How to Fix a Missing or Deleted System Reserved Partition in Windows 10

If you accidentally delete the System Reserved partition in Windows 10, it can cause serious boot issues and prevent you from upgrading or updating your operating system. The System Reserved partition is a small partition that stores critical boot information, and without it, your computer may not be able to start up properly. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to fix a missing or deleted System Reserved partition and restore your computer to a bootable state.

Method 1: Rebuild the System Reserved Partition Using Command Prompt

If you can still boot into Windows, you can use Command Prompt to rebuild the System Reserved partition. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter to open Command Prompt.
3. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
   • diskpart
   • list disk
   • select disk 0
   • create partition primary size=100
   • format quick fs=fat32
   • assign letter=y
   • active
   • exit
4. Type bcdboot c:\windows /s y: and press Enter to copy the boot files to the new System Reserved partition.
5. Restart your computer and see if it boots up normally.

Method 2: Repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) Store

If the System Reserved partition is missing due to a corrupted or missing Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, you can try repairing it using Command Prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Here’s how:

1. Boot your computer from a Windows installation media or recovery drive.
2. Select your language preferences and click “Next”.
3. Click “Repair your computer” and select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
4. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
   • bootrec /fixmbr
   • bootrec /fixboot
   • bootrec /rebuildbcd
5. Restart your computer and see if it boots up normally.

Method 3: Recover the System Reserved Partition Using Partition Recovery Software

If the above methods don’t work, you can try using partition recovery software to recover the deleted System Reserved partition. One popular option is EaseUS Partition Master. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download and install EaseUS Partition Master on a working computer.
2. Connect an external hard drive or USB drive to the computer.
3. Launch EaseUS Partition Master and click “Partition Recovery” in the left sidebar.
4. Select the drive where the System Reserved partition was located and click “Next”.
5. Select a scanning method (Quick Scan or Full Scan) and click “Next”.
6. Once the scan is complete, locate the System Reserved partition in the list and click “Finish”.
7. Click “Apply” to execute the recovery operation.
8. Restart your computer and see if it boots up normally.

If you’re unable to boot into Windows, you can create a WinPE bootable disk using EaseUS Partition Master and use it to recover the System Reserved partition on an unbootable computer.

Method 4: Reset Windows

If none of the above methods work, you can try resetting your Windows installation. This will remove all your personal files, apps, and settings, but it may fix any underlying issues causing the missing System Reserved partition. Here’s how:

1. Boot your computer from a Windows installation media or recovery drive.
2. Select your language preferences and click “Next”.
3. Click “Repair your computer” and select “Troubleshoot” > “Reset this PC”.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer to its factory settings.

Keep in mind that resetting your computer will erase all your personal files, so make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.

In conclusion, a missing or deleted System Reserved partition can be a frustrating issue, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can usually restore your computer to a bootable state. By using Command Prompt to rebuild the partition, repairing the BCD store, recovering the partition using software, or resetting Windows as a last resort, you can get your computer back up and running in no time.