Partition conversion

  • Thread starter Thread starter flekso
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flekso

Hello,
does anyone know of a (free) tool that would help me convert one primary
partition to extended/logical ? And it should work on Windows Server 2003.
Only one i could find on the web is Acronis Partition Expert 2003, but that
one's demo.

Or perhaps a tutorial on the subject?

Thanks.
 
flekso said:
Hello,
does anyone know of a (free) tool that would help me convert one primary
partition to extended/logical ? And it should work on Windows Server 2003.
Only one i could find on the web is Acronis Partition Expert 2003, but that
one's demo.

Or perhaps a tutorial on the subject?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Someone correct me but isn't an extended partition "part" of a primary one?
IOW, you can't make an entire HDD a logical one. If you divide up your
extended partition into several logicals, it will still have a primary
partition...correct? In any case, if you use a 98 boot disk with fdisk on
it, you should be able to set extended partitions in real mode as well as
split up your extended into more than just one logical. I'm pretty sure that
Partition Magic will set up logicals from within windows as well as merge
them back if you desire. But a boot disk is certainly very free to use. Try
Bootdisk.com

Ron
 
Someone correct me but isn't an extended partition "part" of a primary one?
Click to expand...

Nope, a logical drive is part of an extended dos partition tho.
IOW, you can't make an entire HDD a logical one.
If you divide up your extended partition into several
logicals, it will still have a primary partition...correct?
Nope.

In any case, if you use a 98 boot disk with fdisk on it, you
should be able to set extended partitions in real mode as
well as split up your extended into more than just one logical.
Click to expand...

Yes, but he wants to CONVERT. fdisk wont do
that and retain the data thats in the partition.
I'm pretty sure that Partition Magic will set up logicals
from within windows as well as merge them back if you
desire. But a boot disk is certainly very free to use.
Click to expand...

But wont CONVERT one partition type to another
without the loss of the data in the partition.
Try Bootdisk.com
Click to expand...

No point.
 
Rod Speed said:
one?

Nope, a logical drive is part of an extended dos partition tho.


Yes, but he wants to CONVERT. fdisk wont do
that and retain the data thats in the partition.


But wont CONVERT one partition type to another
without the loss of the data in the partition.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it will, Rod. I've already converted a FAT32 logical into a NTFS
logical with NO loss of data. PM8.0 was the app. You were referring to PM
weren't you? If fdisk, yeah I know that won't convert from FAT32 to NTFS,
that's a formatting issue. But I took his post to mean that he has one HDD
partitioned as an active primary only with no extended partition. I read it
as him wanting to convert the ENTIRE active primary into an extended which
was why I was puzzled, since any extended must have a primary "holding" it.
But the fdisk will certainly set logicals for him. I didn't catch where he
was concerned about data loss. I guess you could assume that from him
wanting it to work with 2k3. Sorry if I mistunderstood you though. Cheers,

Ron
 
Yeah, it will, Rod.
Nope.

I've already converted a FAT32 logical into a NTFS
logical with NO loss of data. PM8.0 was the app.
Click to expand...

That aint fdisk. PM doesnt count, it aint free.
You were referring to PM weren't you?
Click to expand...


I was commenting on your last sentance, the boot disk.

THAT wont convert for free.
If fdisk, yeah I know that won't convert from
FAT32 to NTFS, that's a formatting issue.
Click to expand...

He said he wants to convert from a primary dos partition to a
logical drive in an extended dos partition, different matter entirely.
But I took his post to mean that he has one HDD partitioned
as an active primary only with no extended partition.
Click to expand...

Probably, tho it doesnt matter really.
I read it as him wanting to convert the ENTIRE active primary into an extended
Click to expand...

He clearly said extended/logical.
which was why I was puzzled, since any
extended must have a primary "holding" it.
Click to expand...

Nope, you keep utterly mangling that.
But the fdisk will certainly set logicals for him.
Click to expand...

But wont CONVERT without losing the data.
I didn't catch where he was concerned about data loss.
Click to expand...

Thats implied by the use of the word convert.

Most are aware that they can just delete the primary
partition and create an extended partition and a logical
within that using the tools included with XP.
 
Rod Speed said:
Ranish probably can, http://www.ranish.com/part/
Doesnt even have a convenient list of capabilitys to read
on that site tho, so you'll have to check that for yourself.
Click to expand...

Thanks, seems like the way to go..

I was also wondering, what is the low level difference between primary and
extended partitions ? - if it's not too much of your time.
 
flekso said:
Thanks, seems like the way to go..
Click to expand...
I was also wondering, what is the low level
difference between primary and extended partitions ?
Click to expand...

The most obvious difference is that extended
partitions can have logical drives inside them.

That gets around the limitation in the main
partition table in the MBR of only 4 entrys,
and so only 4 partitions at that level.

Extended partitions have their own
table of logical drives within them.
- if it's not too much of your time.
Click to expand...

Not a problem.
 
flekso said:
Hello,
does anyone know of a (free) tool that would help me convert one primary
partition to extended/logical ? And it should work on Windows Server 2003.
Only one i could find on the web is Acronis Partition Expert 2003, but that
one's demo.

Or perhaps a tutorial on the subject?
www.ata-atapi.com


Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
X-No-Archive: yes

Ranish probably can, http://www.ranish.com/part/
Click to expand...

It definitely can do that.

Before doing anything note down the CHS values for each mbr/embr so
that if something goes wrong you can hand code the original values.

Try to understand how the CHS values are arrived at using the existing
values. Changing the tables using Ranish's Partition Manager does not
affect the data - as long as you do not try to do writing to the disk.

You can make all partitions primary (only one is bootable, though),
extended etc. Pressing insert key will give you the options indicating
what can be doe or cannot be done using the program.

Wish you Good hunting.

Be warned: While Ranish's Partition Manager is an extremely powerful
tool it can cause loss of data in the hands of the uniniated.Read the
documents till you understand everything. Use it at your own risk.


--
Sandy Archer
Reply to newsgroup only

For links to Harddisk management freeware
http:/members.tripod.com/~diligent/harddisk.htm

Not updated for a while :-(
 
flekso said:
Hello,
does anyone know of a (free) tool that would help me convert one primary
partition to extended/logical ? And it should work on Windows Server 2003.
Only one i could find on the web is Acronis Partition Expert 2003, but that
one's demo.

Or perhaps a tutorial on the subject?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Thanks y'all
 
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