No of Partition

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Newbie

I am having Windows XP SP2 loaded in my computer.
I have following few queries regarding Hard Disc Partition:
Is there any limitation to the no of Partition that can be created?
If yes, what is the maximum no partition that can be created ?
Is there any limitation to the size of the Partition i.e.,what should be the
minimum size of Hard Disc?
Thanks.
 
In-line
I am having Windows XP SP2 loaded in my computer.
I have following few queries regarding Hard Disc Partition:
Is there any limitation to the no of Partition that can be created?
Click to expand...

Technically, no. But if you want more than 24 partitions you have to
use somewhat special disk configurations.
If yes, what is the maximum no partition that can be created ?
Click to expand...

You can have as many as you want.
Is there any limitation to the size of the Partition i.e.,what should be the
minimum size of Hard Disc?
Click to expand...

On NTFS disks the maximum partition or "volume" size is 256 terabytes,
volumes over 2 terabytes must be dynamic, ie; the "somewhat special disk
configuration" that I mentioned earlier. The minimum volume size is 10
megabytes, almost to small to be of any use except for special needs.

What exactly do you want to do? Most hard disks today start at 80
Gigabytes and 160 gigabytes is pretty well the norm for price to dollar
storage value. You shouldn't install Windows XP on any less than a 10
to 15 GB partition.

John
 
Newbie said:
I am having Windows XP SP2 loaded in my computer.
I have following few queries regarding Hard Disc Partition:
Is there any limitation to the no of Partition that can be created?
Click to expand...


The answer depends upon the specific hardware and OS platform. For
Wintel-based machines, there is a limit.

If yes, what is the maximum no partition that can be created ?
Click to expand...


A maximum of four partitions per physical hard drive.

Is there any limitation to the size of the Partition i.e.,what should be the
minimum size of Hard Disc?
Click to expand...


Again, it depends on the file system used. In general, there is no
effective maximum size (there is, but no one has ever made a hard drive
that big, yet). The minimum size depends entirely upon to what use the
partition is to be put.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
John said:
In-line

Newbie wrote:
Click to expand...
Technically, no.
Click to expand...


Actually, it's "technically, yes."
But if you want more than 24 partitions you have to
use somewhat special disk configurations.
Click to expand...


I can only conclude that you're thinking of the number of logical
drives that can be created in a single extended partition.
You can have as many as you want.
Click to expand...

Not on any Wintel-based computer.

On NTFS disks the maximum partition or "volume" size is 256 terabytes,
volumes over 2 terabytes must be dynamic, ie; the "somewhat special disk
configuration" that I mentioned earlier. The minimum volume size is 10
megabytes, almost to small to be of any use except for special needs.

What exactly do you want to do? Most hard disks today start at 80
Gigabytes and 160 gigabytes is pretty well the norm for price to dollar
storage value. You shouldn't install Windows XP on any less than a 10
to 15 GB partition.

John
Click to expand...


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Maximum of four primary partitions, logical partitions limited to the number
of drive letters available (not used by CD/DVD, USB drives, Etc.)
A single drive can have both primary and logical partitions. A Primary
partition (usually the first partition) is required if you plan to install
Windows on the drive.

JS
 
Clarification: One Extended partition (my error: did not mean to call it a
logical partition) can contain many "Logic Drives".

JS
 
Bruce said:
John John wrote:



Actually, it's "technically, yes."
Click to expand...

"Dynamic volumes in Windows 2000 offer you a number of solutions for
disk management. You can configure any number of volumes per physical
disk, and even assign those volumes to an NTFS folder instead of
assigning a drive letter."

I agree that these dynamic "volumes" or that logical drives inside of
extended partitions are not partitions in true technical terms but that
is what most people would refer them as.

John
 
"Dynamic volumes in Windows 2000 offer you a number of solutions for
disk management. You can configure any number of volumes per physical
disk, and even assign those volumes to an NTFS folder instead of
assigning a drive letter."
Click to expand...


How is this information even relevant?

