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Why partition a hard drive???
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ingeborgdot
Golden Member
When I am in the new desk wizard, to partition do I choose primary or extended to make another partition?
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
It says windows cannot modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot volume? What do I do now??
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
I think I am screwed. I just leave it don't I. Too much work to change. No big deal I guess unless you guys think so?
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
So what do you think? Will it cause any problems to have my hard drive as G:? I have some new devices I never used before and they took the c drive label. I wasn't paying good enough attention when installing. What would you do if it was your computer??
Also when going in to add partitions now should I use primary or extended??
Also when going in to add partitions now should I use primary or extended??
imported_Phil
Diamond Member
It won't cause any problems, unless you have very old applications that insist on installing to C:.
Just leave it, it'll be fine 🙂
Lastly, choose Extended when creating the second partition in your case.
Just leave it, it'll be fine 🙂
Lastly, choose Extended when creating the second partition in your case.
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
So two extended partitions? Why extended over primary?
A hard drive can only contain 4 primary partitions. This is a physical limit based on physical hard drive design. Because of this 4 partition limit and the need for more partitions, the extended partition was developed. Any number of extended partitions can be created but they all need to be contiguous to each other.
If you do not expect to require more than 4 partitions on this drive, you can safely create a primary partition. If you may need more than 4 partitions, then the Windows XP system partition is required to be primary, after that you are free to make any number of extended partitions you may need for now or the future.
Many of these questions are elementary disk partitioning questions and the answers can be found on many webpages devoted to this topic by googling for them.
drive partition partitions partitioning
drive partition
drive partition strategy
drive partition primary extended
I would reformat and rebuild with the C: as the system drive. However, there is no real need to do this. Older programs (2 or 3 years ago) often insist on using the C: drive and this was the last time I worked with this situation. I believe modern programs are intelligent enough to be able to install anywhere though. Honestly, the only reason I would reinstall is because it would bug me every time I used the command line or needed a path name. You have the opportunity now to do it properly. Once you install and configure everything, that G: will still be there. It all depends on if it will bother you or not. It tends to bother me. It is completely your choice.
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
I am in the process right now of reinstalling. I will only need 3 partitions. So primary will work best for me?
ingeborgdot
Golden Member
Along with putting apps on the partitions I have microsoft digital image suite10. It comes with two discs one being the installation disc and the other being the clip art and project templates. I don't need the 2nd disc installed for it to work but everytime I need it I will have to put it in. It does take up about 750mb of space. Could I put this in the big partition away from the os and apps because it does not need to be a part of the program to function is what it says. Anyone know anything about the suite10? Thanks.
I am not familiar with microsoft digital image suite but you can make an image of the CD and put it on a different partition from your system partition just like you ask without any problems. This is fine. A program such as Alcohol 120% can create and access that image in a virtual CD/DVD drive without the need to physically insert the CD into the drive.
HomicidalSloth
Member
Because a hard drive has to be partitioned before it can be formatted. Without partitioning, you would have no place to store data. 😛
Hi! Can I jump in here and ask a question? I have read both pages and was wondering; crimson117 you said "When I recently reinstalled my OS, it was sooo convenient not to have to figure out how to back everything up - I just reformatted the C: system partition, reinstalled windows and my apps" which has me wondering if this is just something for Windows XP? I am still using Windows Me and had 3 partitions on my 120GB HD. When I reformatted the C drive ( as you said you did) I LOST all the information on my D partition and my E partition also. I didn't re-fdisk but I reformated in Windows Me's version of Dos. My question is; is this ability to reformat as you describe something that is only done in Windows XP or did I do something wrong? Thanks for the advice.
The concept of partitioning a hard drive is not related to any specific operating system, such as WinXP or WinME. Drive partitioning is a part of setting up the hardware for an operating system to operate and manage. A single hard drive can contain more storage space than a single operating system requires, so it then is desired to split this hard drive up into multiple sections so the storage space can be used for different purposes. Consider this simplistic diagram.
