Windows7 64 bit Partitions

[azTom]

What is or is there a maximum number of partitions allowed on a hard
drive. I have a large HD with 5 partitions and 317GB free I tried to
create another partition with the built-in disk management program and
it said I already had the maximum number of partitions.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

What is or is there a maximum number of partitions allowed on a hard
drive. I have a large HD with 5 partitions and 317GB free I tried to
create another partition with the built-in disk management program
and it said I already had the maximum number of partitions.

Used to be you were limited to four primary partitions, but you could
make more drives by making one an extended partition with logical
drives. I don't know if there is a limit to how many logical drives can
be hosted, possibly however many drive letters are not assigned.

But if you have five primary partitions, all bets are off. I don't know
how you got five partitions.

 

[SC Tom]

What is or is there a maximum number of partitions allowed on a hard
drive. I have a large HD with 5 partitions and 317GB free I tried to
create another partition with the built-in disk management program and it
said I already had the maximum number of partitions.

Extend one of the partitions to include the free space, then create logical
partitions within it. IIRC, you can create logical partitions as long as you
have a letter free to assign to it.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Extend one of the partitions to include the free space, then create
logical partitions within it. IIRC, you can create logical partitions
as long as you have a letter free to assign to it.

I did some fiddling around with Disk Manager and a bare external drive.
If you start creating partitions, when you get to the fourth one an
extended partition with a logical drive is created is created
automatically. Any more volumes are created as logical drives.

 

[Ken Blake]

What is or is there a maximum number of partitions allowed on a hard
drive. I have a large HD with 5 partitions and 317GB free I tried to
create another partition with the built-in disk management program and
it said I already had the maximum number of partitions.

The maximum number of partitions is four, regardless of the version of
Windows. You don't have five partitions, you have somewhere between
two and four.

One or more of your partitions is what's called an "extended"
partition and it's divided into logical drives.

Although they are technically *not* partitions, logical drives are
used just like partitions, and most of us informally call them
"partitions" most of the time.

By the way, five "partitions" is a very large number for the great
majority of people. Why do you have so many, and why do you want a
sixth? Except for those people with multiple operating systems
installed and dual booting, either one or two partitions is the best
number for almost everyone.

You might want to read this article on partitions I've written:
"Understanding Disk Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326


Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[azTom]

The maximum number of partitions is four, regardless of the version of
Windows. You don't have five partitions, you have somewhere between
two and four.

One or more of your partitions is what's called an "extended"
partition and it's divided into logical drives.

Although they are technically *not* partitions, logical drives are
used just like partitions, and most of us informally call them
"partitions" most of the time.

By the way, five "partitions" is a very large number for the great
majority of people. Why do you have so many, and why do you want a
sixth? Except for those people with multiple operating systems
installed and dual booting, either one or two partitions is the best
number for almost everyone.

You might want to read this article on partitions I've written:
"Understanding Disk Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326


Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

1- Operating System
2-Data
3-Down Loads
4-Pictures
5-Important Stuff
6-? Programs I do not have to reinstall when reinstalling the operating
system

 

[Ken Blake]

1- Operating System
2-Data
3-Down Loads
4-Pictures
5-Important Stuff
6-? Programs I do not have to reinstall when reinstalling the operating
system

Your choice of course, but just about everything other than category 1
is essentially the same. As a single example, pictures is just one
particular kind of data. In my view, there's little or no reason to
separate these things. And there are disadvantages to having so many
partitions. I recommend that you read my article that I mentioned
above.


Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[SC Tom]

The maximum number of partitions is four, regardless of the version of
Windows. You don't have five partitions, you have somewhere between
two and four.

One or more of your partitions is what's called an "extended"
partition and it's divided into logical drives.

Although they are technically *not* partitions, logical drives are
used just like partitions, and most of us informally call them
"partitions" most of the time.

By the way, five "partitions" is a very large number for the great
majority of people. Why do you have so many, and why do you want a
sixth? Except for those people with multiple operating systems
installed and dual booting, either one or two partitions is the best
number for almost everyone.

