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| Either four primary partitions or three primary partitions and one extended partition are allowed on most consumer-level hard drives. The extended partition can then be divided into any number number of logical partitions. | Most consumer-level hard drives currently allow either four primary partitions or three primary partitions and one extended partition. An extended partition can then be divided into any number number of logical partitions. |
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| Each Windows installation will need to be installed on a primary partition, and Windows systems often assign a drive letter to each partition. | Each Windows installation will need to be installed on a primary partition. Windows systems commonly assign a drive letter to each individual Windows partition. |
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| Linux operating systems need a minimum of two partitions: one for the OS and data files and one for a Linyux-swap area (to which data to and from RAM memory will be swapped). | Linux operating systems need a minimum of two partitions: one for the OS itself (and data files) and one for a Linux-swap area (to be used as a temporary swap buffer for RAM memory). |
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| However, it is better to create logical partitions (within an extended partition) in which to install Linux (including Ubuntu/Kubuntu) operating systems. In this manner, as many partitions can be created as is desired. Multiple operating systems and data can then be more easily compartmentalized within different partitions, if you choose. (A swap partition can also be located on a logical partition.) | While these two partitions can be primary partitions, more flexibility is afforded when logical partitions (within the extended partition) are used. In this manner, as many partitions can be created as is desired. Multiple (Ubuntu Linux and Mac) operating systems can be installed, each in its own partition, and data can also be more easily compartmentalized when it is placed within individually separate logical partitions. (The swap partition can also be located on a logical partition.) |
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| = Use Gparted = | = Use Gparted to create/manage partitions = |
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| The most versatile partitioning scheme allows for both Windows and Linux (and/or Mac) operating systems: | This most versatile partitioning scheme allows for both Windows and Linux (and/or Mac) operating systems: |
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| * Divide the extended partition into logical partitions: | * Divide the extended partition into multiple logical partitions: |
Partition design
Most consumer-level hard drives currently allow either four primary partitions or three primary partitions and one extended partition. An extended partition can then be divided into any number number of logical partitions.
Each Windows installation will need to be installed on a primary partition. Windows systems commonly assign a drive letter to each individual Windows partition.
Linux operating systems need a minimum of two partitions: one for the OS itself (and data files) and one for a Linux-swap area (to be used as a temporary swap buffer for RAM memory).
While these two partitions can be primary partitions, more flexibility is afforded when logical partitions (within the extended partition) are used. In this manner, as many partitions can be created as is desired. Multiple (Ubuntu Linux and Mac) operating systems can be installed, each in its own partition, and data can also be more easily compartmentalized when it is placed within individually separate logical partitions. (The swap partition can also be located on a logical partition.)
Use Gparted to create/manage partitions
The easiest way to do this is to use the GParted Live CD as a partition manager, or the GPartEd utility on the Ubuntu LiveCD.
Example Partitioning Scheme
This most versatile partitioning scheme allows for both Windows and Linux (and/or Mac) operating systems:
- one primary partition for each Windows OS
- an extra small primary partition (which can be resized later, in case it is needed). If there is a Windows recovery partition already installed, leave it alone (as the second partition).
- one primary partition for the small boot partition (for storing a set of GRUB bootloader files)
- an extended partition for the Linux (or Mac) OSs (must be the last partition on the hard drive)
Here is an example partitioning scheme:
- the Windows partition 20 - 30 Gb -- filesystem type NTFS (or can even be FAT32) and with the boot flag checked
- an "extra" partition 2 Gb -- can be formatted as ext3, ext4, or FAT32. If this already exists as a Windows recovery partition, leave it unchanged.
- a GRUB boot partition 100 Mb -- formatted to filesystem type ext3
- the extended partition is the remainder
- (At the end of the hard drive a few Gb of free space can be left (to allow for extra logical partition needs that were not foreseen. This can't be done unless the extended partition is the last partition.)
- Divide the extended partition into multiple logical partitions:
- a /swap logical partition that is 2 Gb -- filesystem type linux-swap
- a logical partition for the / (root) folder of each planned Linux (or Mac) OS (at least 10 Gb each, but 20-50 Gb is better) -- formatted as ext3 (or ext4 if you are planning to use a newer Linux OS)
- optionally, a logical partition for each planned specific use, such as a groupware partition (Kolab, for example). Often, 20 Gb data partitions formatted as an ext3 filesystem is suitable, since many specific programs (like Kolab) will be comfortable with ext3 filesystems. Many users often also create a separate partition for the /home directory (so that all personal data files are stored in a partition separate from the operating system).
Other resources
This page was originally adapted from Ubuntuguide -- Multiple OS Installation.