338:
31:
463:(MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 9x) were used. This compression was done by creating a very large file on the partition, then storing the disk's data in this file. At startup, device drivers opened this file and assigned it a separate letter. Frequently, to avoid confusion, the original partition and the compressed drive had their letters swapped, so that the compressed disk is C:, and the uncompressed area (often containing system files) is given a higher name.
65:
to create, resize, delete, and manipulate the partitions. Partitioning allows the use of different filesystems to be installed for different kinds of files. Separating user data from system data can prevent the system partition from becoming full and rendering the system unusable. Partitioning can
430:
file systems and recreate a partition table which includes entries for these recovered file systems. Some disk utilities may overwrite a number of beginning sectors of a partition they delete. For example, if
Windows Disk Management (Windows 2000/XP, etc.) is used to delete a partition, it will
56:
is created. The disk stores the information about the partitions' locations and sizes in an area known as the partition table that the operating system reads before any other part of the disk. Each partition then appears to the operating system as a distinct "logical" disk that uses part of the
158:
that may or may not be visible as drives, such as recovery partitions or partitions with diagnostic tools or data. (Windows drive letters do not correspond to partitions in a one-to-one fashion, so there may be more or fewer drive letters than partitions.)
357:
Multi-boot systems are computers where the user can boot into more than one distinct operating system (OS) stored in separate storage devices or in separate partitions of the same storage device. In such systems a menu at
52:, so that each region can be managed separately. These regions are called partitions. It is typically the first step of preparing a newly installed disk after a partitioning scheme is chosen for the new disk before any
1073:
369:, in which one operating system is run as a self-contained virtual "program" within another already-running operating system. (An example is a Windows OS "virtual machine" running from within a Linux OS.)
698:
file systems have made use of a number of partition type codes due to the limits of various DOS and
Windows OS versions. Though a Linux operating system may recognize a number of different file systems
66:
also make backing up easier. A disadvantage is that it can be difficult to properly size partitions, resulting in having one partition with too much free space and another nearly totally allocated.
1163:
1043:
1303:
182:' program which allows for the creation, deletion and resizing of FAT and NTFS partitions. The Windows Disk Manager in Windows Vista and Windows 7 utilizes a
739:
An HDD may contain only one extended partition, but that extended partition can be subdivided into multiple logical partitions. DOS/Windows systems may then
422:
When a partition is deleted, its entry is removed from a table and the data is no longer accessible. The data remains on the disk until it is overwritten.
1066:
1155:
960:
1055:
is "A discrete portion of a disk, configured during installation." Under SunOS 4.l.x and System V Release 3, slices were referred to as partitions.
858:
605:. Most are used by an operating system's bootloader (that examines partition tables) to decide if a partition contains a file system that can be
82:
to describe dividing a block storage device such as an HDD into physical segments. The term's usage is now ubiquitous. Other terms used include
150:
that will contain the operating system, the page/swap file, all utilities, applications, and user data. On most
Windows consumer computers, the
1129:
639:
to be the first partition. All
Windows operating systems from Windows 95 onwards can be located on (almost) any partition, but the boot files (
926:
1450:
278:
Keeping user data such as documents separate from system files allows the system to be updated with lessened risk of disturbing the data.
1262:
1036:
1430:
1468:
1295:
1104:
282:
A common minimal configuration for Linux systems is to use three partitions: one holding the system files mounted on "/" (the
1338:
403:
17:
486:
is a table maintained on a disk by the operating system that outlines and describes the partitions on that disk. The terms
431:
overwrite the first sector (relative sector 0) of the partition before removing it. It still may be possible to restore a
756:
766:
BIOS boot partition (BIOS BP) is a share of the storage device used to keep software that boots the operating system, a
1505:
805:
474:, contain intrinsic disk compression capability. The use of separate disk compression utilities has declined sharply.
1205:
905:
414:. Many operating systems now support this standard. However, Windows does not support this on BIOS based computers.