I agree that these dynamic "volumes" or that logical drives inside of
extended partitions are not partitions in true technical terms but that
is what most people would refer them as.
Click to expand...


No, not really. Most people don't even know that there is such a thing
as dynamic volumes, and only the computer illiterate refer to a logical
drive as a partition.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Bruce said:
No, not really. Most people don't even know that there is such a
thing as dynamic volumes, and only the computer illiterate refer to a
logical drive as a partition.
Click to expand...

That was unwarranted.

Bye

John
 
Bruce Chambers said:
Wintel-based machines, there is a limit.


A maximum of four partitions per physical hard drive.
Click to expand...

Right now I have 40GB Hard Disc in my Windows XP SP2 with 3 partitions C:,
D: & E:.
I am thinking of adding another 40GB HD.
Will it be another partition or will it be shown as removable Drive?

Will existing partition take care of it, or I will have to partition the
second Hard Disc also?
How do I go about it?
Regards.
 
Newbie said:
Right now I have 40GB Hard Disc in my Windows XP SP2 with 3 partitions C:,
D: & E:.
I am thinking of adding another 40GB HD.
Click to expand...

Given the low cost of disks, why not add a larger disk? Here, the
difference between 40 and 80 gig disks can be about $5 - $10.
Will it be another partition or will it be shown as removable Drive?
Click to expand...

It will appear as another drive, based on the number of partitions you
create on it. It won't appear as a removable drive if it's installed in
the machine like the other drives.
Will existing partition take care of it, or I will have to partition the
second Hard Disc also?
Click to expand...

You will have to create at least one partition on the drive before you can
format it.
How do I go about it?
Click to expand...

Install the drive in the system, setting the jumpers appropriately, and
verify that the drive is correctly identified in the BIOS. When Windows
restarts, right-click on My Computer, and choose Manage, then Disk
Management. Or, use the command-line utility Diskpart.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...docs/en-us/dm_create_partitions.mspx?mfr=true

HTH
-pk
 
Patrick Keenan said:
Given the low cost of disks, why not add a larger disk? Here, the
difference between 40 and 80 gig disks can be about $5 - $10.


It will appear as another drive, based on the number of partitions you
create on it. It won't appear as a removable drive if it's installed in
the machine like the other drives.


You will have to create at least one partition on the drive before you can
format it.


Install the drive in the system, setting the jumpers appropriately, and
verify that the drive is correctly identified in the BIOS. When Windows
restarts, right-click on My Computer, and choose Manage, then Disk
Management. Or, use the command-line utility Diskpart.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...docs/en-us/dm_create_partitions.mspx?mfr=true

HTH
-pk
Click to expand...

Thanks Patrick.
 
Newbie said:
I am having Windows XP SP2 loaded in my computer.
I have following few queries regarding Hard Disc Partition:
Is there any limitation to the no of Partition that can be created?
If yes, what is the maximum no partition that can be created ?
Is there any limitation to the size of the Partition i.e.,what should
be the minimum size of Hard Disc?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

IF I were you, I'd ask this question elsewhere. While none of the
information I see if actually wrong, it's very vague and to a newbie
misleading unless you have other third party software. You also need to add
a lot more detail so you get relevant answers. Like operating system, etc..

Pop`
 
Pop` said:
IF I were you, I'd ask this question elsewhere. While none of the
information I see if actually wrong, it's very vague and to a newbie
misleading unless you have other third party software. You also need to add
a lot more detail so you get relevant answers. Like operating system, etc..

Pop`
Click to expand...

Bruce is right. You can have a maximum of 4 partitions on a basic disk,
one of which can be an extended partition containing logical drives.

John
 
John said:
Bruce is right. You can have a maximum of 4 partitions on a basic disk,
one of which can be an extended partition containing logical drives.

John
Click to expand...
I have 80 GB drives with as many as 8 partitions of various
sizes, some FAT32, some NTFS. I wasn't aware that any limitation
existed....hmmmmm.
 
