Is this "partition" necessary?

Simple question, is the partition in the middle necessary. Its 16 MB not much but don't know if win 11 needs this. (Win 11 23H2 22631.4541)

Yes, that would be the MSR (Microsoft Reserved) partition and every GPT drive will have one. Don't mess with it

More Info: If you would like more info on what this partition is, here is some light reading on the topic:

That's the Microsoft Reserved partition (MSR).

Microsoft said:

The Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) reserves space on each disk drive for subsequent use by operating system software. GPT disks do not allow hidden sectors. Software components that formerly used hidden sectors now allocate portions of the MSR for component-specific partitions. For example, converting a basic disk to a dynamic disk causes the MSR on that disk to be reduced in size and a newly created partition holds the dynamic disk database

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info hsehestedt, not going to mess with it. (Never thought this question should be put in "devices and drivers")

It is created by ms setup. But it is not created when using mbr2gpt. So obviously not essential, but if it is already there just leave it.

I have all GPT disks, and no MSR partitions. I don't have the Recovery partition either.

If you use backup software, religiously, the only two partitions you really need on GPT disks,
are the EFI and the Windows partitions.
Both are required to "boot" Windows.


Just FYI, a clean install of Win 10 or Win 11 on GPT disks, gives you these partitions...





The stuff in the RED box, is the absolute bare minimum, you need to boot Windows 10 or 11...




This program will show you ALL the partitions on your drives. It hides nothing.




Minitool Partition Wizard, can do a LOT more than Disk Management... the pic below shows the right click menus...

My experience is Windows will create 3 or 5 partitions during the install, usually 3 on a clean drive and maybe 5 on the Upgrade from a previous version.