275:
A runaway program that uses up all available space on a non-system filesystem does not fill up critical filesystems.
257:
If one file system gets corrupted, the data outside that filesystem/partition may stay intact, minimizing data loss.
1410:
1367:
187:
1515:
831:
810:
49:
506:, but it may be used generically to refer to other formats that divide a disk drive into partitions, such as:
1381:
933:
800:
677:
568:
The total data storage space of a PC HDD on which MBR partitioning is implemented can contain at most four
561:(GPT) partitioning scheme instead. For examples of other partitioning schemes, see the general article on
1510:
956:
447:
HDDs can be compressed to create additional space. In DOS and early
Microsoft Windows, programs such as
852:
1500:
770:. It may be an operating system kernel image or bootloader or a completely separate piece of software.
388:
219:
1241:
747:(GPT) only has the primary partition, doesn't have the extended partition and the logical partition.
346:
222:, it is possible to use multiple partitions on a disk device. Each partition can be formatted with a
1096:
950:
582:, located in the master boot record, contains 16-byte entries, each of which describes a partition.
1495:
183:
1193:
740:
494:
are similar terms and can be used interchangeably. The term is most commonly associated with the
265:
151:
589:
is identified by a 1-byte code found in its partition table entry. Some of these codes (such as
1460:
1393:
1197:
790:
1402:
1270:
895:
432:
778:
744:
734:
659:) may also impose specific requirements as to which partition must contain the primary OS.
602:
558:
507:
378:
320:
179:
58:
973:
A minidisk is only part of a physical disk but appears to be a separate disk to the guest.
293:
By default, macOS systems also use a single partition for the entire filesystem and use a
62:
8:
1434:
821:
511:
495:
1235:
1188:
Essential System
Administration: Tools and Techniques for Linux and Unix Administration
1186:
815:
717:
682:
668:
666:
for a primary partition can either correspond to a file system contained within (e.g.,
597:
591:
538:
499:
312:
154:
C: is routinely assigned to this primary partition. Other partitions may exist on the
1375:
1344:
1334:
1201:
1121:
901:
628:
546:
503:
467:
337:
139:
651:, etc.) must reside on a primary partition. However, other factors, such as a PC's
27:
Creation of separate accessible storage areas on a secondary computer storage device
1113:
636:
448:
113:
One of the earliest such segmentation of a disk drive was IBM's 1966 usage in its
1389:
795:
407:
366:
253:
to be allocated their own filesystems. Such a scheme has a number of advantages:
155:
362:
gives a choice of which OS to boot/start (and only one OS at a time is loaded).
1031:
1002:
990:
722:
656:
618:
532:
304:. This is a conceptual reference to the slicing of a cake into several pieces.
287:
283:
227:
1282:(NB. The Solaris documentation on disklabels uses the term "partition table".)
1489:
1348:
1125:
554:
515:
350:
316:
171:
163:
30:
1328:
680:
file system) or indicate that the partition has a special use (e.g., code
190:
with
Windows 2000, XP, OS/2, DOS as well as many other operating systems.
1365:
1333:. Debra Littlejohn Shinder (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Syngress Pub.
456:
261:
223:
147:
53:
1414:
1117:
75:
1081:- for Apple II installations allows division of a hard disk drive into
781:
is the same as BIOS BP, but is loaded by EFI firmware instead of BIOS.
767:
715:, etc.), they have all consistently used the same partition type code:
471:
460:
423:
332:
167:
1455:
996:
632:
452:
411:
294:
203:
175:
297:
inside the file system (like
Windows) rather than a swap partition.
1249:
1229:
1006:
712:
342:
286:), one holding user configuration files and data mounted on /home (
146:, a common practice is to use one primary partition for the active
557:
computer systems. As of the mid-2010s, most new computers use the
359:
308:
34:
269:
1245:
921:
695:
691:
550:
211:
207:
114:
1366:
Stéphane
Martineau; Jens Olsson; Nick Roberts (2002-11-02).
957:"Virtualization's Past Helps Explain Its Current Importance"
826:
708:
704:
700:
673:
652:
436:
199:
143:
624:
542:
215:
135:
1368:"The Alt-OS-Development Partition Specification (AODPS)"
470:
using the NT kernel, including the most recent version,
323:
partitions are referred to as "partition" worldwide.
1388:
1224:
utility for Apple
Partition Maps is described as an
572:, or alternatively three primary partitions and an
541:(MBR) partitioning scheme, as used historically in
1185:
1153:
623:A primary partition contains one file system. In
315:partitions, to avoid confusion with FreeBSD's own
897:How Linux Works: What Every SuperUser Should Know
1487:
1370:. 0.4. Archived from the original on 2004-02-13.
439:partition if a backup boot sector is available.
264:can be mounted with different parameters, e.g.,
1469:"What are system partition and boot partition?"
1400:
1296:"What are system partition and boot partition?"
37:is a popular utility used for disk partitioning
1097:"The Origin of the VM/370 Time-Sharing System"
993:man page for the RP-11/RP03 device and driver
300:In Solaris, partitions are sometimes known as
233:Multiple partitions allow directories such as
1067:"Constellation II Generation Guide, Apple II"
601:) may be used to indicate the presence of an
1094:
349:Linux (with three different boot modes) and
121:as a separate segment of a hard disk drive.
1214:
1177:
1431:"ATA (EIDE) Drive Capacity and Addressing"
78:was an early if not first use of the term
48:is the creation of one or more regions on
1448:
129:
1009:- speaks of the disk being divided into
336:
250:
234:
29:
1428:
1403:"Minimal Partition Table Specification"
1394:"List of partition identifiers for PCs"
1255:
1105:IBM Journal of Research and Development
854:Oracle Solaris 11 System Administration
850:
773:
574:
372:
124:
14:
1488:
1183:
1156:"BIOS/MBR-based hard drive partitions"
1037:"Solaris 2.2 Basic Installation Guide"
985:
983:
981:
954:
945:
943:
761:
406:(UEFI) standard for the layout of the
246:
242:
238:
1326:
1322:
1320:
1290:
1288:
1267:System Administration Guide, Volume 1
1088:
963:from the original on December 4, 2021
728:
521:
417:
404:Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
326:
319:-based partitioning scheme. However,
1413:. Ranish. 1998-08-05. Archived from
893:
878:
612:
562:
193:
1058:
1024:
978:
940:
914:
757:System partition and boot partition
442:
24:
1359:
1317:
1285:
1135:from the original on March 7, 2022
806:List of disk partitioning software
750:
477:
25:
1527:
818:covers the partition table layout
1079:from the original on 2022-02-12.
1051:- says in a glossary entry that
1049:from the original on 2022-04-04.
955:Rogers, Bob (February 6, 2017).
307:The term "slice" is used in the
1306:from the original on 2018-07-16
1166:from the original on 2021-07-25
1147:
1095:R. J. Creasy (September 1981).
900:. No Starch Press. p. 39.
861:from the original on 2016-03-07
1401:Andries Brouwer (1999-09-16).
887:
872:
844:
424:Specialized recovery utilities
186:scheme which is fundamentally
13:
1:
936:. December 1983. AA-5826F-TC.
934:Digital Equipment Corporation
837:
801:Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
609:for reading or writing data.
311:operating system to refer to
1226:Apple partition table editor
927:"RT-11 System Release Notes"
741:assign a unique drive letter
657:Boot sequence on standard PC
635:required what it called the
7:
784:
743:to each logical partition.
537:This section describes the
268:, or with the execution of
74:IBM in its 1983 release of
10:
1532:
754:
732:
686:usually indicates a Linux
627:and all early versions of
616:
530:
376:
330:
206:operating systems such as
69:
1506:DOS on IBM PC compatibles
1380:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
1034:2.2 installation guide -
367:virtual operating systems
290:), and a swap partition.
1449:Microsoft (2005-06-03).
1154:windows-driver-content.
1064:The 1980 Corvus Guide -
723:Linux native file system
184:1 MB partition alignment
1330:Scene of the cybercrime
1327:Cross, Michael (2008).
1184:Frisch, AEleen (2002).
61:use a program called a
1516:Utility software types
879:Levi, Bozidar (2002).
851:Calkins, Bill (2013).
791:Amiga rigid disk block
526:
426:may be able to locate
365:This is distinct from
354:
130:DOS, Windows, and OS/2
38:
1411:"partitioning primer"
733:Further information:
617:Further information:
459:(MS-DOS 6.0–6.2), or
451:(DR-DOS except 6.0),
345:startup menu showing
340:
59:System administrators
33:
18:Partition (computers)
1194:O'Reilly Media, Inc.
953:beginning 1966 see:
894:Ward, Brian (2004).
779:EFI system partition
774:EFI system partition
745:GUID partition table
735:Extended boot record
559:GUID Partition Table
508:GUID Partition Table
385:GUID Partition Table
379:GUID Partition Table
373:GUID Partition Table
321:GUID Partition Table
125:Partitioning schemes
117:operating system of
1263:"About Disk Labels"
1118:10.1147/rd.255.0483
881:UNIX Administration
822:Partition alignment
762:BIOS boot partition
662:The partition type
512:Apple partition map
496:MBR partition table
455:(DR DOS 6.0),
402:) is a part of the
1511:IBM PC compatibles
1451:"Using GPT Drives"
1160:docs.microsoft.com
816:Master boot record
729:Extended partition
607:mounted / accessed
603:extended partition
575:extended partition
570:primary partitions
553:(among others) on
539:master boot record
522:PC partition types
500:Master Boot Record
418:Partition recovery
355:
327:Multi-boot systems
313:Master Boot Record
76:PC DOS version 2.0
39:
1501:Disk file systems
1340:978-0-08-048699-4
1248:System Manager's
924:circa 1984, see:
629:Microsoft Windows
613:Primary partition
547:Microsoft Windows
194:Unix-like systems
140:Microsoft Windows
50:secondary storage
42:Disk partitioning
16:(Redirected from
1523:
1482:
1480:
1479:
1473:www.easyuefi.com
1464:
1459:. Archived from
1445:
1443:
1442:
1433:. Archived from
1425:
1423:
1422:
1406:
1397:
1385:
1379:
1371:
1353:
1352:
1324:
1315:
1314:
1312:
1311:
1300:www.easyuefi.com
1292:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1278:
1269:. Archived from
1259:
1253:
1239:
1238:
1228:in its pdisk(8)
1218:
1212:
1211:
1191:
1181:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1171:
1151:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1140:
1134:
1101:
1092:
1086:
1080:
1078:
1071:
1062:
1056:
1050:
1048:
1041:
1028:
1022:
1000:
999:
987:
976:
975:
970:
968:
947:
938:
937:
931:
918:
912:
911:
891:
885:
884:
876:
870:
869:
867:
866:
848:
720:
690:partition). The
685:
672:means either an
671:
650:
646:
642:
637:system partition
600:
594:
563:partition tables
443:Compressed disks
63:partition editor
21:
1531:
1530:
1526:
1525:
1524:
1522:
1521:
1520:
1496:Disk partitions
1486:
1485:
1477:
1475:
1467:
1440:
1438:
1420:
1418:
1409:
1390:Andries Brouwer
1373:
1372:
1362:
1360:Further reading
1357:
1356:
1341:
1325:
1318:
1309:
1307:
1294:
1293:
1286:
1276:
1274:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1234:
1233:
1219:
1215:
1208:
1182:
1178:
1169:
1167:
1152:
1148:
1138:
1136:
1132:
1099:
1093:
1089:
1076:
1069:
1065:
1063:
1059:
1046:
1039:
1035:
1029:
1025:
995:
994:
988:
979:
966:
964:
959:. TechChannel.