A single hard drive with a single partition
|--------------------------------C:\WinXP-----------------------------------------|
A single hard drive with three partitions
|-------C:\WinXP---------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
This second hard drive partitioning strategy provides slightly better data protection since it separates the user's personal data from the system files. Windows system files tend to have a high probability of becoming corrupted or damaged within any specified time period. After system files have become corrupted, the operating system then requires measures to be taken to restore those system files back to a stable state of operation. This restore procedure can involve:
1) A virus scan and removal of any viruses,
2) A spyware scan and removal of any spyware,
3) copying files from the [C:\WINDOWS\repair] folder to their standard locations in the filesystem,
4) a system repair procedure using the Windows install CD to copy all original system files back into their standard locations in the filesystem, without destroying the user's system configuration, and
5) reinstalling the operating system by reformatting the partition the system files are located on and the performing a clean reinstallation of the operating system.
When a hard drive is first obtained from the hard drive manufacturer, it merely consists of a mechanical configuration that is not yet prepared for use by an operating system, such as Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. To prepare this hard drive for use, one or more partitions need to be created on the hard drive, as shown in the simple diagram above. Once a partition is created, then it needs to be formatted. The formatting process creates a filesystem on that partition for the operating system to know how to communicate with the storage space available on the partition on the hard drive. Once the format process has created the filesystem on a partition on the hard drive, then that partition is available for use. This partition can be used to install the Windows operating system files onto, or the partition can hold personal data, or the partition can hold a backup image of the system files or personal data.
Now, taking this information and going back to your description and question, crimson117 reformatted his system (WinXP) partition and reinstalled WinXP back onto that same partition.
crimson117
1) |-------C:\WinXP------------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
2) |--------------------------------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
3) |-----New--C:\WinXP------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
It appears that you, Stonewall, must have
0) Three partitions to start with
.. |----------C:\WinME---------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
1) deleted your partitions,
.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) created a new single partition, and
.. |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
3) reformatted the filesystem on that new single partition.
.. |-----------------------------C:\WinME-------------------------------------|
The Windows install procedure does not make the hard disk drive partitioning steps very clear. This is why most people discuss formatting or reformatting their hard drive instead of discussing the larger topic of deleting and creating partitions, then creating the filesystem (format), then installing the operating system.
Windows also incorrectly uses the term "drive" instead of "partition". For example, from above, Windows uses the terms:
1) partition C:\ as the C:\ drive,
2) partition D:\ as the D:\ drive, and
3) partition E:\ as the E:\ drive.
A drive, is a physical hard drive with spinning platters on which sections can be partitioned, filesystems can be created, and data can be stored. It does seem incorrect to use the term partition for a higher level use of a portion of the hard drive that has a filesystem on it and is used to store data. This is why windows uses the term "drive", for simplicity. But this use does create ambiguity, which translates into problems for those not familiar with the distinctions you are now familiar with.
Hopefully, you can now answer your question for yourself. However, since you did ask a clear question, here is a clear answer. The ability to reformat, as crimson117 described, is not done only in Windows XP. Reformatting a partition or hard drive can be accomplished for any operating system, including WinME. Yes, you did perform an incorrect action since you lost your data.
Now, concerning this lost data. It is possible this data may be recovered since all the data should all still be there. However, the data may have been written over so recovery is not guaranteed. Do you have an empty hard drive or a second computer that is available to you? If you do, you can install a data recovery program on this second system, install your current WinME system drive into the second system as a slave drive, and attempt data recovery from your WinME drive onto your second computer's hard drive. An empty hard drive could be used if you only have a single computer. WinME or another Windows operating system could be temporarily installed on this second hard drive to perform the data recovery with.
One of these data recovery programs may help you recover your data. Be certain which filesystem you need to recover the data from, since a company like Runtime.org creates two separate programs for data recovery depending on the filesystem; FAT or NTFS. Of these programs, I prefer GetDataBack from Runtime.org.
Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.
