System Reserved Volume Explorer

The System Reserved partition is automatically created during Windows setup, occupying as much as 100 MB on Windows 7 and 350 MB on Windows 8 and 10. Its role is to store boot configuration data and, eventually, startup files for hard drives that are encrypted with BitLocker.

Considering the sensitivity of these files and their importance, Windows does not allow you to explore the content of the System Reserved partition as you do with other regular partitions. System Reserved Volume Explorer is meant to change that.

If you are curious to know what files reside on this hidden partition in Windows and want to save local copies of files, then a utility such as System Reserved Volume Explorer is the way to go.

Displaying all the data in a tree view, the application enables you to browse the folders and files concealed by the System Reserved partition, providing additional options for viewing the content of files and saving them to any of the regular drives of your PC. Moreover, you can explore the properties of directories and files just like in Windows Explorer.

You will notice that System Reserved stores a "Recycle Bin" area, alongside a Boot folder and a Recovery folder.

As expected, there are no options to delete files or alter their content, as such actions might alter the booting or the recovery processes, and ultimately render your PC unusable.

If you are studying the way the Windows operating system is installed and want to find out more about the System Reserved partition and its contents, then this application might be a good option. There is no danger in using it, as it does not allow deletion and editing actions.