Moving Recovery Partition in Windows 10

Baffled99 · February 15

I’ve read that AOMEI Partition Assistant can move the Windows 10 Recovery partition without data loss. In the example the Recovery partition is already to the right of the “C”.

I don’t know if makes any difference but my Recovery partition is before the “C” and needs to be moved to after the “C”.

I’ve read many instructions using the Windows command prompt and DiskPart. They say to first Disable the partition, then move it, then change the partition ID, then set the GPT attribute, then Enable the partition, etc. And I’ve probably missed a step or two.

Does AOMEI Partition Assistant automatically do all those required steps?

aiArtisan · February 16

Hello Baffled, I understand you want to use PA to manage your WinRec partition. You are saying the WinRec partition is in a non-standard location, to the left of your Windows C partition. Usually it is to the right.

Yes, PA can help you manage that. In my opinion, the WinRec partition is good and useful, but not required. Do you have a Windows 10 or 11 USB? Then you already have a spare WinRec. A Windows USB is essentially the same, as a WinRec partition. If your PC cannot boot, you may insert the Windows USB, then tell BIOS / UEFI to boot to it, using your brand's specific Fn key, then you can do automated startup repair, system restore point, and other utilities.

Could you please describe, why you want to move the WinRec partition?

Please post a screenshot from PA. Thank you.

Baffled99 · February 17

I want to move the Recovery partition in order to increase its size so that I install a Microsoft security update.

I don't have AOMEI Partition Assistant installed yet but this is from Windows Disk Management. The 527MB is the Recovery partition according to DiskPart..

Image: https://www.aomeitech.com/forum/uploads/editor/o7/8y5sdrkeed7j.jpg

aiArtisan · February 17

Before doing any operations on your disk, always backup your entire disk to another disk using exact-sector-by-sector setting. You may use PA or Backupper free to do that.

"I want to move the Recovery partition"

Instead of your suggestion to move the WinRec, a simple solution could be to simply expand it without moving it.

You could use Disk management to slightly shrink Windows C partition. Shrinking is best done in Disk Management when possible, because PA will take very long. After that you could use PA USB to move Windows C Partition slightly to the right. I recommend using PA USB version to do that, because if you do it in PA-app version, it will require that you restart anyway, and the USB version is best for that. Never use PA PreOS mode when moving. Then move 99MB EFI partition to the right slightly, then expand your WinRec, then turn PC off, remove PA USB stick, turn back on.

So you know, there is also a semi-secret partition MSR only a few mb that has no filesystem, it is a backup of Windows system BCD boot settings.

Cmd

Diskpart

list disk

select disk #

detail disk

list partition

list volume

exit

Backupper WinPE USB:

Add custom drivers, such as NVMe, if necessary. Does not work with some monitors.

Partition Assistant WinPE USB:

Add custom drivers, such as NVMe, if necessary.

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https://www.aomeitech.com/download.html
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Baffled99 · February 17

Everything I've read says to first shrink the C partition which creates unallocated space to the right of C. And the Recovery partition has to be next to the unallocated space in order to expand into it.

admin · February 20

@Baffled99, According to your screenshot, the 527MB partition doesn't show as Recovery. Can you confirm that it still is valid?

Baffled99 · February 20

DiskPart indicates the 527MB is the Recovery partition.

Moving Recovery Partition in Windows 10

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