Basic disks do not allow more than 4 primary partitions, and you already have 4 primary partitions (System, C, D, E)

You can however have 3 primary partitions and a 4th extended partition - this extended partition then can allow multiple logical drive (letters).

You might be easier just converting it to a dynamic disk and then you can create more than 4 partitions, otherwise, you need to delete the E partition (assuming it's at the end of the disk and the unallocated space also follows it) partition it as an extended and then create logical drives within.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

Basic disks do not allow more than 4 primary partitions, and you already have 4 primary partitions (System, C, D, E)

You can however have 3 primary partitions and a 4th extended partition - this extended partition then can allow multiple logical drive (letters).

You might be easier just converting it to a dynamic disk and then you can create more than 4 partitions, otherwise, you need to delete the E partition (assuming it's at the end of the disk and the unallocated space also follows it) partition it as an extended and then create logical drives within.

Thanks for the reply.

OK I understand the maximum of 4 primary partitions but what purpose does the system partition serve at only 100MB out of a TB hard-drive. Is it possible to copy whatever is on that partition to the C drive where Windows OS resides? I certainly didn't ask for that partition to be created.

Second question, in two parts - a) what is the advantage of a dynamic disk? and b) are there any disadvantages? I have not come across dynamic disks before.

The 100MB partition is automatically created by Windows Vista and above, it's purpose is primarily there for future-proofing your install for bitlocker, if you were to encrypt the drive, then the 100MB partition at the start is the unencypted part which is required to boot to initially. I'd leave it alone as it contains information required to boot.

Dynamic disks, assuming you will only be using Windows 7 on your computer (i.e., not linux), then you should not have problems converting it to dynamic. The primary disadvantage is they are not as compatible with some DOS/linux OS and based utilities and perhaps slightly harder to recover because not as many tools out there which support the partition table.

Advantage is more than 4 partitions (128 iirc) (which are called volumes when a disk is in dynamic form), partition sizes larger than 2TB, and options for spanning/striping disks within Windows.

You MUST create a full backup before attempting a convert though It has been known for the OS to stop booting after a convesion.

Just delete the last partition (E:), then create two logical partitions out of the free space. Personally, unless I was using the extra partitions for linux installs I'd just have one large D: drive. But that's me, I'm sure you have your reasons from a multi partition setup.

Thanks Pipexer.

I think I will just extend the E partition to take up the unallocated space.

In reply to a post by 12eason:

Just delete the last partition (E:), then create two logical partitions out of the free space. Personally, unless I was using the extra partitions for linux installs I'd just have one large D: drive. But that's me, I'm sure you have your reasons from a multi partition setup.

Thanks - I will just have a larger E partition and leave F drive free should I ever instal another hard-drive.

In reply to a post by lenaspell:

Thanks Pipexer.

I think I will just extend the E partition to take up the unallocated space.

Mission accomplished

When it comes down to it, the only reason I keep windoze and programs files on C: and vids, pics and music etc on D: is a) I can use mydefrag to sort system and data disks separately, and b) I can copy my appdata folder across to D: whenever I need to reinstall windows and so not lose my program settings. Any more windows partitions than those two is pointless imo.

eta: obviously if you have another physical disk, an extra partition on that is good for backup.

Edited by deleted (Mon 18-Jul-11 22:01:24)