Solved How to delete multiple partitions from Disk0

Hi,

I re-installed Windows 8 on an mSATA SSD drive and would like to use the regular 2TB drive for data. I accessed Disk Management and hoped to be able to delete all the Dell created partitions, however, I do not see such an option.

I've included a screenshot for your reference. I'm able to format the Data (D) drive, but cannot do anything with the other partitions.

Thank you in advance!

Win+X and click on Disk Management, right click on each partition and click on delete volume

Hi,

I tried this, but the only available option for those partitions is "Help." All others are either grayed out or not visible at all.

Hmm, are you using a GPT partitioned disc or have you created a 5th primary partition on an MBR partitioned disc? From memory I am thinking that the colour of your D: partition signifies that it's an SFS type partition, which isn't a good thing.

The partitions on this disk are all original from Dell.

I managed to solve this issue by rebooting and launching the Windows 8 Setup. I was able to delete each partition one by one through the Setup.

I'm still curious to know whether there was another way to delete those partitions though.

Thank you for the replies. You'll probably see more of me as I learn Windows 8!

I'm still curious to know whether there was another way to delete those partitions though.

Click to expand...

Yes there is, follow this tutorial:
Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command - Windows 7 Forums

It is possible that the partitions would not delete because you had an illegal partition table. It is also possible that any other partitioning tool but Windows' would not have recognised any partitions at all.
Did Dell really supply your pc with 5 partitions? I know they started using all 4 a couple of years ago but 5 is one too many.

Duckface said:

It is possible that the partitions would not delete because you had an illegal partition table. It is also possible that any other partitioning tool but Windows' would not have recognised any partitions at all.
Did Dell really supply your pc with 5 partitions? I know they started using all 4 a couple of years ago but 5 is one too many.

Click to expand...

On a HD Drive set to GPT mode, you can have up to 128 partitions

theog said:

Duckface said:

It is possible that the partitions would not delete because you had an illegal partition table. It is also possible that any other partitioning tool but Windows' would not have recognised any partitions at all.
Did Dell really supply your pc with 5 partitions? I know they started using all 4 a couple of years ago but 5 is one too many.

Click to expand...

On a HD Drive set to GPT mode, you can have up to 128 partitions

Click to expand...

Indeed. It's just that I've never seen a partition that colour before unless it was a 5th primary partition on a MBR disc.

The OP has a uEFI/BIOS firmware PC.



As the new MOBO's now have a uEFI BIOS.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI BIOS:

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums
or
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

For more info on uEFI:
Windows and GPT FAQ
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UEFI and Windows

The OP's screenshot shows a Dynamic Disk, not a GPT disk, unless I'm missing something.

The OP was deleting partitions in the wroug way.So the HD Drive convert to Dynamic.

A dynamic disk with only one dynamic volume I haven't seen before.