You might want to read this article on partitions I've written:
"Understanding Disk Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326


Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

Good article, Ken!
Reason One brought back some not-so-good memories. We had two new servers
that were to have NT4.0 Server installed on the primary partition, then
other partitions were going to be mapped network drives (this was all
company policy from our HQ in Ohio, not the local IT department's (me )
idea). Since we are in the South, and Northerners at the main office know
everything (their attitude, not mine), I had no choice but to set them up
the way they wanted it. Wouldn't you know, about a year into owning them,
the C: partition (Windows) was running low on space and setting errors
almost constantly. Luckily there was enough space on an adjoining partition
that by purchasing Partition Magic (IIRC) I was able to expand it out enough
to last us quite a while longer.
Those days are gone now, thank goodness. When I retired, we were running
2003 Server, and things were much better. I don't miss any of that.

 

[Ken Blake]

Good article, Ken!

Thanks very much, Tom.

Reason One brought back some not-so-good memories. We had two new servers
that were to have NT4.0 Server installed on the primary partition, then
other partitions were going to be mapped network drives (this was all
company policy from our HQ in Ohio, not the local IT department's (me )
idea). Since we are in the South, and Northerners at the main office know
everything (their attitude, not mine), I had no choice but to set them up
the way they wanted it. Wouldn't you know, about a year into owning them,
the C: partition (Windows) was running low on space and setting errors
almost constantly. Luckily there was enough space on an adjoining partition
that by purchasing Partition Magic (IIRC) I was able to expand it out enough
to last us quite a while longer.
Those days are gone now, thank goodness. When I retired, we were running
2003 Server, and things were much better. I don't miss any of that.

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

6-? Programs I do not have to reinstall when reinstalling the operating
system

That will work only if you install "portable" versions of those
programs.

That means versions that don't use the registry or AppData. Not all
programs have portable versions. Those that do can be run from memory
sticks, thus the name portable.

Any other programs will have to be reinstalled to set up the registry
and other files properly.

 

[Mad Ad]

Good article, Ken!

Its a terrible article, full of opinion and personal judgements leaving
little or no room for people to use something as it fits them within the
limitations of the hardware. This is a technical subject, if there is truth
to be said, say it without the opinion. Keep that for the conclusions, or a
seperate section of 'advice' (if thats what he thinks it is).

Im mildly miffed that im being told that having a seperate drive for music
has no advantage and i should be treating it like any other type of data,
seems Ken wants us all to have a single 2 terrabyte partition (or however
big your drive is) and call it good. There IS advantages to having things
in different holes but rather than debate opinions I think we will have to
agree to differ.

Not one of your best Ken, sorry.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Its a terrible article, full of opinion and personal judgements leaving
little or no room for people to use something as it fits them within the
limitations of the hardware. This is a technical subject, if there is truth
to be said, say it without the opinion. Keep that for the conclusions, or a
seperate section of 'advice' (if thats what he thinks it is).

Im mildly miffed that im being told that having a seperate drive for music
has no advantage and i should be treating it like any other type of data,
seems Ken wants us all to have a single 2 terrabyte partition (or however
big your drive is) and call it good. There IS advantages to having things
in different holes but rather than debate opinions I think we will have to
agree to differ.

Not one of your best Ken, sorry.

Didn't read the article. I personally prefer divvying things up into
smaller pieces, putting the system, apps, various forms of data, and
archives each in their own little cubbyhole, especially with the
humongous hard drives available now. It makes keeping track of things
and housekeeping much easier for me.

Naturally, anybody who does it differently is an idiot.

 

[John Morrison]

The maximum number of partitions is four, regardless of the version of
Windows. You don't have five partitions, you have somewhere between
two and four.

By the way, five "partitions" is a very large number for the great
majority of people. Why do you have so many, and why do you want a
sixth? Except for those people with multiple operating systems
installed and dual booting, either one or two partitions is the best
number for almost everyone.

I've always used "three" partitions, going back as far as Windows 3.1.
But I've had no reason so far to use more than "three partitions".

