Windows xp maximum partition

In order for an operating system to fully support storage devices that have capacities that exceed 2 terabytes 2 TB, or 2 trillion bytes , the device must be initialized by using the GUID Partition Table GPT partitioning scheme.

This scheme supports addressing of the full range of storage capacity. It also describes the requirements to address the full storage capability of these devices. It's the arrangement of the logical sectors that constitute the media. LBA0 represents the first logical sector of the device, and the last LBA designation represents the last logical sector of the device, one label per sector. To determine the capacity of the storage device, you multiply the number of logical sectors within the device by the size of each logical sector.

The current size standard is bytes. For example, to achieve a device that has a capacity of 2 TB, you must have 3,,, byte sectors. However, a computer system requires 32 bits 1 s and 0 s of information to represent this large number. Therefore, any storage capacity that is greater than what can be represented by using 32 bits would require an additional bit.

That is, 33 bits. The problem in this computation is that the partitioning scheme that is used by most modern Windows-based computers is MBR master boot record. This scheme sets a limit of 32 for the number of bits that are available to represent the number of logical sectors.

The 2-TB barrier is the result of this bit limitation. Because the maximum number that can be represented by using 32 bits is 4,,,, it translates to 2. Therefore, a capacity beyond 2. To make more bits available for addressing, the storage device must be initialized by using GPT. This partitioning scheme lets up to 64 bits of information be used within logical sectors. It translates to a theoretical limitation of 9.

By default, many current systems can support UEFI. Microsoft expects that most future systems will have this support.

Customers should consult with their system vendor to determine the ability of their systems to support UEFI and disks that have storage capacities that are greater than 2 TB. For a system to be able to address the maximum capacity of a device that has a storage capacity of more than 2 TB, the following prerequisites apply:.

The Windows version must be one of the following bit or bit, unless otherwise noted, but including all SKU editions :. The latest storage drivers from your storage controller manufacturer must be installed. For example, if your system uses an Intel storage controller that is set to "RAID" mode, make sure that you have the latest applicable drivers from the Intel support site. Overall, you should contact your system vendor to determine whether the system supports device sizes of more than 2 TB.

For example, if your system uses an Intel storage controller set to RAID mode, make sure that you have the latest applicable drivers from the Intel support site. Consult your system vendor to determine whether the system supports both UEFI and the startup of devices that have storage capacities of greater than 2 TB. For more than four partitions, a secondary structure known as an extended partition is necessary.

Extended partitions can then be subdivided into one or more logical disks. Windows creates MBR disk partitions and logical drives on cylinder boundaries based on the reported geometry, although this information no longer has any relationship to the physical characteristics of the hardware disk driver or RAID controller.

Starting with Windows Vista and Windows Server , more logical boundaries are selected when the hardware provides better hints at the true cache or physical alignment. Because this partition information is stored on the drive itself, the operating system is not dependent on the alignment.

MBR partitioning rules are complex and poorly specified. For example, does cylinder alignment mean that each partition must be at least one cylinder in length? An MBR partition is identified by a two-byte field, and coordination is necessary to avoid collision. IBM originally provided that coordination, but today there is no single authoritative list of partition identifiers. Another common practice is using partitioned or "hidden" sectors to hold specific information by using undocumented processes and results in problems that are difficult to debug.

In the past, vendor-specific implementations and tools were released to the public, which made support difficult. GPT disks allow for growth. The GPT disk partition format is well defined and fully self-identifying. Data critical to platform operation is located in partitions and not in unpartitioned or "hidden" sectors. GPT disks use primary and backup partition tables for redundancy and CRC32 fields for improved partition data structure integrity.

The GPT partition format uses version number and size fields for future expansion. Each GPT partition has a unique identification GUID and a partition content type, so no coordination is necessary to prevent partition identifier collision. Each GPT partition has a character Unicode name. This means that any software can present a human-readable name for the partition without any additional understanding of the partition.

Basic disks are the most commonly used storage types with Windows. The GPT header defines the range of logical block addresses that are usable by partition entries.

The byte partition type GUID, which is similar to a System ID in the partition table of an MBR disk, identifies the type of data that the partition contains and identifies how the partition is used, for example, whether it is a basic disk or a dynamic disk.

Note that each GUID partition entry has a backup copy. For more information about basic disks, see Basic and Dynamic Disks. Dynamic disks were first introduced with Windows and provide features that basic disks don't, such as the ability to create volumes that span multiple disks spanned and striped volumes and the ability to create fault-tolerant volumes mirrored and RAID-5 volumes.

For more information about dynamic disks, see Basic and Dynamic Disks. GPT disks are self-identifying. All the information needed to interpret the partitioning scheme of a GPT disk is completely contained in structures in specified locations on the physical media. Logical blocks are commonly bytes in size. The maximum partition and disk size depends on the operating system version.

Windows XP and the original release of Windows Server have a limit of 2TB per physical disk, including all partitions. Windows file systems currently are limited to terabytes each. The specification allows an almost unlimited number of partitions. However, the Windows implementation restricts this to partitions. The number of partitions is limited by the amount of space reserved for partition entries in the GPT. These tools will view a GPT disk as having a single encompassing possibly unrecognized partition by interpreting the Protected MBR, rather than mistaking the disk for one that is unpartitioned.

For more information, see the following sections:. The bit version will see only the Protective MBR. The EE partition will not be mounted or otherwise exposed to application software. Booting is only supported for bit editions on Itanium-based systems.

Yes, all versions can use GPT partitioned disks for data. Booting is only supported for bit editions on UEFI-based systems. You can move, or migrate, data-only GPT disks to other systems that are running Windows XP bit edition only or later versions of the operating system or bit editions.

You can migrate data-only GPT disks after the system has been shutdown or after the safe removal of the disk. However, you must be aware of the following restrictions:. The entire media is treated as a single partition. The media manufacturer performs any MBR partitioning of removable media. If the media has an MBR, only one partition is supported. There is little user-discernible difference between MBR-partitioned media and superfloppies.

GPT disks can be converted to MBR disks only if all existing partitioning is first deleted, with associated loss of data. There is no inherent mapping between drive letter and partition that can be used to determine one from the other. And this tool will tell you an error " PartitionWizard cannot create a partition at here. There are no free MBR slots on the disk ", which is similar to Windows error message " disk already contains maximum number of partitions " due to the rule of maximum partition number.

How do you convert a primary partition to logical for a new extended partition successfully? You also can ask MiniTool Partition Wizard for help with its powerful functions. Step 2: Then you will go to its clear and simple main interface. After selecting the primary partition G which is next to the logical drive I and unallocated space, you can see there are many features in the left pane, here please select " Set Partition as Logical " feature from " Change Partition " drop-down menu.

Step 3: Then you can preview this partition G is in logical status. Next right-click the unallocated space to select " Create " function. Or select the unallocated space to click " Create Partition " from " Partition Management " menu. Step 4: Then during the process of partition creation, you can specify the partition setting.

After finishing all settings, then click " OK ". Step 5: At last, click " Apply " to execute all changes. Here you can preview partition K will be created. If you are having the same create partition maximum number problem, just download MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition to have a try by converting MBR disk to GPT or converting an existing primary partition to logical partition and try again.

Or you can share this partition manager with your friends to help fix disk already contains maximum number of partitions error. Free Download Click to tweet. In addition, there is another solution.

From the following screenshot, you can clearly see the partition layout. Now if you right-click the unallocated space to select " New Simple Volume " feature, maximum number problem emerges at the end of creating a partition.

Step 1: Right-click the logical partition and then select " Shrink Volume " for free space. During the process, it is allowed to decide how much free space by setting the value of " Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB ".