Partition design

Most PC operating systems still work with an ancient disk partition scheme that historically makes distinction between primary and extended partitions. It also places a limitation for four primary partitions or three primary partitions and one extended partition. When present, an extended partition can then be divided into any number number of logical partitions.

However, many recent (since 2011) machines use a different and incompatible scheme known as "gpt" which allows many more primary partitions. Search these pages for UEFI to learn how to tell which scheme your system is using; applying techniques for one scheme to a system that uses the other will definitely lead to possibly serious problems.

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 one partition: one for the OS itself (and data files) and optionally one for a swap area (to be used as an extension for RAM memory) if preferred over a swap file.

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.

Examples

Basic Partitioning Scheme for a 2TB Desktop HDD

Partitioning Scheme for Multiple systems

This most versatile partitioning scheme allows for both Windows and Linux (and/or Mac) operating systems:

Here is an example partitioning scheme:

Partitioning Scheme for SSD

Other resources

PartitioningSchemes (last edited 2014-11-07 19:27:44 by 188-67-179-238)