1 (edited by skodabenz 2009-09-06 15:17:22)

Topic: [SOLVED] Include GPT fdisk

GPT fdisk or gdisk is a fdisk style GUID Partition Table editor. It includes
features like non-destructive conversion of MBR (or msdos) and BSD disklabels
to GPT, has many GPT recovery options and the ability to set any arbitary
Partition type GUID for a Partition.

None of the available util-linux-ng fdisk programs (fdisk, cfdisk, sfdisk) support GPT and GNU Parted has few problems with GPT disks :-

(1) It does not include the ability to enter any arbitary partition type GUID,
essential for users of Windows Recovery Environment or Apple TV Recovery
Partitions.

(2) It breaks Hybrid MBR-GPT systems.

(3) It does not allow the user to view and/or modify the unique partition and disk GUIDs.

(4) Older versions of GNU libparted (before 1.9.0) wiped out the boot code in Protective MBR which users of GRUB2 in BIOS-GPT setup depended on.

The author's page on GPT fdisk is http://rodsbooks.com/gdisk/ .

Source packages and Precompiled binaries are available in the following
Sourceforge.net link (Actual Project Page) -
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gptfdisk/ .

The project's official GIT repository is
http://gptfdisk.git.sourceforge.net/git … ;a=summary .

Please include GPT fdisk in GParted Live CD/USB alongside util-linux-ng fdisk.

2

Re: [SOLVED] Include GPT fdisk

Thanks for this suggestion. We will try to include this in the future release.

Steven.

3

Re: [SOLVED] Include GPT fdisk

Sorry the actual GIT repository is git://gptfdisk.git.sourceforge.net/gitroot/gptfdisk/gptfdisk and the web preview of the repository is http://gptfdisk.git.sourceforge.net/git … ;a=summary

4

Re: [SOLVED] Include GPT fdisk

The gdisk application is now included on the GParted Live image.  It is also listed as one of the applications on the GParted Live CD web page.

5 (edited by tonireynolds39 2010-11-10 09:06:12)

Re: [SOLVED] Include GPT fdisk

In comparison with GNU Parted, GPT fdisk has several benefits and disadvantages. Broadly speaking, you should consider using GPT fdisk if:


    * You do not thoughts utilizing comparatively new software. GPT fdisk is at the moment solely at version 0.6.13. I do not know of any present bugs which are likely to trigger information loss, but I can not guarantee that such a bug would not exist. You need to be significantly cautious when using the program on a disk with existing partitions that maintain invaluable data.

    * You use Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, or Windows. Each OS has its personal way of doing sure essential low-stage disk duties, such as determining the disk measurement, so GPT fdisk should be explicitly customized for every OS it supports.

    * You want more exact management over your partitioning than Parted provides. As an illustration, gdisk provides sector-precise control of partition sizes and it lets you enter any arbitrary GPT partition type.

    * You need higher control over recovery operations in the occasion that a corrupt partition table is encountered.

    * You wish to convert an MBR disk to GPT format with out information loss. GPT fdisk permits doing this, though doing so would require you to re-install your boot loader (if it's a boot disk). Don't try and convert a Home windows boot disk from MBR to GPT type except you're an knowledgeable!

    * You wish to convert a disk that uses BSD disklabels to GPT format, otherwise you want to convert a BSD disklabel within an MBR or GPT partition, into GPT partitions, without knowledge loss. This conversion is more bother-prone than the MBR conversion, but it surely works in lots of cases.

    * You wish to convert a GPT disk into an MBR disk without knowledge loss. Not each disk is one hundred% convertible; some combinations of partition areas cannot be duplicated in MBR. You may luck out and be able to convert every little thing, or a minimum of be capable of convert the most important partitions.

    * You might want to create or modify a hybrid MBR, which is used primarily on Intel-based mostly Macs to allow them to dual-boot with Windows.

    * You want to back up and restore your partition desk to or from an odd disk file.

    * You want fdisk's easy textual content-mode interface.

Chances are you may be happier with GNU Parted, its GUI cousins, or another program totally if:

    * You desire a secure and mature program. (Word, however, that considered one of my motivations for writing gdisk was glaring bugs in Parted. I think Parted's GPT code is relatively untested in comparison with its MBR code.)

    * You prefer a GUI interface for partitioning. (That is true solely of gparted, qtparted, and the like; GNU Parted is text-based.)

    * You wish to create filesystems on the similar time you create the partitions that maintain them.

    * You want to resize or move filesystems along with their partitions.

    * You wish to use the software on any OS however Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, or current versions of Windows. (You should utilize partitions created by GPT fdisk on different OSes, but the program itself runs solely on Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, and Home windows systems.)