1) R-Studio
2) GetDataBack
3) Ontrack's Easy Recovery Pro
4) Quetek
5) File Scavenger
6) HDD Regenerator
A single hard drive with a single partition
|--------------------------------C:\WinXP-----------------------------------------|
A single hard drive with three partitions
|-------C:\WinXP---------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
This second hard drive partitioning strategy provides slightly better data protection since it separates the user's personal data from the system files. Windows system files tend to have a high probability of becoming corrupted or damaged within any specified time period. After system files have become corrupted, the operating system then requires measures to be taken to restore those system files back to a stable state of operation. This restore procedure can involve:
1) A virus scan and removal of any viruses,
2) A spyware scan and removal of any spyware,
3) copying files from the [C:\WINDOWS\repair] folder to their standard locations in the filesystem,
4) a system repair procedure using the Windows install CD to copy all original system files back into their standard locations in the filesystem, without destroying the user's system configuration, and
5) reinstalling the operating system by reformatting the partition the system files are located on and the performing a clean reinstallation of the operating system.
When a hard drive is first obtained from the hard drive manufacturer, it merely consists of a mechanical configuration that is not yet prepared for use by an operating system, such as Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. To prepare this hard drive for use, one or more partitions need to be created on the hard drive, as shown in the simple diagram above. Once a partition is created, then it needs to be formatted. The formatting process creates a filesystem on that partition for the operating system to know how to communicate with the storage space available on the partition on the hard drive. Once the format process has created the filesystem on a partition on the hard drive, then that partition is available for use. This partition can be used to install the Windows operating system files onto, or the partition can hold personal data, or the partition can hold a backup image of the system files or personal data.
Now, taking this information and going back to your description and question, crimson117 reformatted his system (WinXP) partition and reinstalled WinXP back onto that same partition.
crimson117
1) |-------C:\WinXP------------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
2) |--------------------------------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
3) |-----New--C:\WinXP------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
It appears that you, Stonewall, must have
0) Three partitions to start with
.. |----------C:\WinME---------|--------D:\Data---------|-------E:\Backup--------|
1) deleted your partitions,
.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) created a new single partition, and
.. |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
3) reformatted the filesystem on that new single partition.
.. |-----------------------------C:\WinME-------------------------------------|
The Windows install procedure does not make the hard disk drive partitioning steps very clear. This is why most people discuss formatting or reformatting their hard drive instead of discussing the larger topic of deleting and creating partitions, then creating the filesystem (format), then installing the operating system.
Windows also incorrectly uses the term "drive" instead of "partition". For example, from above, Windows uses the terms:
1) partition C:\ as the C:\ drive,
2) partition D:\ as the D:\ drive, and
3) partition E:\ as the E:\ drive.
A drive, is a physical hard drive with spinning platters on which sections can be partitioned, filesystems can be created, and data can be stored. It does seem incorrect to use the term partition for a higher level use of a portion of the hard drive that has a filesystem on it and is used to store data. This is why windows uses the term "drive", for simplicity. But this use does create ambiguity, which translates into problems for those not familiar with the distinctions you are now familiar with.
Hopefully, you can now answer your question for yourself. However, since you did ask a clear question, here is a clear answer. The ability to reformat, as crimson117 described, is not done only in Windows XP. Reformatting a partition or hard drive can be accomplished for any operating system, including WinME. Yes, you did perform an incorrect action since you lost your data.
Now, concerning this lost data. It is possible this data may be recovered since all the data should all still be there. However, the data may have been written over so recovery is not guaranteed. Do you have an empty hard drive or a second computer that is available to you? If you do, you can install a data recovery program on this second system, install your current WinME system drive into the second system as a slave drive, and attempt data recovery from your WinME drive onto your second computer's hard drive. An empty hard drive could be used if you only have a single computer. WinME or another Windows operating system could be temporarily installed on this second hard drive to perform the data recovery with.
One of these data recovery programs may help you recover your data. Be certain which filesystem you need to recover the data from, since a company like Runtime.org creates two separate programs for data recovery depending on the filesystem; FAT or NTFS. Of these programs, I prefer GetDataBack from Runtime.org.
Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.
