Only 3 Primary Partitions, Disk Management windows 7 and 8

doctortonic

New Member
Messages
11
Hello to all!

Why windows 7 and windows 8 introduced a limitation when using Disk Management, and is NOT possible to create more than 3 Primary Partitions?

However, using DiskPart from command line it is VERY possible, no warnings or notices.



Code:
 C:\Windows\system32>diskpart
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.3.9600
Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: PAINKILLER
DISKPART> list
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.3.9600
DISK        - Display a list of disks. For example, LIST DISK.
PARTITION   - Display a list of partitions on the selected disk.
              For example, LIST PARTITION.
VOLUME      - Display a list of volumes. For example, LIST VOLUME.
VDISK       - Displays a list of virtual disks.
DISKPART> list disk
  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          931 GB      0 B
  Disk 1    Online         3818 MB      0 B
  Disk 2    Online          149 GB   107 GB
DISKPART> select disk 2
Disk 2 is now the selected disk.
DISKPART> clean
DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk.
DISKPART> create partition primary size=30000
DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
DISKPART> create partition primary size=35000
DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
DISKPART> create partition primary size=50000
DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
DISKPART> create partition primary
DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
DISKPART> list volume
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1                      NTFS   Partition    350 MB  Healthy    System
  Volume 2     C                NTFS   Partition     25 GB  Healthy    Boot
  Volume 3     D                NTFS   Partition    906 GB  Healthy
  Volume 4     F                NTFS   Removable   3817 MB  Healthy
  Volume 5                      RAW    Partition     29 GB  Healthy
  Volume 6                      RAW    Partition     34 GB  Healthy
  Volume 7                      RAW    Partition     48 GB  Healthy
* Volume 8                      RAW    Partition     36 GB  Healthy
DISKPART> exit
Leaving DiskPart...
C:\Windows\system32>


As far as I know, there is a maximum of 4 Primary partitions on a hardisk, or 3 primary and one extended, and IN the extended partitions more that 4 logical drivers.

However, from any disk utility like the old, deprecated, and buggy Partition Magic, acronis disk partition utility, gparted Linux, parted, cfdisk, fdisk, or even on the older Windows like Xp, nt, 2000, 98, me, ms-dos, freedos, I WAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE 4 PRIMARY PARTITIONS, but with the new WINDOWS 7 and the new WINDOWS 8, it appears this limitation of only 3 PRIMARY PARTITIONS instead of 4. Don't know about Vista as I have skipped that version of windows on every PC that I have build or worked.

What has changed?

Is this a BUG?

Or is working like this because of some hidden reason which I can't figure out by myself what could It be, and the only thing that I can observe is that while technology is evolving (hardware and software), we have limitations like this, to create only 3 primary instead of 4 primary while using Disk Management from administrative tools or right clicking on the computer and "manage" console.
Personally I am a little irritated/annoyed that now the disk management is having "handicap" and I can NOT find a serious reason for this idiocratic limitation. As we are "evolving" the normal path It would be more normal to be able to use more that 4 primary on a hardisk, from my point of view, not limiting to ONLY 3 Primary.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 && 8 / 32 && 64 Bit
Maybe there already are 4 primary partitions and you're thinking only 3?

Let's see a Disk Management screenshot, if interested in posting one.

I recommend latest Acronis Disk Director to manage partitions. Others on here seem to like Easus products.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
1) I will try to make a video screen capture of the screen with Disk Management as it will be more conclusive if you people don't belive me that using DiskManagement from Win7 && Win8 after making 3 primary partitions will make automatically the 4 partition logical/extended. I already tested this on 3 different hdd after wiping them off, (150 gb notebook, 320 gb sata, 1 tb sata).

2) I am very curious if this limitation is due:
- A Bug in Disk Management for Windows 8 and 7

or

- due a very known/unknown/solid/hidden/etc reason.

What happened with Disk Management? Why on XP works to make 4 primary and on the newer Windows don't (it makes automatically an extended one.) Did some coder/tester forgot something or this limitation comes by the default design? If so, why the new design is to assing only 3 instead of 4?


3) Thank you for suggestion but I don't need an alternative or third party tool to make 4 primary on my hardisk and I am aware that I can use third party utiliy like Acronis, Easus, fdisk, gparted.
I am an experienced user, I used over the years, a lot of operating systems from the older ms-dos with dos commander and games like Prince, Maze, commodore 64, with basic from the tape etc. to unix-es, linux, freebsd, haiku, beos, os/2, mac, win95,me,2000,nt,xp,win7,win8). I guess that I have skipped only Vista and android,symbian,windows mobile.

So, I can make the 4 primary in windows 8 and 7 from the command line with DiskPart, or a third pary software BUT NOT with with disk management. WHY?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 && 8 / 32 && 64 Bit

What happened with Disk Management? Why on XP works to make 4 primary and on the newer Windows don't (it makes automatically an extended one.) Did some coder/tester forgot something or this limitation comes by the default design? If so, why the new design is to assing only 3 instead of 4?

If you would have posted the Disk Management screen like I suggested, you'd have the answer.

When you install Windows 7 or Windows 8, the installer makes what is known as the system partition which keeps the boot loader files. It also makes the boot partition, with Windows (a.k.a. %systemroot%), programs and user folders.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Dude... no... You are getting it wrong, :( It doesn't matter if you are partitioning the internal hardisk on which resides the operating system or the external, or secondary internal hardisk. I am not talking about the boot partition here... For example, the secondary internal or external hardis dose NOT need an BOOT partition with files for booting.

I am trying right now to make a printscreen movie capture here to show you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 && 8 / 32 && 64 Bit
I dunno.

A few ideas are motherboard bios update might help, installing the proprietary driver for the storage might help

and

if you freeze the video at say 7:50, you can see that all the partitions you just made say "formatting" still.

What happens if you reboot the machine before making that 4th partition? Any changes?

You could also try making partitions with no format at all, until they are all made first.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
I created 3 primary partitions, with no file system format on them, and no letter assigned.
After this step, I rebooted, and I did the 4 partition in the end of the hdd where the space was unallocated.
The result was to end again in an Extended (logical) partition, not in a primary one.

These days I Will try this on another computer (a friend computer), which has more powerful configuration in his gaming-workstation desktop pc. with windows 7 sp1.
But I assume the same thing will happen. There is a limitation or bug in disk Management.


PostScriptum: I like your Halo Avatar! Halo RULEZ ! :D
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 && 8 / 32 && 64 Bit
Haha thank you.

I think it's not a bug. If the Disk Management let you make 4 primary partitions, then you could never make any more partitions after (without deleting one).

It is by design what is happening I'm fairly sure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
All partition made in DM, all primary partitions with 3 OS.

Win8-7-XP-000001.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Interesting. So maybe it really is a bios or missing proprietary driver issue in the video above.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Hi,
Im totally new to forums and I'm sure I'm in the wrong thread but I need help...;.PLEASE

I used DISKPART to clean a partition, I've used DISKPART many times but I don't know what happened this time. I was going to reinstall win7 and as usual I selected the disk, next the partition (one of 4), followed by "clean", "active" and finally "assign". then whein I rebooted to install win7 there showed up only one huge partition, all previous 4 were gone. I've searched the net to find a solution to recover my lost partitions but haven't found an answer.

PLEASE help, a life time of pictures are in one of those lost partitions.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
So you refused to follow advice of a mod and then repost again in another topic....

The clean command erased the Master Boot Record on your HDD..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
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