Review CreatePartitions Scripts Recovery Size

[aisgbnok]

It is time to review the CreatePartitions scripts. Specifically, the recovery sizes. Do they make sense for 2023-2024?

Microsoft Recovery Scripts

Here are some scripts I pulled from Surface Recovery Images. I usually use these are reference for determining what make sense. Given I have a Surface Laptop 3, I have outdated scripts. Unfortunately, you need a working serial number to pull them, so I went to Best Buy and grabbed the display unit's serial numbers 🤪🤫. These should be more up-to-date.

Surface Laptop Studio 2 (SurfaceLaptopStudio2_BMR_12010_2023.619.823):

convert gpt
create partition efi size=260
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter=S
create partition msr size=16
create partition primary
shrink minimum=1152
gpt attributes=0x0000000000000000
format quick fs=ntfs label="Local Disk"
assign letter=W
create partition primary size=1152
set id=DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows RE tools"
assign letter=T
rescan
exit

[aisgbnok]

I am not sure if over 1GB makes sense yet. I don't mind the slight bump from 910MB to 940MB. So here is a preliminary update I am considering.

rem == CreatePartitions-UEFI.txt ==
rem == These commands are used with DiskPart to create four partitions for a UEFI/GPT-based device.
rem == Adjust the partition sizes as necessary.

rem == Clean Disk ==
rem == Clear all information on disk and convert to gpt.
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt

rem == 1. System Partition ==
rem == For Advanced Format 4Kn drives, change this value to size=260.
create partition efi size=260
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter=S

rem == 2. Microsoft Reserved (MSR) Partition ==
create partition msr size=16

rem == 3. Windows Partition ==
rem == Create the Windows partition.
create partition primary

rem == Create space for the recovery tools
rem == Update this size to match the size of the recovery tools (winre.wim) plus some free space.
shrink minimum=940

rem == Prepare Windows Partition
gpt attributes=0x0000000000000000
format quick fs=ntfs label="Local Disk"
assign letter=W

rem == 4. Recovery Partition ==
create partition primary size=940
set id=DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery"
assign letter=R

rem == Rescan Disks and Exit ==
rescan
exit

Unfortunately, my local Best Buy did not have a Surface Laptop Studio 2 on display. I will check back in November and progress from there. I also have to determine if for regular clean installs it makes sense to upgrade the recovery size. The recovery size only needs to be larger for OEM scripts, or any additional updates that come to Windows down the road.

[aisgbnok]

I ended up going back to BestBuy in December. They had a Surface Laptop Studio 2 on display.

convert gpt
create partition efi size=260
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter=S
create partition msr size=16
create partition primary
shrink minimum=1152
gpt attributes=0x0000000000000000
format quick fs=ntfs label="Local Disk"
assign letter=W
create partition primary size=1152
set id=DE94BBA4-06D1-4D40-A16A-BFD50179D6AC
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows RE tools"
assign letter=T
rescan
exit

You'll notice it sets the Recovery to 1152 MB just like the Surface Laptop 5 script.

[aisgbnok]

Given winre.wim is approximately 665 MB I decided that 1152 MB is fine. Devices have more storage space now and 665 MB is getting close to the current 910 MB. Additionally with Windows 11 24H2 (or Windows 12) on the horizon it's a good idea to leave extra space for Windows Recovery updates / size increase.