1 Topic by maniqui

  • maniqui
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Topic: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

Well, that's the question!
I can't remember if it's possible to run a dual-boot system with the first primary partition (the partition flagged as boot) as a non-MS (no VFAT/NTFS) partition.

My current situation:

I have this four primary partitions:

* Primary partitions
1. C: (FAT 32) > boot partition / run DOS programs / possible "bridge" partition
2. Local Disk (Ext3) > for installing a Linux distro
3. SWAPSPACE2 (linux swap) > Linux swap
4. Extended partition > with many logical NTFS partitions / the first one has installed WinXP

I want to remove permanently the first one and what I want to achive:

* Primary partitions

** Local Disk (Ext3) > for installing a Linux distro
** SWAPSPACE2 (linux swap) > Linux swap
** Extended partition


Well, that's all.
The question again: could I have a dual-boot system if the first primary partition isn't a both MS/linux compatible?

Thanks, excuse my english and my dumb question!

2 Reply by LarryT

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Re: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

booting comes from the MBR (master boot record) what is also called zero sector of the hard drive disk.
The only problem you can meet is that your bios should be unable to buoot under the cylinder 1024, but the bios from nowadays have not this limitation anymore.
So removing your parimary partition can't affcet the boot process. The only thing to note is that if you remove hda1, the other primary keeps its number : hda2, and when you will create a new primary partition, at the same place, it will be called hda1.

Hope it helps smile

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

3 Reply by maniqui

  • maniqui
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Re: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

Thanks for your explanation, LarryT.

4 Reply by plors

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Re: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

if i'm not mistaken all versions of windows like to boot from the first partition on the disk.

5 Reply by LarryT

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Re: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

i think you make a mistake Plors : you have to modify the boot.ini to boot from something else as 1 but, it is possible...

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

6 Reply by plors

  • plors
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Re: is it possible to have a non-MS partition as first primary partition?

ok, i didn't know that, my experience with windows is limited wink