949:As used in IBM
948:
941:
929:
925:
920:As used by DEC
919:
915:
908:
892:
888:
877:
873:
864:
862:
849:
845:
840:
796:Disk formatting
787:
776:
764:
759:
753:
751:Boot partitions
737:
731:
716:
681:
667:
648:
644:
640:
621:
615:
596:
590:
580:Partition Table
535:
529:
524:
488:partition table
484:partition table
480:
478:Partition table
445:
420:
408:partition table
381:
375:
335:
329:
272:files disabled.
196:
180:Disk Management
132:
127:
72:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1529:
1519:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1498:
1484:
1483:
1465:
1463:on 2005-07-06.
1446:
1426:
1407:
1398:
1386:
1361:
1358:
1355:
1354:
1339:
1316:
1284:
1254:
1213:
1206:
1176:
1146:
1112:(5): 483–490.
1087:
1083:virtual drives
1057:
1023:
1003:Version 6 Unix
991:Version 6 Unix
977:
939:
913:
906:
886:
871:
842:
841:
839:
836:
835:
834:
829:
824:
819:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
786:
783:
775:
772:
763:
760:
752:
749:
730:
727:
619:Partition type
614:
611:
587:partition type
533:Partition type
528:
525:
523:
520:
479:
476:
444:
441:
419:
416:
410:on a physical
377:Main article:
374:
371:
331:Main article:
328:
325:
288:home directory
284:root directory
280:
279:
276:
273:
258:
228:swap partition
195:
192:
131:
128:
126:
123:
71:
68:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1528:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1491:
1474:
1470:
1466:
1462:
1458:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1437:on 2006-02-08
1436:
1432:
1429:Allen Smith.
1427:
1417:on 2004-08-04
1416:
1412:
1408:
1404:
1399:
1395:
1392:(1995–2004).
1391:
1387:
1383:
1377:
1369:
1364:
1363:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1336:
1332:
1331:
1323:
1321:
1305:
1301:
1297:
1291:
1289:
1273:on 2007-02-28
1272:
1268:
1264:
1258:
1251:
1247:
1243:
1240: –
1237:
1231:
1227:
1223:
1217:
1209:
1207:9780596004491
1203:
1199:
1195:
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1189:
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1123:
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1115:
1111:
1107:
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1098:
1091:
1084:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1054:
1045:
1038:
1033:
1027:
1020:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1005:Programmer's
1004:
1001: –
998:
992:
986:
984:
982:
974:
962:
958:
952:
946:
944:
935:
928:
923:
917:
909:
907:9781593270353
903:
899:
898:
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828:
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583:
581:
577:
576:
571:
566:
564:
560:
556:
555:PC-compatible
552:
548:
544:
540:
534:
519:
517:
516:BSD disklabel
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
492:partition map
489:
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351:Windows Vista
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111:
109:
108:virtual drive
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
77:
67:
64:
60:
57:actual disk.
55:
51:
47:
43:
36:
32:
19:
1476:. Retrieved
1472:
1461:the original
1454:
1439:. Retrieved
1435:the original
1419:. Retrieved
1415:the original
1329:
1308:. Retrieved
1299:
1275:. Retrieved
1271:the original
1266:
1257:
1225:
1221:
1216:
1187:
1179:
1168:. Retrieved
1159:
1149:
1139:February 10,
1137:. Retrieved
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1103:
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676:or an OS/2
457:DoubleSpace
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148:file system
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1490:Categories
1478:2021-12-07
1441:2005-10-15
1421:2004-08-15
1310:2021-12-07
1277:2010-04-03
1170:2021-12-06
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838:References
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531:See also:
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472:Windows 10
461:DriveSpace
333:Multi-boot
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1456:Microsoft
1349:272383168
1126:0018-8646
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1164:Archived
1130:Archived
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713:ReiserFS
400:entifier
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226:or as a
119:minidisk
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1032:Solaris
645:bootmgr
510:(GPT),
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270:setuid
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1133:(PDF)
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