1) R-Studio
2) GetDataBack
3) Ontrack's Easy Recovery Pro
4) Quetek
5) File Scavenger
6) HDD Regenerator
You, my friend, explained everything to a great extent and for that I am very thankful. I understand the formating process and as you showed in your diagram I had three partitions. I tried to copy windows over itself and all I got were errors that would not allow me to do it. It came down to booting into Dos. I went to "fdisk" and checked my partitions and they were all there (and fine) so then I went to the a: prompt and did a "format c:" which of course it did. After Windows was reinstalled - C drive was all I had. I no longer had D or E. I just never figured out what I did wrong that made the D & E drive become a part of the C drive. If I had re-fdisked into 1 partition I would have understood, but I didn't do that. When I checked (before formating C) I had C,D,E with all the files intact. That is were I don't understand What happened to D & E. I did have everything backed up for which I was grateful, but I still am not real sure what I did wrong. Thanks for all your help, it is truly appreciated.
How large is your C: drive (partition) and how large is the total hard drive capacity? Are these the same?
While it is very easy to delete partitions from within fdisk, it seems you knew what you were doing and probably safely exited fdisk with each of your three partitions intact. There is a large conceptual jump between formatting the C partition and reinstalling Windows. I would presume something went wrong in the Windows installation that quietly deleted your partitions and created one large C: partition on which to install Windows. I am not familiar enough with WinME to know for sure though. Is your WinME install CD part of a recovery CD from a computer vendor such as HP, Dell, Compaq, Gateway, or similar? Those recovery CD's that come with a pre-built system are designed to completely take over the whole hard drive. By that I mean they delete all the partitions and then create one large partition to contain the Windows system. Currently, many companies are not producing these recovery CD's, instead creating two partitions in which the second partition is hidden and reserved for the restore image.
Fdisk is a stable utility. I believe something happened during the installation process.
While it is very easy to delete partitions from within fdisk, it seems you knew what you were doing and probably safely exited fdisk with each of your three partitions intact. There is a large conceptual jump between formatting the C partition and reinstalling Windows. I would presume something went wrong in the Windows installation that quietly deleted your partitions and created one large C: partition on which to install Windows. I am not familiar enough with WinME to know for sure though. Is your WinME install CD part of a recovery CD from a computer vendor such as HP, Dell, Compaq, Gateway, or similar? Those recovery CD's that come with a pre-built system are designed to completely take over the whole hard drive. By that I mean they delete all the partitions and then create one large partition to contain the Windows system. Currently, many companies are not producing these recovery CD's, instead creating two partitions in which the second partition is hidden and reserved for the restore image.
Fdisk is a stable utility. I believe something happened during the installation process.
My hard drive is 120GB in which I partitioned into 3-40GB partitions. (Which of course you don't actualy get). It is a custom built machine that I built myself about 3 or so years ago. I used a floppy with the standard fdisk, format, sys., and mscdex drivers. Yeah, I agree that windows definately did something in the process, I just could never find out what it was. I have never attempted to do a re-format on my C drive since then. I just use the a: scanreg restore option to go back to a good restore point (because the actual system restore in Windows itself often won't work properly). So far I've been lucky enough that that works. I may try this again just to see how it goes - since I know it really can be done - after I start building my next system. I have not kept up with all that is out in the market now so I am having to re-educate myself on all that is available. (Still can't figure out the Best AMD processor to get - and with what stepping & week code - which revision) but it is nice to be able to have a forum to get such great help from. As much as I do know there is so much I don't know!
Tuffrabbit
Member
When starting with a fresh operating system install and desiring a separate partition for the O/S, isn't it better to use "D" for this thus leaving "C" drive as the predominate one for all other applications. One of my computers came this way with the XP O/S on "D" set to Fat 32 (7.8 GB) and the remainder of hard drive space on "C" set to NTFS (111.7 GB)...
Well?? What a difference this is to anything I have ever known. I honestly don't know if that is the way to go or not? I have yet to like Windows XP enough to even bother to change and I don't know how Windows ME would react to such a set up. Do you think Windows Me would even set up that way? This is an interesting option and I would be interested in finding out more about doing this (ie: how to do it, stability, etc.). Thank you for your input on this.....I appreciate all the advice I can get.
Interesting. I have not seen a system from a vendor like this before. What is the name of the computer vendor?
Most applications install by default to the C: partition and some older applications will only install to the C: partition. That is one advantage. It seems as if this vendor has accomplished a fair amount of work in separating the system files from application files and user data files. I think this is an intelligent method of setting up the system and will have to give it more thought on how they accomplished this. Thank you for mentioning it.
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