FAQ
TL;DR: After Windows 10 1803, "a partition of 500MB appeared." You can hide it by removing the drive letter, or reinstall to recreate recovery tools. [Elektroda, Davvvi, post #17227908]
Why it matters: This FAQ shows how to safely hide, keep, or restore that partition so Windows recovery keeps working.
Quick Facts
- WinRE stores recovery tools in a separate partition; the WinRE image is typically 300–500 MB. [Windows RE (Windows Recovery Environment)]
- UEFI/GPT Windows setups create multiple partitions by design: EFI, MSR, OS, and Recovery. [Windows Setup: BIOS/UEFI partition layouts]
- To hide a visible Recovery/OEM partition, remove its drive letter using Disk Management or DiskPart. [DiskPart commands]
- Deleting the Recovery partition disables Reset this PC and Advanced startup until WinRE is restored. [Windows RE (Windows Recovery Environment)]
- Reinstalling Windows 10 on the same PC auto‑activates via a digital license linked to the device. [Activate Windows]
What is the 500 MB partition that appeared after updating Windows 10?
It’s the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) partition. Windows places recovery tools here for Reset, Startup Repair, and advanced troubleshooting. The WinRE image (winre.wim) is typically 300–500 MB, which matches what you’re seeing. Keep it for built‑in repair features to work. [Windows RE (Windows Recovery Environment)]
How do I hide the recovery partition so it stops showing in File Explorer?
Remove its drive letter. How‑To: 1) Open an elevated Command Prompt, run diskpart. 2) list volume, then select volume for the recovery partition. 3) remove letter=. This hides the partition without deleting it or breaking recovery. You can also remove the letter in Disk Management. [DiskPart commands]
I formatted the 500 MB partition—can I still use Reset this PC?
Formatting likely removed WinRE. Reset this PC and some recovery options will not work until WinRE is restored. Run reagentc /info to check status. If disabled or missing, use reagentc /enable to restore, or point to a valid winre.wim with reagentc /setreimage. Reinstalling Windows also recreates WinRE. [Enable and disable Windows RE]
Can I merge the 500 MB partition back into C: to gain space?
Yes, but you will lose built‑in recovery unless you relocate WinRE first. Disable WinRE (reagentc /disable), delete the recovery partition, then extend C:. Afterward, recreate or re‑enable WinRE so Reset and advanced repair work again. Always back up before partition changes. [Enable and disable Windows RE]
Why can’t I delete or change that partition in Disk Management?
Windows flags recovery partitions with special attributes, so Disk Management limits actions to protect system recovery. That’s why delete and letter options can be unavailable. Use an elevated DiskPart session to remove the drive letter if you only want to hide it. [Elektroda, Davvvi, post #17228021]
Will Windows 10 reactivate automatically if I reinstall on my 64 GB SSD?
Yes. If Windows 10 has activated on that device before, it holds a digital license tied to your hardware. After a clean installation of the same edition, it auto‑activates once online. No product key is required during setup. [Activate Windows]
Is a 64 GB SSD enough for Windows 10 Home and updates?
It works, but storage is tight. Microsoft lists 32 GB minimum storage for newer Windows 10 releases, leaving limited headroom for feature updates and apps. Keep user data and large applications on another drive to avoid low‑space update issues. [Windows 10 Specifications]
How do I check if WinRE is enabled and where it lives?
Open an elevated Command Prompt and run: reagentc /info. It shows WinRE status and the configured location of winre.wim. If disabled, you can enable it with reagentc /enable after ensuring a valid WinRE image is present. [Enable and disable Windows RE]
What’s the safest way to restore WinRE after formatting that partition?
Try this: 1) Run reagentc /disable. 2) Place a valid winre.wim in a recovery folder, then run reagentc /setreimage /path . 3) Run reagentc /enable and verify with reagentc /info. If the image is missing, perform a repair install or clean install to recreate it. [Enable and disable Windows RE]
Where can I download Windows 10 with the latest updates to reinstall?
Use Microsoft’s official Download Windows 10 page. The Media Creation Tool lets you create up‑to‑date installation USB media and ensures a clean, trusted installer. [Download Windows 10]
Can I just delete the recovery partition without consequences?
You can, but consider the trade‑off. Deleting it removes built‑in recovery, so Reset this PC and some repair options stop working until you restore WinRE. Keep installation media handy if you choose this path. [Windows RE (Windows Recovery Environment)]
Why did the update make this partition visible in the first place?
Feature updates can assign a drive letter to a recovery or OEM partition, which makes it appear in Explorer. Removing that letter hides it again without deleting anything. Users reported this behavior after the 1803 update. [Elektroda, Davvvi, post #17228162]
