Creating partitions

[PSCO2007]

I used Easeus to partition in the past, but I am not sure I remember exactly how I did it.

I just got this computer ( Windows 7) and it has a 2tb hdd.
I don't want to have to restore the whole thing if I have a problem.
I made a backup with Acronis, of the OS, as I have done in the past with my XP machine.

Please take a look at the enclosed pic - I am showing the OS on the first partition and the other two that I want to create.

I think all I did in thew past was pick the new partitions and select format only those partitions.

I see choices for "Active" and "logical" and I don't think I used these before.
Also, will I risk losing my OS on first partition?


Thanks for any advice.Paul

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Clarification needed.

I assume you are referring to Disk 1?

It now has 5 partitions: System Reserved, C, G, H, and N.

The first 2 are primary. The last 3 are logical.

What's wrong with that? What do you want to change?

 

[PSCO2007]

partitions

Don't know what you mean.
The pic shows that I am trying to create 4 partitions total.
The c has the os.
The rest, I have not created yet.
I am only showing what I would like it to be..

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Don't know what you mean.
The pic shows that I am trying to create 4 partitions total.
The c has the os.
The rest, I have not created yet.
I am only showing what I would like it to be..

OK; I thought that pic represented what you had done, not what you would like to do.

There is nothing wrong with having disk 1 as it shows in that picture.

2 primary and 3 logical is fine.

What you DON'T want is dynamic partitions. AVOID DYNAMIC.

Logical partitions are OK. You can't have more than 4 Primary partitions on a drive, but you can have unlimited logical partitions.

 

[PSCO2007]

partitions

Where are you seeing 5 partitions?
You are saying 2 primaries?
I just want to keep the 1st with the os and create 3 more.
I just have to format the 3 remaining - as active, logical?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Where are you seeing 5 partitions?
You are saying 2 primaries?
I just want to keep the 1st with the os and create 3 more.
I just have to format the 3 remaining - as active, logical?

I count 5: System Reserved, C, G, H, and N.

Maybe my eyes are deceiving me?

System Reserved and C are primary. That's fine.

The other 3 can be logical, but should not be marked active.

 

[PSCO2007]

partitions

Ok, sorry.

You were referring to the 1st mbr as reserved.
Didn't realize that.

The others that I want to create, I just pick format?
Not active - ok - thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Just to possibly avoid a problem, do this;

Close Easus without making any new partitions.

Type "disk management" in the start button search box.

Follow the prompts to open disk management.

Post another picture of what you see in Disk Management so we can confirm what you have NOW, not what you want.

 

[PSCO2007]

Thanks - here it is.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

That's as expected. No problems.

You will notice that System Reserved is marked Active. That's the only partition that needs to be marked active on that hard drive.

All your partitions are shown as simple and basic. That's good. No dynamic, which can be a major pain.

The partitions on drive 1 are all "logical". That's OK, but it would also be OK if they were "primary".

I assume partition L is some sort of operating system?

You can go back into EaseUS and do what you originally planned, but I'd say this:

Why make a total of 5 partitions on that drive?

Why not just 3: System Reserved, C, and D, all primary? Then use a folder structure on D to subdivide your stuff into DVDs to burn and storage (rather than a 4th and 5th partition). That's what I would do. But your way is OK, too. It's just personal preference.

 

[PSCO2007]

That's as expected. No problems.

You will notice that System Reserved is marked Active. That's the only partition that needs to be marked active on that hard drive.

All your partitions are shown as simple and basic. That's good. No dynamic, which can be a major pain.

The partitions on drive 1 are all "logical". That's OK, but it would also be OK if they were "primary".

I assume partition L is some sort of operating system?

You can go back into EaseUS and do what you originally planned, but I'd say this:

Why make a total of 5 partitions on that drive?

Why not just 3: System Reserved, C, and D, all primary? Then use a folder structure on D to subdivide your stuff into DVDs to burn and storage (rather than a 4th and 5th partition). That's what I would do. But your way is OK, too. It's just personal preference.

I just thought partitions would be easier to manage.
Thanks for all your help - I added to your rep- never saw that on any other forums.

L is an external hdd.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I just thought partitions would be easier to manage.

The problem with a bunch of partitions is that you cannot guess in advance how large they should be. You increase the chance of running out of space on one of them---where you would not if you have just 1 big partition.

A single big partition can also simplify your backup strategy.

I haven't found multiple partitions easier to manage. I used to do that, but now I have 3 drives, all with a single partition--one for the OS, one for data, one for backup.

 

[PSCO2007]

I took your advice and just made 3 partitions - mbr,primary and storage.
I'll use folders to keeps all the storage straight.

I just wanted the os on a small partition so I could restore quickly if I had a problem.

Thanks again!!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I took your advice and just made 3 partitions - mbr,primary and storage.
I'll use folders to keeps all the storage straight.

I just wanted the os on a small partition so I could restore quickly if I had a problem.

Thanks again!!

OK.

Yeah, a smallish C is a good idea--it keeps the images small.

You would need to restore System Reserved as well as C if you are trying to restore your operating system.

Post a pic of the new setup.

 

[PSCO2007]

Here it is -

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here it is -

Looks good.

G is logical. That's fine. It could also have been "primary". No need to change it.

L is active. Normally, you would only want a partition marked "active" if there was an operating system on that drive. I am guessing that disk 2 in your pic (with the Elements partitions) does not contain an OS? If that's true, I'd probably mark L as inactive. It isn't likely to cause a problem now, but there's no need for it if there is no OS on that hard drive.

Other than that you are good to go. Good job with EaseUS.

 

[PSCO2007]

Here it is -

Looks good.

G is logical. That's fine. It could also have been "primary". No need to change it.

L is active. Normally, you would only want a partition marked "active" if there was an operating system on that drive. I am guessing that disk 2 in your pic (with the Elements partitions) does not contain an OS? If that's true, I'd probably mark L as inactive. It isn't likely to cause a problem now, but there's no need for it if there is no OS on that hard drive.

Other than that you are good to go. Good job with EaseUS.

The L drive has my xp and windows 7 backups on it.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here it is -

Looks good.

G is logical. That's fine. It could also have been "primary". No need to change it.

L is active. Normally, you would only want a partition marked "active" if there was an operating system on that drive. I am guessing that disk 2 in your pic (with the Elements partitions) does not contain an OS? If that's true, I'd probably mark L as inactive. It isn't likely to cause a problem now, but there's no need for it if there is no OS on that hard drive.

Other than that you are good to go. Good job with EaseUS.

The L drive has my xp and windows 7 backups on it.

OK; leave it as is.

 

[PSCO2007]

It was great dealing with you.

This is the most civil forum around.

Thanks again!!

Paul

 

[gregrocker]

Paul -

I am glad you got the help you needed and have a well-organized system now.

Be aware that Easeus and all other Partition Managers and their boot disks can fail. Only Partition Wizard CD and Disk Mgmt will never fail and lose data.

I have lost data with both Easeus Home and Boot CD during resizing is why I mention this.

In thousands of partitioning operations here using free PW CD we have never had a failure - only once or twice when the user slipped and used the Home Version.