Difference between Primary, Extended, Logical Partition

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teal

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Windows 7 is coming pre-installed on my new PC from Dell. It has two 500GB HDDs.

I want to partition the first drive into just a couple of partitions. I guess I will have to shrink the main partition to about 100GB for the OS and apps.
But my question is: that partition with the OS and apps will be a 'primary' one...what will my next couple of partitions be? Logical? Extended?

I'm not sure how to decide what type of partitions to have. Any help would be great.
Thanks!
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7Intel Core i7 9206GBATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 9000
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel Core i7 920
Memory
6GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Sound Card
Integrated 7.1
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 19"
Hard Drives
2 x 500 GB SATA
They both should be Primary. The first 4 partitions can be primary. After that, you need to create a logical drive, which would be your 3rd partition. In the logical dive, you can create unlimited extended partitions.
The advantage of a Primary partitions is that you can boot from it.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional x64Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling
CM Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, 3x 230mm + 1x 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Mouse
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Internet Speed
30 Mb/s : 2 Mb/s
It depends on whether you intend to ever add another OS to your system, for it would also need to be on a primary partition, but I would recommend using the second HD for that. Extended partition is merely a foundation necessary for one or more logical partitions placed in it. Once you have decided on the number of primary partitions that you need, make the rest of the drive an extended partition, and then as many logical drives as you want within.
 

My Computer My Computer

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W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCEPhenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w...2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsai...EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
DIY
OS
W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
CPU
Phenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w/CM Hyper TX 3
Motherboard
ASRock 890FX Deluxe 4/**A8N-SLI
Memory
2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsair VS
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2X/**Xonar D1
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer X233H, Dell E152FPc /**LG M237-WD
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 & 1024x768/**1980x1080
Hard Drives
WDC 2TB, 1.5TB, 1TB, 500GB,Seagate 500GB , Maxtor 80GB /**500GB Seagate & WDC 1TB Black
PSU
CM RS600 w/ APC BX1000G/**Antec 500 TP w/ APC BX1000
Case
HAF922/**Antec 1040IIB
Cooling
3x200mm, 1x140 and 1x120mm/**5x80mm fans
Keyboard
Logitech Media USB/**Saitek Eclipse
Mouse
Cordless Trackman Wheel/**Ditto
Internet Speed
3.3Mbps
Other Info
SB 560 5.1 w/ Sennheiser RS140/**Creative T20 speakers, Dvico FusionHDTV7 Gold RT, Cisco E3000, HP 5510V AIO, Linksys E3000, Belkin F5U237 hub and **F5D8055 adapter
(** = 2nd rig)
Jonathan King said:
They both should be Primary. The first 4 partitions can be primary. After that, you need to create a logical drive, which would be your 3rd partition. In the logical dive, you can create unlimited extended partitions.
The advantage of a Primary partitions is that you can boot from it.
Click to expand...

Hmm, you did exactly the opposite as I have done, extended within logical drives, I don't understand that.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCEPhenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w...2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsai...EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
DIY
OS
W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
CPU
Phenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w/CM Hyper TX 3
Motherboard
ASRock 890FX Deluxe 4/**A8N-SLI
Memory
2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsair VS
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2X/**Xonar D1
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer X233H, Dell E152FPc /**LG M237-WD
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 & 1024x768/**1980x1080
Hard Drives
WDC 2TB, 1.5TB, 1TB, 500GB,Seagate 500GB , Maxtor 80GB /**500GB Seagate & WDC 1TB Black
PSU
CM RS600 w/ APC BX1000G/**Antec 500 TP w/ APC BX1000
Case
HAF922/**Antec 1040IIB
Cooling
3x200mm, 1x140 and 1x120mm/**5x80mm fans
Keyboard
Logitech Media USB/**Saitek Eclipse
Mouse
Cordless Trackman Wheel/**Ditto
Internet Speed
3.3Mbps
Other Info
SB 560 5.1 w/ Sennheiser RS140/**Creative T20 speakers, Dvico FusionHDTV7 Gold RT, Cisco E3000, HP 5510V AIO, Linksys E3000, Belkin F5U237 hub and **F5D8055 adapter
(** = 2nd rig)
Ok, thanks. So it doesnt matter if a partition is primary or logical, in terms of performance or anything else?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7Intel Core i7 9206GBATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 9000
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel Core i7 920
Memory
6GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Sound Card
Integrated 7.1
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 19"
Hard Drives
2 x 500 GB SATA
seekermeister said:
Once you have decided on the number of primary partitions that you need, make the rest of the drive an extended partition, and then as many logical drives as you want within.
Click to expand...


So, can all this be done in windows 7, or do I (should I) use a third party partitioning program? If so, what is one I can use on Win7 64-bit that is free??
Thanks alot.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7Intel Core i7 9206GBATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 9000
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel Core i7 920
Memory
6GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 4350 512MB
Sound Card
Integrated 7.1
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 19"
Hard Drives
2 x 500 GB SATA
Yes, all can be done from within Windows. There will be no difference performance-wise.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional x64Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel i7 2600K OC'd @ 4620 MHz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V Pro
Memory
16GB GSkill Sniper 2133 Mhz (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked+
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Acer S273HLbmii 27"
Screen Resolution
2 x 1920x1080
Hard Drives
64GB Crucial M4 SSD

Storage: Hitachi 1TB 5400RPM, Samsung 1.5TB 5400RPM
PSU
Corsair HW Series 750w (modular)
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Blue Edition
Cooling
CM Hyper 212+ CPU cooler, 3x 230mm + 1x 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Mouse
Logitech MK320 (wireless)
Internet Speed
30 Mb/s : 2 Mb/s
No need for a third party program for such basic tasks, just use Disk Management.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCEPhenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w...2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsai...EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
DIY
OS
W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
CPU
Phenom II 1090T w/Noctua NH-D14 /**4400+ X2 w/CM Hyper TX 3
Motherboard
ASRock 890FX Deluxe 4/**A8N-SLI
Memory
2 x 2GB Patriot PGS34g1600LLKA/**4x1GB Corsair VS
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX460 SC/**EVGA 8800GTS
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2X/**Xonar D1
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer X233H, Dell E152FPc /**LG M237-WD
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 & 1024x768/**1980x1080
Hard Drives
WDC 2TB, 1.5TB, 1TB, 500GB,Seagate 500GB , Maxtor 80GB /**500GB Seagate & WDC 1TB Black
PSU
CM RS600 w/ APC BX1000G/**Antec 500 TP w/ APC BX1000
Case
HAF922/**Antec 1040IIB
Cooling
3x200mm, 1x140 and 1x120mm/**5x80mm fans
Keyboard
Logitech Media USB/**Saitek Eclipse
Mouse
Cordless Trackman Wheel/**Ditto
Internet Speed
3.3Mbps
Other Info
SB 560 5.1 w/ Sennheiser RS140/**Creative T20 speakers, Dvico FusionHDTV7 Gold RT, Cisco E3000, HP 5510V AIO, Linksys E3000, Belkin F5U237 hub and **F5D8055 adapter
(** = 2nd rig)
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