1.9 Partitioning & Formatting

Disk partition

Separates disk drive into separate logical pieces

• Keeps data separated and organized

• Can install Windows on one partition, Linux on another, etc. (multi-boot)

Volumes

Formatted partitions

• Partitions and volumes are essentially the same thing

GPT (GUID Partition Table)

• Newest type of partition

• When you partition, it’s given a Globally Unique Identifier no other partition in the world has

• Requires UEFI

  • 128 partition max

  • Max partition size is 9 billion TB

  • Windows max partition is 256 TB

MBR (Master Boot Record)

• Old type of partition (replaced by GPT)

• Max partition size is 2TB

• 2 types of MBR partition: primary and extended

Primary partition

A type of MBR partition

• Bootable

• Only 4 primary partitions per disk

• Only 1 can be booted from

Extended partition

A type of MBR partition

• Can make more partitions

• NOT bootable

MBR vs. GPT

• MBR is compatible with legacy/older OS’

• GPT is recommended for better compatibility/support for modern features

Formatting disks

Once you make a partition, puts file system on that partition

• All previous data is WIPED… BEWARE!

  • 2 types: quick and full format

Full format

A type of disk formatting

• Use diskpart command

• Overwrites all existing data on drive

• Uses FAT32 (quicker, less features)

Quick format

A type of disk formatting

• Doesn’t delete or overwrite existing data

• Uses NTFS (slower, more features)