System partition and boot partition: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Computing terms for disk partitions}}

{{Redirect-distinguish|System partition|EFI Systemsystem partition}}

{{Redirect-distinguish|Boot partition|BIOS boot partition}}

{{Redirect|Windows Disk Partition Features}}

{{Redirect|SYSTEM.DRV}}

The '''system partition''' and the '''boot partition''' (also known as the '''system volume''' and the '''boot volume''') are computing terms for [[disk partition]]s of a [[hard disk drive]] or [[solid-state drive]] that must exist and be properly configured for a computer to operate. There are two different definitions for these terms: the common definition and the [[Microsoft]] definition.

'''System partition''' and '''boot partition''' are the [[computing]] terms for the [[disk partition]] of a [[hard disk drive]] within a [[Personal Computer|PC]], that must exist and be configured for some [[Operating System]] (OS) to function correctly. A standard definition for ''boot partition'' refers to the [[firmware]] disk partition on a PC's disk drive space, which holds the '''Boot Loader's''' ___location and grants selection access to the available operating systems on the PC to be used and managed by the ''system partition''. Typically, This firmware boot partition is intended to hold a single Operating System's '''boot code''' and controls the corresponding system partition with it, and is necessary for most [[proprietary software|proprietary]] or certain personalized computer system. Some system partitions and boot partitions are '''hidden''', and/or assigned without a drive letter. It is up to the [[Privilege escalation#Jailbreaking|user's unique situation]] to decide if this configuration is a [[closed software|restrictive]] or a [[computer security|security feature]].

==Common definition==

==Personalized Operation==

In the context of personalizedevery operating systemssystem, except those developed by [[Microsoft]], the system partition and the boot partition canare actdefined as followfollows:

* The ''boot partition'' is a [[primary partition]] that contains the [[boot loader]], a piece of software responsible for [[booting]] the OS[[operating system]]. For example, in the standard [[Linux]] directory layout ([[Filesystem Hierarchy Standard]]), boot files (such as the [[Linux kernel|kernel]], [[initrd]], and boot loader [[GRUB]]) are mounted at <code>/boot/</code>.<ref>{{cite book|last=Petersen|first=Richard|title=Ubuntu The Complete Reference|year=2009|publisher=McGraw-Hill|___location=New York|isbn=978-0-07-164368-09|page=473|chapter=Chapter 21: Basic System Administration}}</ref> Despite Microsoft's radically different definition (see below), System Information, a utility app included in [[Windows NT]] family of operating systems, refers to it as "boot device".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Jean |first2=James |last2=Chellis |title=A+ Guide to Software |date=13 August 2012 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=9781285414980 |page=21 |edition=6th}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Donald |first=Lisa |title=MCSA / MCSE: Windows Server 2003 Environment Management and Maintenance Study Guide: Exam 70-290 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9780470327616 |pages=116–117 |edition=2nd |date=2008}}</ref>

*The ''disk partition'' might be a manual input decision in the hands of the user or it might be automated by a [[Linux distribution|distro]], as in the case of certain Linux systems and lesser known system platforms.

* The ''system partition'' is the disk partition that contains the operating system folder, known as the ''system root''. By default, in Linux, operating system files are mounted at the <code>/</code> (the [[root directory]]).

*The ''boot partition'' is a [[primary partition]] that contains the [[boot loader]], a piece of software responsible for booting the OS. For example, in the standard [[Linux]] directory layout ([[Filesystem Hierarchy Standard]]), boot files (such as the [[Linux kernel|kernel]], [[initrd]], and boot loader [[GRUB]]) are mounted at <code>/boot/</code>.<ref>{{cite book|last=Petersen|first=Richard|title=Ubuntu The Complete Reference|year=2009|publisher=McGraw-Hill|___location=New York|isbn=0-07-164368-0|page=473|chapter=Chapter 21: Basic System Administration}}</ref>

*The ''system partition'' is the disk partition that contains the operating system folder, known as ''system root''. By default, in Linux, operating system files are mounted at the <code>/</code>([[root directory]]).

In Linux systems, a system partition and bootsingle partition can be heldboth withina anboot operating system's main hard or logical disk space, without requiringand a separatesystem disk entity;partition if both <code>/boot/</code> and the root directory are in the same partition. Or they can also occupy a single disk partition of their own, separately from each other.