I have 80 GB drives with as many as 8 partitions of various
sizes, some FAT32, some NTFS. I wasn't aware that any limitation
existed....hmmmmm.
Click to expand...

You're apparently confusing logical drives (created within a single
extended partition) with partitions.

From "How to use Disk Management to configure basic disks in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/en-us

"Basic disk storage supports partition-oriented disks. A basic disk is a
physical disk that contains primary partitions, extended partitions, or
logical drives. Partitions and logical drives on basic disks are also
known as basic volumes. You can create up to four primary partitions, or
three primary partitions and one extended partition, that contain
logical drives."



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
I have 80 GB drives with as many as 8 partitions of various
sizes,
Click to expand...


Actually, you don't. Bruce and John John are correct.

It's a common confusion, and the nomenclature here is terrible, as far as
I'm concerned.

What you have are two partitions (probably): one primary partition and one
extended partition. That extended partition is further subdivided into 7
logical drives.

The source of the confusion is that when you look at these within Windows,
you can't tell the difference between a partition and a logical drive. The
primary partition gets a drive letter (usually C:) and the logical drives
within the extended partition each gets a drive letter (in your case,
probably D:, E:, F:, G:, H:, and I:).

Even among people who understand the difference between a partition and a
logical drive in an extended partition, it's common to call all of these
partitions; it's much easier to say or write "partition" than "logical drive
in an extended partition," and they are both treated the same way within
Windows.

And it's OK to informally call these all "partitions," as long as you
understand what they really are. But if your drive crashed and you wanted to
recreate that partition structure on a new drive, you would need to
understand that they aren't all partitions. If you tried to create eight
partitions, it would fail and you'd be asking here how to do it.

By the way, why do you have eight partitions? Unless you have very special
needs, that many partitions is overkill for almost everyone.
 
Actually, you don't. Bruce and John John are correct.

It's a common confusion, and the nomenclature here is terrible, as far as
I'm concerned.

What you have are two partitions (probably): one primary partition and one
extended partition. That extended partition is further subdivided into 7
logical drives.

The source of the confusion is that when you look at these within Windows,
you can't tell the difference between a partition and a logical drive. The
primary partition gets a drive letter (usually C:) and the logical drives
within the extended partition each gets a drive letter (in your case,
probably D:, E:, F:, G:, H:, and I:).

Even among people who understand the difference between a partition and a
logical drive in an extended partition, it's common to call all of these
partitions; it's much easier to say or write "partition" than "logical drive
in an extended partition," and they are both treated the same way within
Windows.

And it's OK to informally call these all "partitions," as long as you
understand what they really are. But if your drive crashed and you wanted to
recreate that partition structure on a new drive, you would need to
understand that they aren't all partitions. If you tried to create eight
partitions, it would fail and you'd be asking here how to do it.

By the way, why do you have eight partitions? Unless you have very special
needs, that many partitions is overkill for almost everyone.
Click to expand...
You're right on each and every count, Ken. I'm one of those lazy
people. As you pointed out, I *said* I had 8 partitions, but in
truth, all but one are logical drives, each of which is, in fact,
a "drive image" of my Master Drive on a different hard drive.
 
'William B. Lurie' wrote:
| You're right on each and every count, Ken. I'm one of those lazy
| people. As you pointed out, I *said* I had 8 partitions, but in
| truth, all but one are logical drives, each of which is, in fact,
| a "drive image" of my Master Drive on a different hard drive.
_____

That makes no sense at all.

Phil Weldon

| >
| You're right on each and every count, Ken. I'm one of those lazy
| people. As you pointed out, I *said* I had 8 partitions, but in
| truth, all but one are logical drives, each of which is, in fact,
| a "drive image" of my Master Drive on a different hard drive.
|
| --
| William B. Lurie
 
I have 80 GB drives with as many as 8 partitions of various
sizes, some FAT32, some NTFS. I wasn't aware that any limitation
existed....hmmmmm.
Click to expand...

Only if you use a third party partition manager you can have many
partitions. I believe that BootItNG, for example, can manage something
like 200 partitions.

John
 
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