System partition and boot partition: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:28, 6 February 2016

Revision as of 10:21, 6 February 2016

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

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

{{Redirect|SYSTEM.DRV}}

'''System partition''' and '''boot partition''' are the [[computing]] terms for the [[disk partition]]s of a [[hard disk drive]] within a [[PC]], that must exist and be configured for some [[Operating System]] (OS) to function correctly. An accepted definition for these terms refers to the [[firmware]] disk partition on thea PC's hard disk drive, that manages the Boot Loader's ___location and selection which grants selection access to the available operating systemsystems on the PC to be used. This firmware disk partition is intended to hold a single Operating System's '''boot code''' and controls the PC's system with it, and is necessary for certain [[proprietary software|proprietary]] or personalized computer system. Some system partitions and boot partitions are ''hidden'', or assigned without a drive letter.

==Personalized Operation==

==PC definition==

In the context of computerpersonalized operating systems, system partition and boot partition arecan definedact as followsfollow:

*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]].

*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 <code>/</code> (the [[root directory]]).

In Linux systems, a singlesystem partition and boot partition can be bothwithin the operating system's main hard disk space, without requiring a bootseparate anddisk entity; or they can also occupy a systemsingle, non-primary disk partition together, if both <code>/boot/</code> and root directory are in the same partition.

==Proprietary Operation==

==Server definition==

In the context of Microsofta Windows, and Firmwarecomputer with Systema Partitionproprietary supportoperating system, such as EFIMicrosoft's [[Windows 7]] and beyond, theit termscan arebe definedunderstood as followsfollowing:

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

*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|edition=5th}}</ref>{{rp|970}}

*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>

A single partition may be both a system and a boot partition. In case they are separate, however, the boot partition does not contain the boot software and the system partition does not have the system root.<ref name=winternals5 />{{rp|971}}

Before [[Windows 7]], the system and boot partitions were, by default, the same and were given the identifier "C:". After Windows 7, however, [[Windows Setup]] creates, by default, a separate system partition that is not given an identifier and therefore is hidden. The boot partition is still given "C:" as its identifier. This configuration is suitable for running [[BitLocker]], which requires a separate, unencrypted system partition for [[booting]].

==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]], it is possible that such system partitions and boot partitions also allow and contain critical user files used in recovery attempts and retrieve; however, these recovery partitions can be removed under certain conditions to gain extra hard drive space. Under this circumstance, creating backups and/or reallocating the partitioned space is common place.

==See also==

*[[Windows NT startup process]]

*[[Windows Vista startup process]]

*[[BIOS]]

*[[UEFI]]

*[[Windows 7]]

*[[Windows To Go]]

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*[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:WindowsHard administrationDisk Drive]]

[[Category:Disk Partition]]

[[Category:Windows Administration]]

[[Category:Booting]]

[[Category:Proprietary Software]]