Yoga 2 Pro SSD Partitions

I am new to Windows 8/8.1. Looking at a brand new Yoga 2 Pro (the i5/4GB/128GB version from BestBuy) I am amazed to see the spaghetti of different partitions, so I decided to try getting an understanding, what each of the partitions does.

Below is my interpretation. Please do not hesitate to make any corrections or additions.

Before you make any changes to your computer partitions, make a complete backup with an appropriate tool.

The factory Yoga 2 Pro contains seven partitions:

1. WINRE_DRV, 305.3 out of 1000.0 MB used, NTFS Primary
This partition contains Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), In Windows 8.1, search for “advanced startup” and click on “Restart now” to access the WinRE. It contains troubleshooting options, startup repair, a further shortcut to enter UEFI bios, access to old-style system image tools, etc. It is unclear why Lenovo gave this partition three times as much space as needed, maybe there will be a way to upgrade WinRE to new versions, or add new WinRE tools or something. I think this partition can safely be shrunk to 400 MB or so.

2. SYSTEM_DRV, 28.5 out of 260 MB used, FAT32 Primary
In the factory configuration this partition contains the boot loader. It is unclear if this partition contains anything essential for Yoga 2 Pro operation, or can be replaced by a generic boot partition.

3. LRS_ESP, 497.0 out of 1000.0 MB used, FAT32 Primary
Judging by the name this must be a partition EFI Bios uses to store settings and drivers. This partition also appears to have the OneKey Recovery program files. I am not sure why partitions two and three are separate, and if there is an easy way to combine them.

4. An unmarked and unformatted 128.0 MB partition. This appears to be a special Microsoft Reserved Partition, also known as MSR. This is needed in case you decide to convert the C: drive from basic to dynamic in the future. Required by Microsoft.

5. Windows_OS (C , 20.39 out of 101.24 GB used, NTFS Primary
This is the main system C: drive, you cannot boot directly from it, as UEFI cannot boot from NTFS formatted partitions.

6. Lenovo (D , 3.12 out of 4.00 GB used, NTFS Primary
This partition contains derivers and MacAfee antivirus installation. I would copy the data to safe storage, and delete this partition.

7. PBR_DRV, 8.28 out of 11.67 GB used, NTFS Primary
This partition seems to contain the factory recovery image for Lenovo OneKey Recovery. I am not sure if Windows built-in refresh/reinstall functionality can use this partition, but I have read in another thread that once you start messing with your partitions, OneKey Recovery stops working anyway, so may as well delete this partition.​

Once again, before you make any changes, make sure you have a complete backup on external media of all your partitions, so you can go back in case something goes wrong.

Has anyone tried using “Refresh your PC without affection your files” or “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” built-in Windows 8.1 recovery options? Do they even work without Windows 8.1 media which we do not get?

Thanks.

I hope this helps.

 

thanks, this is awesome. I plan to wipe Win and reinstall clean, so this is useful.

Partition 5 - if this is the system drive, what do you mean by UEFI cannot boot directly from it? Isn't a system drive supposed to be booted from...?

Is there a partition that has all the drivers for flipping into different configs? That's probably one you don't want to lose, but that may also just be in the Windows install itself.

I don't think I need OneKey Recovery, I just use Acronis. Could I wipe #3?

Ditto #2: my Dell just has the system drive and a MBR. Do we really need #2?

Lastly - what is UEFI?

Thanks

 

UEFI, the replacement for BIOS, is unable to read NTFS partitions, on Yoga 2 Pro it boots from the SYSTEM_DRV, which then eventually launches Windows.

Drivers are located on the Lenovo partition (which has assigned D: letter). You can also download drivers from Lenovo web site.

If you are doing a clean Windows install, I would backup everything first on external media, save drivers to an easily accessible location, and then just clean the whole SSD and install Windows without saving any previous partitions.

Please note, with Yoga 2 Pro, we do not get Windows installation media nor a legal way to download it (unless you have access to TechNet or MSDN). Do not use a hacked download; you never know what ‘extras’ hackers may have put in it.