Currently I install only Windows 7 to C: drive.
On D: drive I have a folder "Archives" where I keep "My Documents"
Also on D: I have a folder "Attic" where I store installation files for
the many programs that I use. "My Music" is stored on E: drive.

My backup policy is that C: drive is never backed up. Whereas D: & E
drives are backed up to external hard drives frequently.
So after Windows 7 is installed I'm aware that any data from programs
subsequently installed on C: drive will be eventually lost.

When I re-install Windows 7 and start installing my favourite programs,
I'm aware that programs that were previously installed on C: drive will
have to be reinstalled and my previous settings have been lost.

Some programs on D: drive will need to be re-installed but they will
have retained their settings. Some others such as "Eudora 7.1.0.9",
"Forté Agent " news reader, and the "Opera browser" won't need
re-installing, all that is necessary is create shortcuts to open them.

 

[Ken Blake]

I've always used "three" partitions, going back as far as Windows 3.1.
But I've had no reason so far to use more than "three partitions".

Currently I install only Windows 7 to C: drive.
On D: drive I have a folder "Archives" where I keep "My Documents"
Also on D: I have a folder "Attic" where I store installation files for
the many programs that I use. "My Music" is stored on E: drive.

My backup policy is that C: drive is never backed up. Whereas D: & E
drives are backed up to external hard drives frequently.

Your choice of course, but personally I see no reason to separate what
you put on D: and what you put on E:. If I were in your shoes, I would
only have a single partition for the two of them.

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[John Morrison]

Your choice of course, but personally I see no reason to separate what
you put on D: and what you put on E:. If I were in your shoes, I would
only have a single partition for the two of them.

Thanks for that Ken, I'll be keeping that very much in mind.
The next time I format C: would be a good time to create just a single
D: partition instead of having both D: & E:

 

[Ken Blake]

On Wed, 19 May 2010 11:10:16 -0700, Ken Blake


Thanks for that Ken, I'll be keeping that very much in mind.
The next time I format C: would be a good time to create just a single
D: partition instead of having both D: & E:

You're welcome. Glad to help.
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[azTom]

What is or is there a maximum number of partitions allowed on a hard
drive. I have a large HD with 5 partitions and 317GB free I tried to
create another partition with the built-in disk management program and
it said I already had the maximum number of partitions.

Installed FREE Partition Wizard Home Edition 5.0 now I can make as many
partition/volumes as needed, each with a designated letter.

 

[Prescott]

1- Operating System
2-Data
3-Down Loads
4-Pictures
5-Important Stuff
6-? Programs I do not have to reinstall when reinstalling the operating
system

1 - Operating System
2 - Downloads
3 - Backups
4 - Virtual Machines

 

[Ken Blake]

1 - Operating System
2 - Downloads
3 - Backups
4 - Virtual Machines

Where do you keep your data?

I'll comment on numbers 2 and 3. A separate partition for downloads is
way overkill, as far as I'm concerned. I don't see any good reason for
separating that in a partition of its own.

But the giant problem is having a partition for backups. Keeping your
backups on a partition on your only hard drive is just kidding
yourself. That's far and away the weakest form of backup there is, and
is almost equivalent to having no backup at all. It leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: head crashes, user errors, severe power
glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the
computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.



Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

 

[Redbird14]

Late to the party

I was researching the whole issue of the maximum # of partitions under Windows 7 and google presented me with this thread. I realize its been dormant 3 years but I have an answer about why so many partitions for Ken.

I just picked up a laptop that came from the factory with 4 partitions on the single installed single hard drive. There's a 'system' partition, a boot partition (which is the main storage area containing all the system files), an 'HP Tools' partition and a recovery partition.

So at least one manufacturer, Hewlett Packard, likes to create a lot of partitions. I'm in the process of setting it up and just learned that imaging software won't work with 5 partitions. So I'm in the process as I type of making recovery disks and will delete that partition. I want the 4th partition just to separate all my data from the operating system. Makes it easier to image the o/s and just copy/backup my data.

Anyway, it may not matter whether or not we need a lot of partitions. If the manufacturer says 'you gotta have 'em', well, then you gotta have 'em. Unless you back them up and delete 'em :lol: