Questions tagged [partitioning]

When you create two or more logical volumes (drives) from one physical hard disk (or other storage device), you're working with partitions.

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Live resize of a GPT partition on Linux

On Linux I used to resize MBR partitions using fdisk, even on live filesystems, and then issue a resize2fs/pvresize/... (depending on fs type) to get the new space allocated. Lately I've been using ...
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20 votes
3 answers
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Use VirtualBox to boot a physical drive/partition [duplicate]

I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for Windows and one for linux. I would like to use VirtualBox in Linux to boot the Windows partition as a virtual machine. How can I acheive this?
Joshua's user avatar
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1 answer
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Windows Disk Management Not Allow 'Delete Volume' and 'Extend Volume'

I am trying to delete my existing windows partition using disk management, when I am right clicked on the selected partition the 'Delete Volume' and 'Extend Volume' options are grayed out ( doesn't ...
Akshay Pethani's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
46k views

Is there a way to partition USB flash drives, so that both/all partitions appear in Windows?

In Windows, 'removable' drives cannot be partitioned, without the partitions not appearing and receiving drive letters, apart from the first partition. Partitioned flash drives work fine in Linux. ...
paradroid's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
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How do I resize a FileVault 2 encrypted partition?

Running Mac OS X Lion. My current setup is a 250 GB partition, encrypted by FileVault2, for Lion. Old Snow Leopard install is in second half, another 250 GB partition, unencrypted, of the same disk. ...
Héctor Ramos's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
10k views

Why use multiple partitions on Linux installations?

Does it really perform better than a single partitioned installation? Why?
jacmkno's user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
6k views

Is partition alignment to SSD erase block size pointless?

Many people seem to have the idea (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) that aligning the start of your SSD partitions at a multiple of the SSD erase block size is somehow benefitial. I do not see the benefit; consider the ...
Witiko's user avatar
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10 votes
6 answers
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How many primary partitions can be created on a computer running Windows 8?

I remember reading somewhere that as opposed to the former versions of Windows - more than 4 can be created, but I can't seem to find it on the web now. Is this true?
ispiro's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
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Can Ubuntu Linux be installed on FAT32 or NTFS?

Before I start, don't lecture me on the fact that FAT32 is old and hasn't been updated for nearly 20 years. Right now I have sorted that. I am trying to install Ubuntu Linux onto a 64GB flash drive ...
09stephenb's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
29k views

Windows 10: Can I safely remove WINRE or RECOVERY partitions?

I'm attempting to install Ubuntu Linux alongside Windows 10 in a dual-boot configuration. However, my hard drive comes with four Primary partitions already created, as seen here in gParted: Thus, I ...
Trae's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
2k views

SSD with multiple partitions - disk life implications

Each block on a SSD has a finite number of writes. This is mitigated on modern drives by "spreading" the writes around as you use the drive. I'm wondering if you partition a SSD into several ...
Nicolas Webb's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
23k views

How can I shrink a Logical Volume, and re-allocate the freed space into a new partition on the same drive?

I have a drive, sda. It has two partitions: sda1: /boot sda2: LVM managed in Volume Group volgrp01 volgrp01 contains the following Logical Volumes: lv_root (30 GB) lv_swap (8 GB) lv_scratch (430 GB)...
CptSupermrkt's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
22k views

re-mount two old disk from raid0 setup to recover data

I had setup two 500gb disk in RAID0 on my server, but recently suffered a hard disk failure (saw a S.M.A.R.T error on the HDD at boot). My host has put 2 new disk in RAID-0 again (re-installed the OS) ...
Latheesan's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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What is the maximum size of hard-drive used MBR partitioning?

I am getting conflicting information about this ... At one place I read The MBR on the other hand supports partitioning hard-disks of space which is up to ONLY 2 Terabytes (TB). If you use a ...
David Robert Bird's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
2k views

Someone from Microsoft told me you can always shrink down the partition the most it can, is that true?

Someone from Microsoft told me today that you can always shrink down a partition to the most it can (Update: by using the Win7 or Vista disk management tool) -- for example, when there are 120GB of ...
nonopolarity's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
70k views

Why do I get a GRUB error after deleting the Linux partition?

I had a dual-boot setup with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. I used Easus Partition Manager and shrank my Windows 7 partition. In the empty space, I installed Linux Mint. I decided I didn't want it ...
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5 votes
3 answers
5k views

Is it possible to convert an ntfs partition to ext3? [duplicate]

Is it possible to convert an ntfs partition to ext3?
Johnny's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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How long should it take for gparted to shrink a 44 GB partition down to 10 GB

I've had gparted running to shrink a Backtrack partition down to 10 GB from 44 GB. I was wondering how long that should take and wether or not it's jammed. It's been on "shrink file system" for well ...
Robert Klubenspies's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
11k views

How do I delete all partitions on USB in Windows 7?

I am trying to encrypt an entire USB drive with Truecrypt 7.1a. But as long as there is a partition it will only encrypt that. This will make it appear like the USB is full instead of completely empty,...
Marcus's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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Are these partitions properly aligned?

I was recommended to use Ubuntu instead of XP to partition my new SSD. However, I didn't find diskpar, so I used GParted. The partition table type is msdos, fdisk reports the following: Device Boot ...
maaartinus's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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Moving files from one partition to another on an SSD

If a drive doesn't know about partitions and files systems why moving a file from one partition to another takes relatively long time, unlike the instantaneous move on the same partition? Is that file ...
Vitaly's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
12k views

CentOS 7 Linux resize filesystem after partition resize

I am running CentOS 7 on a HyperV virtual server. I recently increased the size of the hard disk from 32GB to 64GB and used GParted Live to extend the partition, which seems to have worked as shown ...
Pandy Legend's user avatar
3 votes
9 answers
16k views

Will you install software on the same partition as Windows system?

I was wondering if you always install software on the same partition as Windows 7 system? What kinds of software do you install on the same partition as Windows system? What kinds of software you ...
Tim's user avatar
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3 votes
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Cannot shrink C: Partition beyond 297 MB

What I am trying to accomplish is to shrink my C drive by 50 GB and make that 50 GB into a new partition to install windows 8 on. In Disk Management it shows I have Disk 0 with 4 partitions : ...
ez4nick's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
9k views

How can I access a Linux partition from Windows?

I'd like to be able to access my Linux /home partition from within Windows on a dual-boot machine. Since the partition is formatted for XFS, I can't use explore2fs. What other ways might I be able ...
Kaleb Pederson's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
87k views

How do I install Windows 7 32-bit on a UEFI-based system?

I own Acer M5 recently and it comes with 64-bit Windows 8. I need it to run Windows 7 x86. I changed the BIOS setting to boot under Legacy BOOT instead of UEFI mode. I created my bootable USB using ...
CppLearner's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is exFAT less efficient at utilising disk space than HFS+?

I'm using rsync to copy all files from one 3TB external disk formatted as HFS+ to another 3TB external disk formatted as exFAT. I've double checked both disks are exactly the same size and formatted ...
Tim MB's user avatar
  • 125
2 votes
0 answers
3k views

Recover or recreate partition after "diskpart clean"

I have a 128 GB SSD (C:) and 1TB HDD (D:) in my computer. Windows 7 was installed onto SSD drive but HDD drive -formatted probably as NTFS- had the boot loader, so in order to fix that, I made the big ...
Ertugrul's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Linux installation won't boot due to GRUB "no such device" error

I think I've exhausted all I know to do, so I'm sending up the flares. I'll try to cover it all (albeit, in pieces), so please be patient. I decided to install Linux Mint 11 where I previously had ...
nshew13's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
12k views

Can't extend partition to use free space

On my Windows 10 drive I have the following partitions How can I extend the C partition so that it uses the (Extended) "Free space" partition? The extend option is greyed out when right clicking the ...
Oskar Persson's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
722 views

Meaning of hard disk drive software partitions?

I would like to know What is the exact meaning of primary partitions? Why it is named so? and why it is restricted to 4? What is meant by extended partitions? Why it is named so? and what is the ...
Renjith G's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
797 views

Data recovery on working hard drive [closed]

So I have a 5 bay hot swap SATA enclosure that's connected to a Silicon Image-based SATA adapter in a computer. It's running XP Pro. There are two 1.5TB hard drives in slots 1 and 2 respectively, set ...
emgee's user avatar
  • 4,597
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is it safe to delete the recovery partition?

I am trying to grow my C: drive to use the unallocated space on Disk 0. Is it safe to throw away the Recovery Partition (i.e. make it unallocated)? And if so, is GParted an ok tool to do that with? Or ...
David Thielen's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
21k views

System Reserved partition no longer marked as System

I recently posted a question to Super User about accidentally marking my external HDD's partition as Active and how I could undo my accidental mistake. I followed the instructions provided and they ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 950
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Recover files from formatted partition

My external HDD suddenly decided that it doesn't want to mount one of the partitions anymore. When trying to open under Windows, I got "corrupted partition. Can't open" type of error. So I just ...
Milkncookiez's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
15k views

How can I add a new partition to my HD without reformatting?

I have a 640GB external HD that has one partition formatted as HFS+. It's attached to a machine running OSX 10.6.6. Now I want to split some of the HD's free space into a new FAT32 partition, without ...
Bart's user avatar
  • 125
1 vote
1 answer
6k views

Make 3TB hard drive appear as two (2TiB+750GiB) with MBR

Some manufacturers of external hard drives with capacity exceeding MBR partition capacity seem to sell them pre-partitioned to a 2TiB partition and one with the remaining capacity. Tools are ...
arne.b's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Not able to partition C:\ Drive as per needs in Windows 7

I am trying to partition my c drive into 2 drives. My c drive has 412 GB free of 450 GB. I wish to participate as 30 GB: 382 GB. But when i try to shrink volume (by going through My Computer --> ...
xorpower's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
468 views

GParted: Cannot expand the partition

I am not able to expand my Ubuntu partition even though I have unalloacted space adjacent to it. Can someone help me please?
Sathish Kumar Reddy's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
782 views

How to partition single drive without losing data in it for Windows 7

I did not partition my hard disk at starting. Now i want make a partition for it, can you suggest to me a better way to do it without losing the data in it?
BHARATH KUMAR's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Why do I already have 4 primary partitions, and which one (if any) can I change to logical?

I have a brand new computer and I was about to put a new partition on, and somehow, there are already 4 primary partitions. The first is called system, then C:\, then the recovery drive, and then one ...
Sean's user avatar
  • 496
1 vote
3 answers
2k views

Recover files from deleted partition

Somehow one of my partitions disappeared (I didn't even have the disk manager open, so I'm really not sure how that happened). The volume was simply deleted. It was an NTFS partition, created under XP ...
ssube's user avatar
  • 920
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Repair Windows 8.1 UEFI booting messed up by Easus Partition Manager? Error Code: 0xc0000225

Laptop Toshiba Satellite (Model will post but not super critical as the info posted below). Pre-Installed OS: Windows 8.1 Bing as C: Drive Default booting is/ was UEFI Wanted to create another ...
Alex S's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
17k views

How to extend partition size in linux(ubuntu 9.04)?

I am using Ubuntu 9.04 in vmware for my programming purpose. I previously had 12GB of virtual harddisk, my partition scheme was as follows, 8GB Primary Partition for (/) 2GB logical extended ...
SunnyShah's user avatar
  • 247
0 votes
2 answers
248 views

Is there a version of Windows OS that will allow a bootable disc beyond 2 TB capacity?

I have a shiny new 5TB WD Black and was hoping to use it as the OS System disc and for a fair number of audio production programs, Workstations, samplers, synthesizers and such. Moving from a 2TB. The ...
Daniel Boyd's user avatar
90 votes
2 answers
344k views

Creating ext4 partition from console

I have a volume /dev/sda1 (1.2 TB) containing an NTFS partition using 0.6 TB space. I want to make an ext4 partition in the remaining 0.6 TB space. I have not tried anything yet because I don't want ...
Daniel W.'s user avatar
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33 votes
4 answers
62k views

What is the absolute minimum size a UEFI system partition can be?

Suppose I have a flash drive, and I want it to be bootable. Suppose I also have a basic EFI file which will accomplish something. So, what is the minimum size the ESP can be? I've read that it's 100MB,...
MazeOfEncryption's user avatar
31 votes
2 answers
35k views

Why does Windows 10 use a separate 100MB partition for UEFI since with UEFI it can read in the filesystem in C:\Windows\System32\winload.efi?

What I've read from UEFI so far is that it has features that BIOS didn't have: it can look in the filesystem and find the boot loader there. Then, since the UEFI boot system can read directly C:\...
Basj's user avatar
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30 votes
3 answers
4k views

Windows reverting changes made by Linux to FAT32 partition

I have a laptop with dual-boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint 19 Tara installed to the internal M.2 SSD. Apart from all the OS-specific partitions, I have a 4 GB FAT32 partition on that SSD that I intended ...
Poohl's user avatar
  • 403
29 votes
6 answers
68k views

Should the pagefile be placed on the SSD or the HDD?

I have read quite a bit about the placement of page files lately (researching my question) and have not found an answer specific to my question, so hopefully someone here can help. New system being ...
Garry's user avatar
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