Can Not Creat a Primary Partition to Install Windows 8 CP

fastmuzik

New Member
Messages
4
Read a few threads that are similar but not quite the same. See the image below. My HP Laptop (dv6) has 4 partitions, including: System (MBR) C: Windows 7, D: (Recovery) and Hp_Tools.
Disk0.jpg

Tried this quick guide Quick Guide to installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview in dual-boot - AfterDawn which worked perfectly on an old Windows 7 PC I have but, on this laptop . . .

First, used Windows Disk Manager to shrink C: then create a new volume of 50gig but, because I have 4 partitions, everything changed to DYNAMIC. Corrected that problem and, with the help of a Partition Assistant (Aomei?) was able to delete the HP recovery, expand the C: <save> then come back and shrink C: create an unallocated D: and save again. This time, D: became a Logical drive for some unknown reason. Finally, I restored the whole mess with the recovery ISO I had created. What's wrong with this picture? Why can't I create a Primary D: for the Windows 8 install like I was able to do on my older PC? Must I also delete the Hp_Tools Partition? Help if you can. Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows7 and 8 CP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD Quad Core
    Memory
    8Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GT430
You cannot only create no primary partition - you cannot create any partition without running into the dreaded dynamics. Here is how to solve it.

1 Download and burn the Partition Wizard bootable CD (last entry on the webpage).

2. Boot this CD and highlight your C partition. Then click on the "partition tab", go to Modify and click on "set partition as logical". Then you click on Apply (bottom left).

3. Now you can use Disk Management to create a simple logical partition to where you can install Windows8.

Note: since you have the 100MB active system partition, the OS partitions can be logical. All BCDs will be in the 100MB partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Thanks for that, Whs. I will try it. I thought I had read that a dual boot will not work on a Logical partition. Did I misunderstand that? At one point in this adventure, I had deleted the D: Recovery (because I have the System Repair and Image discs) and then added a partition which turned coulc only be Logical. What you're saying is, if both C: (Windows 7) and D: (Windows 8 CP) are Logical, then I will have a choice at boot up, right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows7 and 8 CP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD Quad Core
    Memory
    8Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GT430
Since you already deleted one partiton and created a logical partition, you can install into that one.

What you have read is not all wrong but does not apply to your case. If you want to install an OS on a blank disk, you should have a primary active partition. Your C partition will then be the active partition containing the bootmgr. But in your case, the bootmgr is into the 100MB active partition and the BCDs go into there.

There is no need for further action. The C partition can stay as is. Once you installed Win8, you will get a light blue screen where you can chose which OS to boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
What a chore this has been. For quite a few others, too, from what I read. In my case, My HP DV6 Laptop contained 4 partitions:
System, C: (Windows 7), D: (Restore),HP_Tools. All 4 Primary, apparently. When I tried to add a partition for Windows 8 the first time, the whole disk switched to DYNAMIC, which kinda freaked me out. So, I dumped the Recovery D: and tried again. This time, could only get a Logical Partition. Finally, I got rid of HP_Tools leaving me with just the System and C: and the rest was easy. Shrink C:, set the size, New Volume, etc, new Primary Partition ready. KEY: Can't have more than 4 Primary Partitions. Looking back, I probably made it more difficult than it was because it's new ground for me. Thanks for the help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows7 and 8 CP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD Quad Core
    Memory
    8Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GT430
You sure made it difficult. All you had to do was to make the C: partition into logical and then create a logical partition for your Win8 installation. But I think I told you all that. All you had to do is read.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Back
Top