What is a Boot Partition? [Detailed Explanation]

Not sure what a boot partition is, or how to create one? A boot partition holds a boot loader, which helps your computer start up the operating system you have installed. With a boot partition, you can even install multiple versions of an OS, like Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

To learn more about boot partitions, what they are, and how to create one, read on!

What is a boot partition?

The boot partition, also referred to as the boot volume, is a separate section on a computer's hard drive that contains the boot loader, which helps the computer start the operating system (like Windows 10). Apart from booting, it also holds operating system files.

The boot partition is often contained within the system partition, since both need to access files at boot time.

In fact, with boot partitions, it is possible to have several versions of the same operating system (such as Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10) installed side by side, without interfering with one another.

To install multiple versions of the same operating system, you usually need to install an earlier version first.

You may now be wondering what its strengths are, and how it can help you.

- It supports multiple versions of the same operating system. - With the boot partition stored inside the system partition, file complexity is reduced. - The boot partition is only a few megabytes in size, requiring fewer resources at boot time.

What is the difference between a boot partition and a system partition?

The system partition, also called the system volume, is the primary partition that contains all the boot files, while the boot partition holds all the operating system files.

The system partition is located on your hard drive or SSD. If you have multiple disks or SSDs, each can have only one system partition.

System partition contains files such as Ntdetect.com, Bootmgr, Boot.ini, Ntldr, etc. which are essential for the startup of Windows OS. You can also refer to this link for bootable partition manager.

If your computer uses BIOS instead of the newer UEFI, the system partition will boot into the BIOS, which then starts the Windows Boot Manager. On a computer using UEFI, the system partition boots into the UEFI Boot Manager.

On the other hand, the boot partition stores the Windows operating system and its various versions. Once the system partition is activated, the boot partition starts.

How to Create a Boot Partition (Windows 10 Guide)

Want to create a boot partition for your Windows 10 computer? Here's how you can create a boot partition on your Windows 10 machine:

To create a boot partition for Windows 10, you'll first need to have an older version of Windows installed. Assuming you've done that, here's how to create the boot partition now.

Step 1: Turn on your computer and log in to your user account.

Step 2: Click the “Start” menu and search for “Disk Management.”

Step 3: You should see “Create and format hard disk partitions” in the search results. Click on it to open Disk Management.

Open Disk Management from the search results

Step 4: Make sure you have unallocated space on your hard drive or SSD. Right-click the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume."

Step 5: Follow the prompts to set up your boot partition.

Also, you can choose to learn more about the boot partition from here: Move Boot Partition to Another Disk.

Last Words

If you're able to boot up your computer, that's thanks to the boot partition. It contains a boot loader and some essential system files necessary for the operating system to start up correctly. Thanks to the boot partition, you can easily install and use an older version of the OS if you want to.

We hope this article has helped you understand all about boot partitions. However, we're sure you have more questions. Check out our FAQ section where we answer some questions we think you might find interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Boot Partitions

What happens if I delete the boot partition?

If you delete the Boot Partition, you will get an error message saying "Missing EFI System Partition" or "Missing System Reserved Partition," and without it, your computer won't be able to boot. We recommend that you never access the Boot Partition folder or its files or delete anything from it, as this will corrupt the boot process.

2. Accidentally deleted Boot Partition in Windows – How to Recover?

If you accidentally deleted the boot partition or its files, you can use the Partition Master tool to recover it. The tool can detect lost or damaged files and fix any boot issues with its “Rebuild MBR” feature, create disk partitions, and more. It's available for free, and you can use it to recover your boot partition or its files.

3. Can I clone my boot drive?

Yes, you can clone your boot drive by creating a system image or using tools like Todo Backup, which facilitates cloning and migrating Windows operating systems.