Solved When deleting drive partitions during Windows 11 installation, can I keep the recovery partition?

I did a clean install of Windows 11 and installed it to the primary partition, without deleting any other partitions. When the installation was done, explorer.exe kept crashing. I found a potential solution online that said to change the BannerStore key to BannerStoreOld or BannerStore_bak, but that didn't work.

I eventually got another BSOD, so I plugged the USB back in and started reinstalling Windows 11. I did not delete any partitions again and selected the primary partition to install. After selecting the partition, I got to the next loading screen. I got a BSOD.

So I booted from the USB again, and I'm currently at the drive partition selection page again. This time, I just want a clean wipe, but I don't know if the recovery partition will automatically be created again if I delete it. I know there are ways to manually create it, but I'm wondering if those are necessary, or if I can just keep the recovery partition, and delete the other system, MSR, and primary partitions, then select the unallocated partition, and install.

Also, the drive initially wasn't showing up at all, so I had to download the Intel IRST driver from HP's website. I followed their instructions, but I'm starting to think that I messed something up. They mentioned a SoftPaq folder, but I hadn't created one. It said to move the extracted files to the USB, not to a folder on the USB. Also, there was no extract button when I right-clicked the file. I had to use 7-Zip. Could this be why the first clean install didn't work?

Someone mentioned that they thought that explorer.exe was crashing due to OneDrive. (Link)

Thank you!

Are you talking about the recovery drive created by Windows or one that you might have from your laptop manufaturer?


If you’re talking about the recovery partition that Windows creates, it will create a new one. Wipe the entire drive of partitions. Backup your system first before proceeding.

To clean your drive properly

When the first window appears:




At the above window, keyboard keys: Shift key + F10 (for command prompt)

(Press enter after typing each command)

Type; diskpart
Type; list disk
Type; select disk x (x being the drive position/number. Be careful that you are cleaning the right drive/disk)
Type; clean
Type: convert gpt
Type; exit
Close command window.

This totally wipes all partitions on the C Drive.
Now continue with the install.

Alternatively, there is a tutorial here for a clean install.

Are the commands the best way, or does deleting all partitions from the Windows Setup partition selection window do the same thing?

HPUser said:

Are the commands the best way, or does deleting all partitions from the Windows Setup partition selection window do the same thing?

Click to expand...

I really couldn’t tell you, I’ve used Diskpart since Moses and I used to get sloshed down at the local cave bar.

But my guess is… possibly? (Sorry)

Did you take a look at the tutorial, might be a good alternative. Open it on your phone.

Okay. Yes, I checked the tutorial. It said to delete the partitions from the selection window.

After downloading HP's version of the Intel RST driver, use 7-Zip to extract the .EXE file's contents to the top of the USB drive. Do it before booting off the USB drive.

If Windows cannot find the system drive, and asks if you have a driver folder, then select the "F6" folder.

HPUser said:

Are the commands the best way, or does deleting all partitions from the Windows Setup partition selection window do the same thing?

Click to expand...

Well, if deleting the partitions during the clean install is not the proper way, I've done it wrong several hundred times since Moses. I do not use diskpart but delete the partitions during the install process and install windows on unallocated space. The iso will do what it's gotta do to give you a proper partition structure when the install completes.

There is a page during setup that gives the option to delete partitions! Delete all of them one by one. Simples
Your screen may have fewer partitions.

On the screen below, it shows two drives - you'd only need to delete partitions on the drive where you wish to install Windows, in this case that would be drive 0.

Both methods end up in the same place.

For me, I prefer the diskpart method because it's faster. You know exactly how many commands to type, and shortcuts are allowed:

Depending on how many partitions are already on the drive (which could be many if you messed up a previous install with strange partitioning, or have a duplicate Recovery partition), it might be slower doing point & click.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. But ALWAYS confirm it's the right drive by looking at the target disk's reported drive size if it's unique.

Using Diskpart isn't any quicker! It's instant and just a few mouse clicks. Moreover, it's much simpler for novices. Once all partitions are deleted, setup will create the needed ones.

I did a clean install on a Dell PC and the steps will be similar for HP. Dell told me to delete every partition shown and install on the last man standing. This will delete( as antspants says) the Windows Recovery Partition along with the Dell/HP Recovery. If you want the manufacturers Recovery when you're finished if you reinstall Supportassist/HP Support Assistant it will recreate the HP Recovery Partition- many don't bother with it though.

OEM Recovery partitions will take your computer back to how it was when you bought it. They are installed for the convenience of the manufacturer as their tech support will often tell to to use recovery rather than fixing any problems. But it means you will have to spend a long time with Windows Update and you will have to reinstall all your apps. You also lose any personal files not backed up on an external device. Once the computer is out of warranty you may as well delete that partition and use the space.

It’ll also dump a lot of HP bloat on the PC

kelper said:

OEM Recovery partitions will take your computer back to how it was when you bought it. They are installed for the convenience of the manufacturer as their tech support will often tell to to use recovery rather than fixing any problems. But it means you will have to spend a long time with Windows Update and you will have to reinstall all your apps. You also lose any personal files not backed up on an external device. Once the computer is out of warranty you may as well delete that partition and use the space.

Click to expand...

Do they still do those type of recovery partitions that contain a factory image?

Some do. I believe Dell still do this. Users can delete it or reinstall this feature with a download. This was taken from a current article.

I think that is the tool which downloads the recovery image from the cloud. It downloads to temp folder then extracts it to usb stick

Hp have something similar

this kind of thing



As far as I know they no longer have a big 15gb ish "recovery partition" with the whopping great factory image sitting on it.

Yeah, Dell still do the Recovery Partition which unless you are selling/disposing of the device is pretty much useless. No one is going to go back to as was 2 years ago. Dell Supportassist which I have for warranty reasons has OS Recovery Tools AKA Remediation which is supposed to get you back although I've never used it.

I have seen some computers that has a Tools partition. This partition has a small OS and diagnostic and recovery tools that can be launched from BIOS.
Some also has a factory recover partition (useless as win 10 & 11 has a new version every year).
In case of a clean install you should delete C: and the recovery partition keeping EFI, MSR and tools partition.

Megahertz said:

In case of a clean install you should delete C: and the recovery partition keeping EFI, MSR and tools partition.

Click to expand...

Why keep them? For a clean install, it's better to let setup.exe recreate them.

I have seen some computers that has a Tools partition. This partition has a small OS and diagnostic and recovery tools that can be launched from BIOS.
...
In case of a clean install you should delete C: and the recovery partition keeping EFI, MSR and tools partition.

Click to expand...

kelper said:

Why keep them? For a clean install, it's better to let setup.exe recreate them.

Click to expand...

If they want to retain the oem tools partition