Can I create an extended partition ?

As I know , a fresh Dell laptop have 4 partitions

* Partition 1 - Diagnostics Partition
* Partition 2 - Vista Partition
* Partition 3 - Media Direct Partition (only on systems produced from October, 2006 through the present)
* Partition 4 - Restore Partition (this will also be label as Partition 3 if a media direct partition is not available.)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=88032#partitions

I plan to create an extended partition without deleting or touching any of Dell Diagnostics , MD3 and Restore partitions.Do I able to create an extended partition by using vista 'Disk Management' -> 'Shrink Volume' ??

(Having 160GB HD , shrink to half) = Partition 2 C: Vista '60GB' , Partition 5 F: Extended Partition '80GB' ?
From extended partition I plan to create 2 logical volumes for installing ubuntu if possible and an extra storage whereby it looks like

* Partition 1 - Diagnostics Partition 47mb
* Partition 2 - Vista Partition 60GB
* Partition 3 - Media Direct Partition 2GB
* Partition 4 - Restore Partition 10GB
* Partition 5 - Ubuntu 10GB
* Partition 6 - Storage 70GB

Sorry , I am confuse with the vista partition works

 

bump - , any help ?

 

I don't think Vista's Disk Management feature will allow you to shrink a volume with an OS. You'll need to find some other software or do a clean format and set up the partitions before you install the OS.

 

A Windows PC is generally limited to 4 partitions. The exception to that rule is to create an extended partition as one of those four slots. This extended partition can hold multiple partitions within it.

What you propose to do will not work because Vista is occupying an active primary partition, and cannot convert its own partition into an extended one. To do so, requires booting off a different partition or drive (CD, USB, etc) and then changing Vista's current partition to an extended partition.

Keep in mind that as soon as you change the MBR, which you will do if you change partition structure/size, you will lose the ability to use Dell's built-in factory reset capability, and that recovery partition will become, essentially, worthless.

The diagnostics partition should still work, as should Media Direct, but don't quote me on that. One way to ensure MD will work is to insert the MD disc into the laptop, let it repartition the drive and install diagnostics (partition 1) and MD (partition 2) and a system partition (partition 3) with the fourth "slot" open. Use that system partition (3) for Ubuntu, then create the extended partition (4) and its partitions contained in it (Vista - a and Storage - b).

What I would do, is (my notes are in bold):

* Partition 1 - Diagnostics Partition 47mb - left as is
* Partition 2 - Vista Partition 60GB - delete existing and create extended 1a
* Partition 3 - Media Direct Partition 2GB - left as is
* Partition 4 - Restore Partition 10GB - format and use for Ubuntu
* Partition 5 - Ubuntu 10GB - see #4
* Partition 6 - Storage 70GB - create as Extended 1b

In other words, leave the Dell MediaDirect and Diagnostics Partitions alone. Reformat the Restore partition, since it's the size you need, and put Ubuntu on there. Finally, (in Ubuntu?) delete the Vista Partition and create an extended partition in its space containing two partitions: Vista Boot, and Storage.

As I said above, you will lose the ability to use the factory restore once you delete any partition, so that restore partition may as well be put to use.

 

I believe only one Extended partition can be created on a hard drive and that too its contents must be continuous.... So Samuel613 how do you actually propose to create Extended 1a before the MediaDirect and Extended 1b after the MediaDirect ? And isnt the MediaDirect partition a primary partition ?

 

Good point.

I don't; I was simply following the order he listed them in. The true as-laid-out-on-disk order of the partitions would be: Diagnostics, MediaDirect, Ubuntu, then Vista/data. Depending on which is currently first, the Dell Recovery 10 GB partition may need to first be made into free space in order to get one contiguous bloc of space from after MediaDirect through the end of the drive, after which he would have the contiguous space to create two partitions, one primary for Ubuntu, and one extended for Vista and data, as above.

 

try using diskpart not sure if it can merge but it may work..