Help getting rid of a System Drive partition in Explorer


I

idainc

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windows 11 64
I cloned a drive Reflect. I partitioned the new drive to add a D drive and I am now seeing an E drive in Explorer. I cant figue out how to get rid of (or hide it) as a housekeeping matter. I'm considering doing the whole cloning thing all over again but wanted to see if there was an easier and faster way to fix this. Thanks in advance.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-12700T
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 1650 / Intel 770
    Screen Resolution
    1920 / 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsubg 990 Pro 1TB
    Case
    All in One
    Keyboard
    USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    600 MBS
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS
Since you have had multiple issues (and threads) with this clone, maybe you need to rethink your strategy.
Personally, I NEVER clone but that's neither here nor there. At the present time do you have both disks installed either internally or with usb?
Since explorer sees drive E but disk management does not, I would first use a third party app like Minitool to see if E is being recognized there before I tried to deal with it using diskpart.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Motherboard
    stock Dell
    Memory
    24 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
I was able to regedit E our of exolorer. It is an unlettered partition on the drive shown as EFI. During the cloning it was apparently labelled as E but is till the EFI partition. Disk managment sees the EFI partition.

I agree about cloning and wont try it again but it was an easy solution to the upgrade and the remomval of a SATA SSD that was just too slow. THis is an HP All in One and it has some HP software that s usefull. A fresh install is best but at the moment there isnt a need. An although Magician coulndt do the cloning it is now functional.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-12700T
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 1650 / Intel 770
    Screen Resolution
    1920 / 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsubg 990 Pro 1TB
    Case
    All in One
    Keyboard
    USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    600 MBS
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS
With MiniTool I can change the drive letter back to "none" Disk managment does not show it as having a drive letter. I appreciate your thoughts.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-12700T
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 1650 / Intel 770
    Screen Resolution
    1920 / 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsubg 990 Pro 1TB
    Case
    All in One
    Keyboard
    USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    600 MBS
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS
The only time I clone is using hardware drive dock [no computer connected] from the Source drive to a fully wiped/clean/bare same size or larger Destination drive. And before that I run Error Checking followed by Defrag/Optimize on the Source drive to eliminate any errors.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Thanks. I agree but the lure of faster speed got the better of me. After some searching this kind of error is common in cloning. Any thought on the option of using MiniTool to remomve the drive letter of the EFI partition which shouldnt have one anyway ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-12700T
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 1650 / Intel 770
    Screen Resolution
    1920 / 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsubg 990 Pro 1TB
    Case
    All in One
    Keyboard
    USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    600 MBS
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS
I "clone" often. Never a problem if the right tool is used.

Diskgenius ( free version) os migration is superb. Other non os partitions can be included with a couple of clicks

More advanced users could use winntsetup wincopy function ( only for os copy )
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
I just removed the drive letter assigned to the EFI partition using MiniTool and it worked like a charm. Mactiurm Reflect added an almost impossible to delete folder on the C Drive clalled Windows Apps ? Uggh. No more cloning.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11 64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-12700T
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 1650 / Intel 770
    Screen Resolution
    1920 / 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsubg 990 Pro 1TB
    Case
    All in One
    Keyboard
    USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    600 MBS
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS
Have you considered Clonezilla? This is a true image copy and it doesn't know or care about what kind of O/S or file system is in use. As long as the target drive is as large or larger than the source drive, you should get a 1:1 copy.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4202, Experience Pack 1000.26100.107.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4202, Experience Pack 1000.26100.107.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
This is the Default I've been getting when setting up new Notebooks, 3 just this year so far:

1745113050072.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
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