How to create Primary and logical partitions in my new harddisk

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  1. ovy
    Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
       #1

    How to create Primary and logical partitions in my new harddisk


    I have bought a new 500GB internal hdd. Now I want to install windows 7 on it. I want to create 4 partitions like below:

    C: Windows .......... Primary 64.4GB
    D: .......... Primary 99.9GB
    E: .......... Logical 99.9GB
    F: .......... Logical 201GB
    (System Reserved 100MB)

    I have a windows 7 installation cd and also a third party bootable partition software (easus p.m).
    Problems I'm facing are...
    1. How to create those 2 primary and 2 logical drives?
    2. Can I simply install win 7 on a single 64GB partition and leave the rest unallocated, then create rest of the partitions later?

    It's my first time so I'm kind of confused. Any detail guidance would be in my great assistance. Pls pardon any mistakes.
    Last edited by ovy; 31 Oct 2015 at 04:59.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #2

    If you install Windows to unallocated space it will create System Reserved and [C] partitions, both partitions will be primary.

    The System Reserved will have the boot manager and be the Active partition.
    The [C] partition is where Windows will be installed, and be the Boot partition as seen in Disk Management.

    If you pre-define a partition to install Windows on, it will be the Active partition having the Boot Manager, and the Windows OS.
    That's my experience, with Legacy BIOS, and MBR disks.

    I don't know what you are going to use [D] for, and why you want it as Primary.
    I prefer Logical partitions for all except the partition that has the boot code, that partition MUST be primary.

    You can use Minitool Partition Wizard (free) for better adjusting and fine-tuning the new HD partitions.
    Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

    Make sure you have your current HD, OS, and DATA backed up completely on a different device, before making any changes.
    Use a program such as Macrium Reflect free for the creating a Backup Image of the OS partition.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #3

    The easiest way is to install Windows first - it will create the 100MB System Reserved and Primary Partition itself. Afterwards, re-partition as required.
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  4. Posts : 26
    Windows 10 32bit
       #4

    use a third party software


    there are many software in the internet can do this. search partition freeware. I suppose it will do by choosing any of them,
      My Computer


  5. ovy
    Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    DavidE said:
    If you install Windows to unallocated space it will create System Reserved and [C] partitions, both partitions will be primary.

    The System Reserved will have the boot manager and be the Active partition.
    The [C] partition is where Windows will be installed, and be the Boot partition as seen in Disk Management.

    If you pre-define a partition to install Windows on, it will be the Active partition having the Boot Manager, and the Windows OS.
    That's my experience, with Legacy BIOS, and MBR disks.

    I don't know what you are going to use [D] for, and why you want it as Primary.
    I prefer Logical partitions for all except the partition that has the boot code, that partition MUST be primary.

    You can use Minitool Partition Wizard (free) for better adjusting and fine-tuning the new HD partitions.
    Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

    Make sure you have your current HD, OS, and DATA backed up completely on a different device, before making any changes.
    Use a program such as Macrium Reflect free for the creating a Backup Image of the OS partition.
    Thanks DavidE. Actully I don't know why D: as primary drive, I just want to create everything just like my old hdd. Is there any benefit making two primary drive?
      My Computer


  6. ovy
    Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Golden said:
    The easiest way is to install Windows first - it will create the 100MB System Reserved and Primary Partition itself. Afterwards, re-partition as required.
    Thanks Golden. Yeah that sounds easy. Using windows 7 installation DVD I will create a 64GB C: partition to install windows 7 on and leave the rest of the space unallocated. Then after completing the OS installation I will create other three partitions another day. Am I right?
      My Computer


  7. ovy
    Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    LordSnow said:
    there are many software in the internet can do this. search partition freeware. I suppose it will do by choosing any of them,
    In details... I will boot from a partition software and create 4 partitions on my fresh hdd (C,D,E,F, two primary and two logical). Then I will reboot my pc with windows 7 installation cd and install OS on partition C, and the 100mb system reserved partition will be created automatically. Am I correct? And thanks LordSnow for your reply.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #8

    ovy said:
    Golden said:
    The easiest way is to install Windows first - it will create the 100MB System Reserved and Primary Partition itself. Afterwards, re-partition as required.
    Thanks Golden. Yeah that sounds easy. Using windows 7 installation DVD I will create a 64GB C: partition to install windows 7 on and leave the rest of the space unallocated. Then after completing the OS installation I will create other three partitions another day. Am I right?
    Yep, or you can let Windows use the entire space for the Primary partition (with the exception of the 100MB System Reserved), then resize and change it later too.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #9

    ovy said:
    DavidE said:
    If you install Windows to unallocated space it will create System Reserved and [C] partitions, both partitions will be primary.

    The System Reserved will have the boot manager and be the Active partition.
    The [C] partition is where Windows will be installed, and be the Boot partition as seen in Disk Management.

    If you pre-define a partition to install Windows on, it will be the Active partition having the Boot Manager, and the Windows OS.
    That's my experience, with Legacy BIOS, and MBR disks.

    I don't know what you are going to use [D] for, and why you want it as Primary.
    I prefer Logical partitions for all except the partition that has the boot code, that partition MUST be primary.

    You can use Minitool Partition Wizard (free) for better adjusting and fine-tuning the new HD partitions.
    Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

    Make sure you have your current HD, OS, and DATA backed up completely on a different device, before making any changes.
    Use a program such as Macrium Reflect free for the creating a Backup Image of the OS partition.
    Thanks DavidE. Actully I don't know why D: as primary drive, I just want to create everything just like my old hdd. Is there any benefit making two primary drive?
    I don't know of any benefit to having partitions as primary rather than logical, other than the partition that has the Boot Code (boot-loader/boot manager) must be a Primary Active partition.
    My GUESS is your SYSTEM RESERVED partition is a Primary partition and is the Active / System partition.
    If that's true, that means your Boot Code (boot-loader/boot manager) is on the SYSTEM RESERVED partition.

    Just be aware, you can only have 3 Primary partitions, and any number of Logical partitions.
    OR
    You can have 4 Primary partitions, and no more partitions.

    If you ever do something and get prompted to convert to DYNAMIC, DON'T DO IT.

    You never explained what the [D] partition is used for.

    It would be best if you post a proper screen print of Disk Management, resizing to show all info as explained here:.
    Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
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  10. ovy
    Posts : 15
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Golden said:
    ovy said:
    Golden said:
    The easiest way is to install Windows first - it will create the 100MB System Reserved and Primary Partition itself. Afterwards, re-partition as required.
    Thanks Golden. Yeah that sounds easy. Using windows 7 installation DVD I will create a 64GB C: partition to install windows 7 on and leave the rest of the space unallocated. Then after completing the OS installation I will create other three partitions another day. Am I right?
    Yep, or you can let Windows use the entire space for the Primary partition (with the exception of the 100MB System Reserved), then resize and change it later too.
    And I am starting to feel a little more confident now. Thanks again for your help, Golden :)
      My Computer


 
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