==Microsoft definition==

==Proprietary Operation==

Since [[Windows NT 3.1]] (the first version of Windows NT),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/100525|title=Definition of System and Boot Partition|date=20 February 2007|website=Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313090403/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/100525|archive-date=13 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Microsoft has defined the terms as follows:

In the context of a server or a PC with a proprietary operating system, such as Microsoft's [[Windows 7]] and beyond, it can be understood as following ''(the naming of System/Boot partition is reversed in the case of Windows)'':

* The ''system partition'' (or system volume)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314470/definitions-for-system-volume-and-boot-volume|title=Definitions for system volume and boot volume|date=29 October 2009|website=Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913184351/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314470/definitions-for-system-volume-and-boot-volume|archive-date=2017-09-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a primary partition that contains the boot loader, a piece of software responsible for booting the operating system.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking|last2=Tulloch|first2=Ingrid|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|year=2002|isbn=0-7356-1378-8|edition=2nd|___location=Redmond, WA|first1=Mitch|last1=Tulloch}}</ref>{{Rp|1087}} This partition holds the [[boot sector]] and is marked active.<ref name=winternals5>{{cite book|last1=Russinovich|first1=Mark E|last2=Ionescu|first2=Alex|last3=Solomon|first3=David A|title=Windows Internals|year=2008|publisher=Microsoft Press|___location=Redmond, WA|isbn=978-0-7356-2530-3|edition=5th}}</ref>{{rp|970}}

*The ''disk partition'' is generally created automatically during factory configuration and assemblage (not to confuse with [[Windows 8]] computers' required firmware attachment of EFI or [[UEFI]] in lieu of a [[BIOS]]).

* The ''boot partition'' (or boot volume)<ref name=":1" /> is the disk partition that contains the operating system folder, known as the ''system root'' or <code>%systemroot%</code> in [[Windows NT]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|174}}

*The ''system partition'' is a partition that contains boot loaders, software responsible for booting one or more OS'.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Mitch|last1=Tulloch|first2=Ingrid|last2=Tulloch|title=Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking|year=2002|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|___location=Redmond, WA|isbn=0-7356-1378-8|page=1087|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name=winternals5>{{cite book|last1=Russinovich|first1=Mark E|last2=Ionescu|first2=Alex|last3=Solomon|first3=David A|title=Windows Internals|year=2008|publisher=Microsoft Press|___location=Redmond, WA|isbn=0-7356-2530-1|page=970-1|edition=5th}}</ref>

*The ''boot partitions'' are the disk partition that contains the operating system folder, known as ''system root'' or <code>%systemroot%</code> in [[Windows NT]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Mitch|last1=Tulloch|first2=Ingrid|last2=Tulloch|title=Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking|year=2002|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|___location=Redmond, WA|isbn=0-7356-1378-8|page=174|edition=2nd}}</ref>

For a number of Windows NT systems' disk system, a single partition may be both a system and a boot partition. If they are separate, the boot partition does not contain the boot software and the system partition does not have the system root.<ref name=winternals5 />

Before [[Windows Vista7]] and Windows 7, the system and boot partitions were, by default, the same and were given the identifier "C:". After [[WindowsDrive XPletter assignment|drive letter]].<ref name=winternals5 />{{rp|971}} Since Windows 7, however, [[Windows Setup]] creates, by default, a separate system partition that is not assigned withgiven an identifier - and therefore is hidden. The boot partition which contains the [[user space]] is still given "C:" as its identifier letter. This type of settingconfiguration is suitable for therunning system[[BitLocker]], partitionwhich torequires runa fullseparate diskunencrypted encryptionsystem programspartition suchfor asbooting. [[Veracrypt]],As of [[TrueCrypt]]Windows or Microsoft's [[BitLocker11]], sincethis thenomenclature Windowsis systemstill requiresused aby separate,the unencrypted"Disk systemManagement" partition for [[booting]]utility.

==Additional Information==

Some system and boot partition like '''system_DRV''' has no ''drive letters'' assigned and is required by Windows, therefore, cannot be removed. On some brands of computers, such as [[Lenovo]], which also contains a factory-fitted extended partition, it is possible that such system partitions and boot partitions also contain and allow critical user files to be used in recovery and retrieval attemps; however, these recovery partitions can be removed under certain conditions to gain extra hard drive space if the user requires it. Under this circumstance, creating backups and/or reallocating the partitioned space is common place.

==See also==

* [[SandboxNTLDR]]

* [[Windows NT startup process]]

* [[Windows VistaNT startup process]]

* [[Windows Vista startup process]]

*[[BIOS]]

* [[UEFIWindows To Go]]

*[[Windows 7]]

*[[Windows To Go]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}{{Firmware and booting}}

==External links==

*[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100525 Definition of System and Boot Partition (NT)]

*[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470 Definition of System Partition and Boot Partition (XP)]

*[https://support.lenovo.com/au/en/documents/ht077144 Understanding hard drive partitions on Lenovo systems with Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8 - ThinkCentre, ThinkStation, ThinkPad]

[[Category:Hard Disk Drive]]

[[Category:Disk Partition]]

[[Category:Windows Administration]]

[[Category:Booting]]

[[Category:ProprietaryDisk Softwarepartitions]]

[[Category:Windows Administrationadministration]]