CompTIA A+
1
Disks, Partitions and File System
Understanding Disks, Partitions and
volumes
Physical Logical
MBR Or GPT?
MBR Vs. GPT
Partitioning Scheme
MBR
MBR Master Boot Record
Master boot record contains the partition table
MBR Partition Scheme
The most common type of disk partitioning system in use
is the Master Boot Record (MBR) partitioning scheme.
MBR system is required when a computer is using a 32-bit
operating system, legacy BIOS, or UEFI in CSM mode.
You can divide an MBR disk into two types of partitions:
Primary Partition.
Extended Partition.
MBR Partition Scheme
MBR disks have two limitations :
The maximum size of a partition is 2 TB.
You are limited to a total of four partitions for any
disk.
GPT
GPT Partition Scheme
GPT stands for The Globally Unique
Identifier (GUID) Partition Table (GPT)
overcomes the limitations of MBR
disks and is specifically recommended
for disks larger than 2 TB.
The GPT partitioning scheme is
supported in many current operating
systems, such as Windows 7 and
GPT Partition Scheme
Key points to know about GPT disks include the
following:
Larger volumes.
• GPT has a theoretical limit of 9.4 zettabytes (ZB),
and Windows based systems support GPT disks as
large as 256 TB.
More partitions.
• Windows-based systems support as many as 128
primary GPT partitions on a single disk.
• Extended partitions are not needed or used with
GPT Partition Scheme
GPT Notes:
Linux-based systems can use and boot from a
GPT disk.
Only 64-bit versions of Windows 7 can boot to
a GPT disk and only if the computer is an UEFI
based system.
GPT Partition Scheme
Another benefit of GPT disks is that
they are backward-compatible for
applications that are expecting an MBR
disk.
GPT
GPT Hard Drive with Multiple Partitions
Protective MBR
Primary GPT Header: Partition Table
Backup of GPT Header: Copy of Partition Table
MBR Or GPT?
Basic Disk or Dynamic Disk?
MBR
+
Basic Disk
Unallocated Space
Partition
Format
Volume
C:\
C:\
C:\ D:\
C:\ D:\
E:\ F:\
Why we need to partition a
disk ?
Why Disk Partitioning?
There are two main reasons:
Separate OS and Apps files from Users files
Dual-boot system
Single Partition Scenario Multi-Partitions Scenario
Dual-boot System
D i sk
B a si c
R +
MB Primary
Extended
Primary P P P P
Partition
Primary + P P P
Logical
E
Extended Drive
Up to 128 logical drives
Primary + P P P LD 1 E
LD 2 LD 3
Extended
How Partitions Are Used during the
Boot?
UEFI/BIOS
MBR System
GPT System
System
Partitio C:\
n
EFI
Active
System
Boot
Partition
Partition Partition
BootM
gr
Disk Partitioning Examples
Example #1
Partitioning Disk to single partition
Unallocated Space Single Volume(C:)
Primary Partition
Example #2
Partitioning Disk to multiple
partitions
2,3 or 4
Unallocated
Space Local Disk (C:) Local Disk (D:) Local Disk (E:) Local Disk (F:)
Primary Partition Primary Partition Primary Partition Primary Partition
Partitioning Disk to multiple
Example #3 partitions
More than 4 partitions
Unallocated
Local Disk (C:) Local Disk (D:) Local Disk (E:) Local Disk
Space
Primary Primary Primary Extended
Partition Partition Partition Partition
Extended Partition
Local Disk (F:) Local Disk (G:) Local Disk (H:) Local Disk
Logical Drive Logical Drive Logical Drive
Local Disk (C:) Local Disk (D:) Local Disk (E:)
Local Disk (F:) Local Disk (G:) Local Disk (H:)
Second: How to Partition a
Disk?
How to do Disk
Partitioning?
Built-in Windows Tools
• GUI Tools(Disk Management)
• CMD Tool(DiskPart)
Applications
