partition issues please help

[weq92f]

I've got a 320GB drive that came from the factory as such

3 partitions defined ( 199MB System, 2XXGB Primary, 13GB RECOVERY )
The 2XXGB one took all remaining space.

I shrunk the 2XXGB one by taking 65GB out of it, which left the same above with 65GB unallocated ( see below for the position of the unallocate space on the disk ).

I then created a small 4GB partition and 1GB partition for Linux fun testing. Now, I need to use more of the 60 GB that are still free, but can't because I get the message that I cannot create a new volume because I've reached MAX number volumes already.

Searching around, I've found that what I really have is 3 Primary partitions and 1 Extended Partition ( holds two logical partitions: 4GB and 1GB linux fun stuff ). What I need to do is continue adding logical partitions to the extended partition, but can't find a way to extend the extended partition into the unallocated space, which is directly to the right of it in disk management view. It seems this should be possible, but I can't find a way.

I've tried with the GUI, no luck as extend is not selectable in the menu. I've tried with the diskpart to "create logical partition size=4096, etc, but have had zero luck with it.

Please let me know how I can create additional partitions/logical drives/anything something that I can then format and use with an OS.

Here's my current configs:

DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---
* Disk 0 Online 298 GB 1024 KB

DISKPART> list partition

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 199 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 Primary 222 GB 200 MB
Partition 0 Extended 5073 MB 222 GB
Partition 4 Logical 4096 MB 222 GB
Partition 5 Logical 976 MB 226 GB
Partition 3 Primary 11 GB 286 GB

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 E RAW DVD-ROM 2048 B Healthy
Volume 1 SYSTEM NTFS Partition 199 MB Healthy System
Volume 2 C NTFS Partition 222 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 D RECOVERY NTFS Partition 11 GB Healthy

The layout depicted on the GUI in Windows7 shows things like this, in this order:
SYSTEM 199MB Healthy ( SYSTEM, Active, Primary Partition )
C: 222.03 GB Healthy ( Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition )
no label 4GB Healthy ( Primary Partition )
no label 1GB Healthy ( Primary Partition )
no label 59.04 GB Unallocated
RECOVERY ( D: ) 11.87 GB NTFS Healthy ( Primary Partition )

The ubuntu disk management shows the above first two "no label" entries as being a member of an extended partition and this seems to be reflected in the diskpart output above.

What to do? Thanks in advance, all comments welcome.

Thanks

-unix

 

[Petey7]

I can't remember what it is called, but only certain hardware can allow you to have more than 4 partitions on one hard drive. I would recommend making a back-up of your current 7 installation, and then deleting the recovery partition. Do not delete it until a back-up is made or else you may run into some serious trouble down the line.

 

[Lemur]

Check this out by Brink...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

This is not what you're asking for, but what about using a virtual pc for testing?

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

You should be able to create another logical drive from that unallocated space.

The easiest way is to use a 3rd party app. This freebie should do the job. BEST FREE Partition Manager Software for Windows supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS.

Post a screenie of your disk management window first:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

 

[weq92f]

Shot of the screen.

 

[Petey7]

Go here and scroll down to Disk Support: Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unless your motherboard/BIOS has EFI, you can't have more than four partitions per disc.

 

[SIW2]

Hi,


You will find all 4 partition slots are occupied. The solution is either to free one up, by deleting a partition, or by creating another logical drive.

Veritas disk management is misreporting the partition structure in that screen shot because of the unusual nature of the drive layout.

Use a 3rd party partition manager to get a true picture and post up the screenshot of that.

Partition Wizard ( PW ) is a very good free one: BEST FREE Partition Manager Software for Windows supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS.

PW should allow you to make the 59gb unallocated into another logical drive, which will be inside the existing extended partition alongside the other two logical drives you already have.