Disk Management will allow you to increase the size of C drive.
If not, you will have to do some shuffling. It should allow you to increase the size of partition three by that 588MB. Then you can reduce its size by specifying 588MB in front of partition 3 and no space beyond it. Then you can increase the C drive by 599MB.

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

There is nothing to worry about. There are some steps needed to recreate the Recoverypartition and bring it to the end.
A 588 MB Partition is more or less useless.
Do you know "diskpart"?
You can extend your Recovery-Partition as well. Then you have 1342 MB. That's ok.

cereberus · Nov 26, 2023

Nothing to worry about.

Just move recovery partition to right and expand C drive using minitool partition wizard.

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

Thanks for the answers so far.

Disk Management doesn't give me any options to extend volume of C Drive and when I try the same in MTPW I get this:

Not something I'm overly concerned about, just curious as to where it came from as it has no purpose.

zbook · Nov 26, 2023

Alternatives are:
a) do nothing > it is less than 1 GB
b) resize the recovery partition > enlarge it > allow Windows to adjust its size during the next upgrade/update
c) reposition the recovery partition and manually enlarge the data partition

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

It's a combination of diskpart and reagentc - commands to move the Recovery to the end. There is no need for a 3rd party tool!
In order to enlarge it by diskmanagement you might have to give that partition a different id. Temporaryly

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

I now have the option to Delete Volume of 588MB is Disk Management all of a sudden, can this be done safely?

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

cmd (admin)
diskpart
sel disk 0
sel par 4
set id="ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7"
extend partition 4 by diskmanagement (right click and expand) if it's still unallocoted
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
ready
use copy&paste !

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
cmd (admin)
diskpart
sel disk 0
sel par 4
set id="ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7"
extend partition 4 by diskmanagement (right click and expand)
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
ready
use copy&paste !

This is currently my Disk Management:

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

You have to delete that 588 MB Partition first!!
select delete volume
Then go to post #9

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
You have to delete that 588 MB Partition first!!
select delete volume

Alright so I went and deleted it and now it is 588MB Unallocated again

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

post #9
instead of diskmanagement
the diskpart command
extend
is also possible if par 4 is still selected

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, will post back the outcomes later.

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

It's a 2 minutes job.
Google doesn't give you the answer!

Griff79 · Nov 26, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
It's a 2 minutes job.

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

Why is MSR on 4? usually it's 2

~~Ok par 3 is correct!~~
~~sel par 3~~
Sorry
The MSR 16 MB partitition is useless and not shown in diskmanagement
You can delete it as well
sel par 4
delete partition override

sel par 3
set id="ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7"
extend
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
exit

cereberus · Nov 26, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
Why is MSR on 4? usually it's 2

~~Ok par 3 is correct!~~
~~sel par 3~~
Sorry
The MSR 16 MB partitition is useless and not shown in diskmanagement
You can delete it as well
sel par 4
delete partition override

sel par 3
set id="ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7"
extend
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
exit

For cying out loud - why are you using a sledgehammer approach? You are totally confusing OP.

All OP has to do is (using MTPW which he has installed) is to

1) delete that new NTFS partition that he created (and never should have)

2) delete the 16 mb partition - this partition cannot be moved. It is not needed anyway.

3) move 754 mb partition to right

4) extend C drive.

@Griff79 - this is the easy way and will take less than 5 minutes! Don't frigg around with diskpart - total overkill.

POLYSIUS · Nov 26, 2023

copy &paste an overkill ?
A 3rd party tool for s.th. that is needed once for a basic operation?
@cereberus
And if you are the expert, why didn't you tell him that he has to correct the winre.wim location in the bcd or reagentc as a last step?

cereberus · Nov 26, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
copy &paste an overkill ?
A 3rd party tool for s.th. that is needed once for a basic operation?
@cereberus
And if you are the expert, why didn't you tell him that he has to correct the winre.wim location in the bcd or reagentc as a last step?

1. Op already blooming has MTPW installed - read his posts properly !

2. Nope - not needed re. winre as we are not changing partition orders.