Partition(s)

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello y'all,

Over the next few days I am going to be asking several questions
about Partitions I created using these two excellent Tutorials.
One question at a time to make things easier.
Thank you all for putting up with me.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95398-disk-management-shrink-partition.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95418-disk-management-delete-extend.html

Here is a shot of what I've done so far.

View attachment 3578

Does a Logical drive function exactly the same as a Primary partition?
Now I am aware that one usually creates a Logical drive to create other Partitions from.
That's not the case here. I don't want to create more Partitions.
First, I just want to know if G: will function exactly the same as C: and E:?

Thanks to any and all who reply to these posts.


Later Ted

 

[sidewinder]

NTFS.com Primary Partition. Extended Partition. Logical Drives.

S-

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again,

Let me try again. I didn't get an answer I can use to my first question.

Does a Logical drive function exactly the same as a Primary partition?
Now I am aware that one usually creates a Logical drive to create other Partitions from.
That's not the case here. I don't want to create more Partitions.
First, I just want to know if G: will function exactly the same as C: and E:?
Will Programs and Applications function correctly from G:? ie: Avast, Spybot S&D, CCleaner.

Thanks again!


Later Ted

 

[sidewinder]

From the Microsoft knowledgebase:

Extended Partition
Extended partitions were developed in response to the need for more than four partitions per disk drive. An extended partition can itself contain multiple partitions and this extends the number of partitions possible on a single drive. An extended partition is a container for logical drives that are formatted and assigned drive letters. The introduction of extended partitions was driven by increasing capacities of new disk drives.

Logical Partition
Logical partitions are those partitions contained within an extended partition. In terms of use they are no different than a non-extended primary partition. The number of logical drives that may be created in extended partition is limited by the number of available drive letters and the amount of hard drive space available for creating drives.

From the Windows Help web site:

An extended partition is a way to get around a limit on the number of primary partitions a basic disk can have. An extended partition is a container that can hold one or more logical drives. Logical drives function like primary partitions except that they cannot be used to start an operating system.

S-

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thank you sidewinder. This answers the first question, now to reiterate the second.

Will Programs and Applications function correctly from G: as they do from C:?
ie: Avast, Spybot-S&D, CCleaner.

Thank you.


Later Ted

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Ted,

The answer to your question is that it depends on what the program is. Some programs, such as security programs which have to integrate in to the OS are best installed on the 'C:' drive whereas others could be installed onto either. Unfortunately, I haven't done any work on drive partitioning, so this is just a guess on my part. Perhaps someone could clarify as to whether my take on this is correct or not.
Dwarf

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thank you Dwarf,

I (we all) appreciate all you do around here!

I kind of thought as much, the reason I am asking is because I am planning on reinstalling Vista.
As I have pleasantly found out, when C: is reformatted it does not reformat the other partitions.
My intention was to add these other programs to G: after the reinstall if they would function correctly from there.
That way if I had to do a reinstall in the future I would not have to continually reload these programs.
I know one has to abide by the way things were designed to function or expect problems.
That is why I ask so many questions "before".
Thanks again for your assistance!

I would appreciate any further input from anyone else.
Thanks to all.


Later Ted

 

[sidewinder]

BFK,

You can lead a horse to water.....

Can this be any more clear??

"Logical drives function like primary partitions except that they cannot be used to start an operating system."

You can run anything from a logical drive in an extended partition. You just can't boot from a logical drive in the extended partition.

S-

 

[sidewinder]

Some programs, such as security programs which have to integrate in to the OS are best installed on the 'C:' drive whereas others could be installed onto either.

Dwarf,

Generally speaking, when installing programs, the components that need to be installed on the boot drive are installed on the boot drive. The interface that controls the program components can be installed on any normal Windows drive, including logical drives in extended partitions. In other words, there is no need to have the "Program Files" directory on the same partition or drive as the OS.

S-

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

BFK,

You can lead a horse to water.....

Can this be any more clear??

"Logical drives function like primary partitions except that they cannot be used to start an operating system."

You can run anything from a logical drive in an extended partition. You just can't boot from a logical drive in the extended partition.

S-

Thanks sidewinder,

Sometime it takes a while for things to sink in. You know how us horses a**es are!


Later Ted

 

[Chappy]

Hi BFK

Glad to see you finally got the info you needed on this. Once you start to understand partitions and how they can operate within the OS it becaomes rather rudimentary really, they're simply containers in most cases and the OS can store data and use them much like it uses folders within the OS partition.

One question I have based on what I see that you have named your partitions tho. Of course your Media drive is for storing your media outside of the OS in case the OS goes south right...but your Applications drive...are you doing this for the same reason, so you can have all your App's safe from a failed OS?
If so, you do remember that to reinstall these apps you have to have saved the original install.exe and not just the programs files right?
Just curious about this as I've seen many people get confused by this and end up having to d'load all their program installers again after a fatal OS crash, as they thought by simply saving the installed program's files on a different partition that they were safe.
So I just want to make sure that you're not gonna get caught like this since you asked if the OS can run programs from an outside drive.

Dave

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Chappy, I haven't seen you around for a while, and thanK you for the reply.

Maybe I'm being thick headed again. Are you saying that after an OS reinstall on C: that I will have to reinstall programs again if I originally installed them on "Applications G:" to start with? They will not work correctly after a reinstall on C: ? Thank you for all your help!

Hi BFK
One question I have based on what I see that you have named your partitions tho. Of course your Media drive is for storing your media outside of the OS in case the OS goes south right...but your Applications drive...are you doing this for the same reason, so you can have all your App's safe from a failed OS?
If so, you do remember that to reinstall these apps you have to have saved the original install.exe and not just the programs files right?
Just curious about this as I've seen many people get confused by this and end up having to d'load all their program installers again after a fatal OS crash, as they thought by simply saving the installed program's files on a different partition that they were safe.
So I just want to make sure that you're not gonna get caught like this since you asked if the OS can run programs from an outside drive.
Dave

Later Ted

 

[sidewinder]

Ted,

If you have reinstall the OS, no matter where you have the your applications installed, you will need to install them again too.

S-

P.S. How did you get "Vista Pro" status?????

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

The reason I ask is for future events. I haven't reinstalled yet. I want to know so when I do reinstall; If reinstalling all my programs on G: doesn't "save" then from a crash I won't bother. I'll just 'load them back on C:. Why find out the hard way when I can ask first.

Lol, don't ask me!

Ted,
How did you get "Vista Pro" status?????

Later Ted