Format Entire Hard Disk into Extended Partition

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  1. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #11

    @mikedee1500,

    I would highly recommend you install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free on your laptop. It will do everything you want it to do.
    Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,631
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #12

    Partition Magic Freeware to manage Disk Partitions

    It is so user-friendly that even an idiot like me can use it blindfold.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,212
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #13

    We don't know why you think you have to remove a drive to Partition and Format it? It's not necessary.
    We don't know why you want to use XP or Windows 7 to Partition or Format your drives, Disk Management is the same in XP, Windows 7, 8, and 10, where you would manage your disk, it's Just as easy. You can also use software from XP or Windows 7.
    We also don't know why you want to create Logical and Extended partitions? These were created to overcome the limitations of the MBR system, which only allows 4 Primary partitions on a disk. Since your drives are initialized GPT, you can add as many Primary partitions as you like and you don't have to fool with extended and logical partitions.
    But it's your computer, do what you are comfortable with and makes you happy.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 66
    Windows 10 pro en
       #14

    mikedee1500 said:
    ....I will simply go for converting the Hard Disk into Logical Drives.
    Thanks again.
    Mike
    GPT scheme don't support Extended Partitions and Logical drives.
    Many answers are given in ths thread about GPT scheme. You can have up to 128 primary partitions.

    If you are not satisfied with such a solution and want Exdented and Logicals you have to use MBR scheme.

    syntoh
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 43,022
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       #15

    See these Microsoft links:


    Code:
    What is wrong with MBR partitioning
    MBR disks support only four partition table entries. For more than four partitions, a secondary 
    structure known as an extended partition is necessary. Extended partitions can then be subdivided 
    into one or more logical disks.
    
    Windows creates MBR disk partitions and logical drives on cylinder boundaries based on the 
    reported geometry, although this information no longer has any relationship to the physical 
    characteristics of the hardware (disk driver or RAID controller). Starting with Windows Vista and 
    Windows Server 2008, more logical boundaries are selected when the hardware provides better 
    hints at the true cache or physical alignment. Because this partition information is stored on the 
    drive itself, the operating system is not dependent on the alignment.
    
    MBR partitioning rules are complex and poorly specified. For example, does cylinder alignment 
    mean that each partition must be at least one cylinder in length? An MBR partition is identified 
    by a two-byte field, and coordination is necessary to avoid collision. IBM originally provided that 
    coordination, but today there is no single authoritative list of partition identifiers.
    
    Another common practice is using partitioned or "hidden" sectors to hold specific information by 
    using undocumented processes and results in problems that are difficult to debug. In the past, 
    vendor-specific implementations and tools were released to the public, which made support difficult.
    
    Why we need GPT
    GPT disks allow for growth. The number of partitions on a GPT disk isn't constrained by temporary 
    schemes such as container partitions as defined by the MBR Extended Boot Record (EBR). The GPT 
    disk partition format is well defined and fully self-identifying. Data critical to platform operation is 
    located in partitions and not in unpartitioned or "hidden" sectors. GPT disks use primary and backup 
    partition tables for redundancy and CRC32 fields for improved partition data structure integrity. 
    The GPT partition format uses version number and size fields for future expansion.
    
    Each GPT partition has a unique identification GUID and a partition content type, so no coordination 
    is necessary to prevent partition identifier collision. Each GPT partition has a 36-character Unicode 
    name. This means that any software can present a human-readable name for the partition without 
    any additional understanding of the partition.

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ences/oem-uefi
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ive-partitions
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ive-partitions
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ased-hard-disk
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ws-and-gpt-faq
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #16

    - - - Updated - - -

    spunk said:
    We don't know why you think you have to remove a drive to Partition and Format it? It's not necessary.
    We don't know why you want to use XP or Windows 7 to Partition or Format your drives, Disk Management is the same in XP, Windows 7, 8, and 10, where you would manage your disk, it's Just as easy. You can also use software from XP or Windows 7.
    We also don't know why you want to create Logical and Extended partitions? These were created to overcome the limitations of the MBR system, which only allows 4 Primary partitions on a disk. Since your drives are initialized GPT, you can add as many Primary partitions as you like and you don't have to fool with extended and logical partitions.
    Thank you for your response. I have explained why I wanted an Extended Partition in my 2nd posting in this thread.

    - - - Updated - - -
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,487
    Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
       #17

    mikedee1500 said:
    I have explained why I wanted an Extended Partition in my 2nd posting in this thread.
    I have read the second post in this thread multiple times.

    I don't see a "why" anywhere.........only a "that". You've stated that you used extended, but not why.

    Was it because you had access to "an I.T. "Expert""??

    Was it because "I haven't had any further issues in reinstalling / upgrading the OS."??

    Was it because "I have had no issues with Extended Partitions."??

    Was it because "this thread being for a new laptop - where I am averse to removing the Hard Disk for partitioning, I will simply go for converting the Hard Disk into Logical Drives."??



    There's something left unexplained in this thread....for whatever reason.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #18

    I have gone the Disk Management Way and created 6 drives on the hard disk.

    Thanks everyone for their feedback

    Mike
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7,631
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #19

    mikedee1500 said:
    I have had no issues with Extended Partitions.
    It does not follow that you have to keep using them.
    I had had no problems with Legacy+MBR when I switched to UEFI+GPT, the new standard.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #20

    ignatzatsonic said:
    I have read the second post in this thread multiple times.

    I don't see a "why" anywhere.........only a "that". You've stated that you used extended, but not why.

    Was it because you had access to "an I.T. "Expert""??

    There's something left unexplained in this thread....for whatever reason.
    This is going back about 15 - 20 years. As far as I can recall, it was to prevent converting of a logical partition to a Primary partition - so it would make it more difficult for anyone to reinstall / uprade the OS - on any other partition as there would have been only 1 primary partition.

    As the logical drives in the etended partition were already being used to store data files, it would make anyone think twice before converting the logical partion.
      My Computer


 

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