Extended Partitions: a fundamental question

[Ralph Alvy]

Suppose there are no other primary partitions on a hard drive, other than a
single large extended partition. Is the extended partition always
considered the fourth primary partiition, even if there are no other
primaries on the drive?

If so, then I assume the first logical partition will be drive 5. I'm
thinking mainly in terms of linux numbering (/dev/hda4 would be the primary
in this suggested scenario, and the first logical will be /dev/hda5 would
be the first logical).

If not, and that extended partition will be considered primary number 1, if
I then move that partition away from the beginning of the drive, and create
another primary, will the newly created partition be number 2, or will it
be number 1 in virtue of being closest to the beginning of the drive?

 

[Arno Wagner]

Suppose there are no other primary partitions on a hard drive, other than a
single large extended partition. Is the extended partition always
considered the fourth primary partiition, even if there are no other
primaries on the drive?

No. The extended partition can be in any of the four primary slots.
I think Windows puts it into slot 4 by default, but it works
in others too.

If so, then I assume the first logical partition will be drive 5. I'm
thinking mainly in terms of linux numbering (/dev/hda4 would be the primary
in this suggested scenario, and the first logical will be /dev/hda5 would
be the first logical).

The first logical is no. 5, regardless which number the extended
partition has.

If not, and that extended partition will be considered primary number 1, if
I then move that partition away from the beginning of the drive, and create
another primary, will the newly created partition be number 2, or will it
be number 1 in virtue of being closest to the beginning of the drive?

Primaries are 1,2,3,4. Primaries can be extended partitions.
Logical (partitions in the extended partition) are 5,6,7,....

Arno

 

[Ralph Alvy]

The first logical is no. 5, regardless which number the extended
partition has.

That's what I needed to know. Thanks.