Partition Magic - Extended Partition Question

[Brangwen]

Fellow Members:

When I configured the below diagramed drive, I inadvertently created an extended partition. I checked PM and the Glossary therein to determine <u>how</u> to get rid of it, <u>should</u> I get rid of it, and so on. I am uncertain what to do. Can I recapture this "extended partition" space or is it now an integral portion of my physical drive?

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1663681&a=12748497&p=51191789" border=0>

Thx!

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 07-01-2001).]

[rh71]

An extended partition is normal if you have anything more than just a C: partition. The extended partition provides a place for the "logical" partitions. You have nothing to worry about.

[code_azn]

I've never try using Partition Magic, I alway use fdisk to do the job and it's real easy. Here's what I know about your setup. Those 4 logical drives ARE the extended drive. You wanted to keep the logical drives right?!?

[John Lowell]

Brangwen,

What were you trying to achieve initially? Were you trying to create a given number of primary partitions? And how far have you gotten into this? Have you merely created and formatted the extended partition or have you installed data? I certainly would think that your original intentions are critical here. The question now concerns the price you'll have to pay, if any, in realizing them.

John Lowell

[solo-pc-tech]

I've used PartitionMagic extensively since Version 3.0.

As John Lowell says, it all depends on what your intention was.

PartitionMagic CAN convert logical drives to Primary Partitions, but be aware that this can create problems. Plus you can have only 4 primary partitions. Or 3 primary and one extended. Almost any number of logical drives are allowed in the extended partition.

[Brangwen]

Thanks for your responses so far.

My original intentions in installing PM was to be able to change partition sizes and use other features in the program. When I initially installed the software, I knew I needed a Primary partition from which to boot, followed by Logical partitions. I thought I had accidentally included or formed an Extended partition, i.e., it was not <u>intentional</u> on my part. After seeing it, I thought, "how can I rectify this 'mistake?'" But if it's nothing to be concerned about and is related to HDs or partitions exceeding 4 GBs, than I shant worry and I'll let it be. I'm (obviously) not real proficient at using Partition Magic, though I enjoy resizing partitions when desired. I thought that by "accidentally" creating the extended partition I was wasting otherwise usable space on the drive.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 07-01-2001).]

[WisiWiz]

Win9x/ME will only allow you to have one primary partition. For all other partitions you need to use the Extended pertitions.

Only if you use NT/2000 you will be able to use up to four primary partitions on ONE drive.

If you would like to use dual boot 9x/ME and NT/2000 you need to use the 9x/ME format otherwise 9x/ME will not read the other partitions.

[solo-pc-tech]

Windows 9x or Windows Me will run on a drive with more than 1 primary partition and can access the other primary partitions. Just not officially supported by Microsoft; drive letter assignment is rather flaky with multiple primary partitions in Win9x/Me.

I have a test system with Win95B, Win98SE, WinME, Win2000, and WinNT. The first four operating systems are on a single drive in four separate primary partitions. I use PartitionMagic to set the active partition. By default PartitionMagic will hide the other non-active primary partitions, but this can be overridden.

[Brangwen]

Very informative, Solo, thank you.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif