Hard drive partition question

[dmarook]

Hello all,

Previously while partitioning a disk under DOS, the options were to create a primary and an extended partition with options of having multiple logical drives in the extended partition. Now in the Disk Manager of XP or Vista, I can see that although the option of extended partition is there, I can actually create multiple primary partitions in the same drive.

Could someone please explain the benefits or drawbacks of having an extended partition with logical drives as opposed to just having multiple primary partitions please?

Also, does it make a difference for windows while assigning drive letters?

Thanks in advance.

DM

 

[JustaGeek]

I do not know what you want to do and why, but with the Disk Director you can do whatever you want with your drives, even after the OS is installed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832200002

 

[Zepper]

Primary partitions are mainly for Operating Systems (can be made bootable), so unless you are planning multiple OSes, there's no point in multiple primary partitions.

.bh.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Primary partitions are mainly for Operating Systems (can be made bootable), so unless you are planning multiple OSes, there's no point in multiple primary partitions. .bh.

Agree! And if you are going to do that, my course would be two separate HDDs.

 

[Whitedog]

<<Primary partitions are mainly for Operating Systems.... .....so unless you are planning multiple OSes, there's no point in multiple primary partitions. >

Wrong

<<Agree! And if you are going to do that, my course would be two separate HDDs>>

You agree... But/And?? Which is it?

Wrong... because you agreed. 😀

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Answer:

A Primary Partition is just what is says. A Primary Parition.

A HD can have only 4 Primary Partitions.

Therefore, if you must need more than 4 partitions, you must create EXTENDED Partition (With Logical drives).

That is what an EXTENDED partition is for. Nothing else.

Always (No, not what these guys are telling you.)... Always create PRIMARY partitions when you partition a disk (of course, as stated, unless you need more than 4)

Only the first partition should be made "Active"... and this is only if it has an OS on it and will be bootable.
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You should not put Mutile Bootable OS's on 1 hard drive on two setarate "Primary (active)" Partitions. A Bootable partitions sectors must reside within the first 8GB of the disk. We're talking about itti-bitti paritions now aint we..

Thank you for playing.

 

[Whitedog]

---double-post---

 

[corkyg]

Thanks, Whitedog . . . I stand corrected.

Partitions

 

[Zepper]

Your boot manager handles the issue of where boot sectors can be located so you don't have to have tiny primary partitions for several OSes. I've always had at least one Windows (and for a while OS/2) plus one or more *nixen on a single drive since the HDDs became large enough. If you limit yourself to the world of DOS/Win, then you also limit your concept of partitioning.

.bh.