 

Thanks. This seems like an odd step backward... NTFS came after FAT, no?

I meant the drivers for flipping into and out of tablet mode etc., but I guess those wouldn't be in some weird partition. Or did you mean these are the drivers in partition 3? Do you think it's safe to wipe 3?

You suggested cleaning the whole SSD... but this would wipe the SYSTEM_DRV partition, which UEFI needs to boot from no? Or would the install automatically detect this?

Good to know re no install. Frustrating. I do have a copy through my school, but had thought we'd be given an OEM copy or something.

 

GPT and UEFI are new and bring complexity, no question about it.

The partition number six, titled “Lenovo” and assigned D: letter, contains the Lenovo drivers, and a file for McAfee software reinstall.

The partition number three contains OneKey recovery program. The partition name implies it is also used by the UEFI system to store settings, but I am not so sure about that.

It is really up to you, how much of the system you clean before reinstalling Windows. I would try cleaning the SSD completely. Windows install should then make its own boot configuration, but that is just in theory, I do not have Windows media to try. If it does not work, then restore from backup and try something else.

A thing to note: Yoga 2 Pro comes with various keys and serial numbers encoded in it, such as the Windows activation key (we do not get the key on a sticker anymore); before you start removing things, it may make sense to save those in to an easily accessible location, in case you need them.

 

This thing has the most partition I have seen come on a PC. Can you elaborate more on backing up the Windows 8.1 Pro product key? Isn't this hardcoded into the UEFI, so it is not something we can actually back up. Is OKR the only way this key can be read? Or if I just put in Win 8.1 Pro media, will it automatically be provided (after all partitions are wiped).

I'm unfamiliar with OKR, it must be new since the last time I have worked with Lenovo machines.

 

Once Windows is installed, there are utilities that can read the Windows key. If the Windows has been activated, then Belarc Advisor is a popular tool. If the Windows has not been activated, then you can use RwEverything utility, and navigate to the ACPI section MSDM tab where the key is located in the Data field.

If you have not installed Windows yet, you can mount the partition number two (SYSTEM_DRV) to browse files, and view the BOM.BAT file in the root folder, where the string ‘SET OA3KEY=” is followed by the Windows key.

 

Hi guys,

I recently got Yoga 2 Pro with 256GB SSD and went through the process of cleaning up partitions to reclaim precious space. Was able to get back 99% of available drive space. I summarized it on this blog post: Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 Partition Cleanup. I also went through the trouble of figuring out what are all those partitions used for and why they are needed.

Hope this helps the new Yoga 2 owners!

Cheers
Lev

 

sorry for the double post

 

I would just like to make a point, as a non-newb (can you be one at 55??), but also not very technically savvy person, less than average for NBR, but far better than average for the whole population of computer owners: ugrading to a new SSD is not easy! Also, it's so much different from computer mfr to computer mfr. Kind of makes me feel less badly about paying and extra $150 to get my CTO notebook with 256GB SSD installed rather than 128GB, even if I could've saved a few dollars.

Last point: Some manufacturers charge unconscionable amounts for upgraded RAM (when it is all soldered to the Mobo) and SSDs (even if they are easy to pop in and out) for, I believe, exactly these reasons. Kinda sucks for us people who are intimidated by the content of this thread. You might say it should motivate me to learn the awesome steps daveyjones1971 posted. But I might not, lol.

 

Thanks, Lev!

On my new Yoga 2 Pro 256GB, the D: partition only has 3.4 GB used out of 24.9 GB. It would seem like the easy reclamation would be to back up the contents, delete D:, extend C: to use most of that space, recreate D: using maybe 7 or 8 GB, and copy the contents back.

So my questions are:

1. Is there any hidden structure in D, or is it just data? (Even if it's bootable, I should be able to use Acronis True Image to make a copy of it and restore it in less space, no?)

2. Is the system going to want to stash more stuff in D as time goes on?

 

so i seem to have lost my recovery drive.. is there anywhere i can download it from/ is anyone nice enough to upload it for me?