partitions 1

[dicktttt]

When I used fdisk on my 40 gig wd drive

I first set c: drive to 10gig as my PRIMARY DRIVE

Then set EXTENDED to 30 gig

Next set LOGICAL drive D: AS 9GIG / E: AS 9GIG AND F: AS rest available.

Therefore one primary drive and three LOGICAL drices.
Do I have to do it this way?
Can I set a drive as Four PRIMARY DRIVES c: d: e: f;?

Dick

 

[edfair]

Multiple primaries are normally used in multiboot applications with a bootloader giving the choice of which will be the active one.
With multiple primaries only one will be visible and usable.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[wolluf]

Ed - multiple primaries are all visible and usable at the same time. Though if you've multiple versions of win9x/me, you generally need to hide the earlier ones to allow the later ones to boot. Exception to this (that I know about) is boot loader that comes with latest version of mandrake linux. I was quite impressed when it booted both 95 & ME as well as Linux, without hiding anything. No problems with NT based systems and multiple primaries.

 

[SYAR2003]

I always use primarys . Though it's restricted to four.
So a primary c: d: e: f: would be no problem.
And c: as the active one.

 

[hotfusion]

Interesing.
Does anyone know if there is any advantage in a simple one O/S system in one method over the other, i.e. for example, three primaries, or one primary and and an extended DOS with two logical drives?
Chees, Andy.

 

[wolluf]

Like SYAR2003 I always use primaries - this is down to some bad experiences where extended partitions have 'gone missing' for no good reason that I discovered. This led me to believe that primaries have more reliable entries in the partition table (haven't had any go mysteriously missing yet). Its also down to much mult-booting - and I always make my installations independent - so they need a primary to have their own boot sector on (not pertinent to simple one o/s).

 

[dicktttt]

Exactly what happened. I suddenly lost logical drives d; e; f;

Any one know how to get them back?

And do you do four primary partitions using fdisk?

Dick

 

[dicktttt]

Forgot to mention I am using windows 98 se.

Dick

 

[SYAR2003]

Iv'e been using partition magic for years ,
it makes things easy.

 

[edfair]

try a google search for "partition recovery". Some free stuff out there that will help with your problem.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[wolluf]

fdisk will only create one primary partition.

if you're willing to spend the money, partition magic is a good solution.

any NT based o/s (nt/2k/xp/2k3) will allow you to create 4 primary partitions per disk.

google will find you some freeware partitioninig tools - you could try this one

http://www.lpacomputers.telinco.co.uk/PD.zip

as ed says - google should turn up some recovery tools. There's a freeware data recovery (won't reconstruct partitions but may allow you to recover wanted files) here

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

 

[edfair]

First page of hits turned up 3 tools.
Now I know why I can't see 3 partitions at the same time, I use DOS. And the only NT/2000/XP in the house is still shrinkwrapped. Sorry Wolluf, I just couldn't resist.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[wolluf]

Ed - I bet you've got a paper tape/punch card machine at home too! And one where you have to manually set switches on the back to communicate with it!

 

[edfair]

Nah, the keypunches are in the warehouse, awaiting disposal.
You have to be more specific about the paper tape punch. I probably could find a carrage tape punch somewhere in the basement. But all the 5 and 8 track was scrapped.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.