(SOLVED) Extended partition listed

[Ferdes Fides]

Hi,

This is a portable USB drive connected to my netbook, but the same info should
be shown on a desktop, so I'll ask this question here.

Code:

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x56bf230f

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1   *          63    42989939    21494938+  83  Linux
/dev/sdc2        42989940    53753489     5381775   83  Linux
/dev/sdc3        53753490   215013959    80630235    5  Extended
/dev/sdc4       215013960   488392064   136689052+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc5        53753553   107506979    26876713+  83  Linux
/dev/sdc6       107507043   161244404    26868681   83  Linux
/dev/sdc7       161244468   215013959    26884746   83  Linux

The above code is from fdisk -l

Rarely use fdisk to change partition order but today I did.
The /dev/sdc3 listed extended partition doesn't exist as a working
partition and testdisk has an message regarding this also.

/dev/sdc1 and sdc2 and sdc4 are primary and the others
are logical.   Should /dev/sdc3 be listed at all ?   Haven't
noticed this type of listing before.   The partitions still aren't
listed in exact order as on the hard drive but are listed better
than before.   /dev/sdc4 the third primary partition should
be listed last and /dev/sdc3 shouldn't be listed at all as it really isn't
there except as the extended partition for the others.

It's probably OK and listed as best as fdisk can relist them
and is working OK.   Before I put this project to rest I wanted
to ask.

Any ideas bad or otherwise ?

THX.

FF

[Just18]

sdc3 IS a primary partition ........  that is what an Extended Partitions is .......  a primary partition wrapper within which Logical Partitions can be created.

Normally the Extended Partition is the last but in your case  sdc4  comes after the extended.

I have seen it previously, but it is rather messy ......  I much prefer to have the Extended Partition extend to the end of the disk, and be the last of the primary partitions.


edited spellings

[Ferdes Fides]

sdc3 IS a primary partition ........  that is what an Extended Partitions is .......  a primary partition wrapper within which Logical Partitions can be created.

Normally the Extended Partition is the last but in your case  sdc4  comes after the extended.

I have seen it previously, but it is rather messy ......  I much prefer to have the Extended Partition extend to the end of the disk, and be the last of the primary partitions.


edited spellings

Well if primary partitions are limited to 3 I can't discern sdc4 being a primary.
Primary's are supposed to be accordingly sdc1, sdc2, sdc3 (extended), and a
4th partition sdc4 as primary.   Why wouldn't sdc4 be a logical then ?
Just want to be sure.  sdc4 wasn't renumbered with fdisk to sdc8 as expected.

thanks for the response.

[Just18]

sdc3 IS a primary partition ........  that is what an Extended Partitions is .......  a primary partition wrapper within which Logical Partitions can be created.

Normally the Extended Partition is the last but in your case  sdc4  comes after the extended.

I have seen it previously, but it is rather messy ......  I much prefer to have the Extended Partition extend to the end of the disk, and be the last of the primary partitions.


edited spellings

Well if primary partitions are limited to 3 I can't discern sdc4 being a primary.
Primary's are supposed to be accordingly sdc1, sdc2, sdc3 (extended), and a
4th partition sdc4 as primary.   Why wouldn't sdc4 be a logical then ?
Just want to be sure.  sdc4 wasn't renumbered with fdisk to sdc8 as expected.

thanks for the response.

Primary partitions are limited to four - 4

If you use one for an extended partition then you have three left.

Why wouldn't sdc4 be a logical then ?

Because it was created as a primary and not within the Extended Partition.

[Ferdes Fides]

Primary partitions are limited to four - 4

If you use one for an extended partition then you have three left.

Why wouldn't sdc4 be a logical then ?

Because it was created as a primary and not within the Extended Partition.

I stand corrected then.   I remember somewhat from my old Windows
book three was the limit (long time ago).   Then extended and logicals.

I guess when a primary is assigned a number (sdc4) it's pretty hard to
change.   Well it's better.   Just can't get them numbered according to
exact physical disk location then.   

Should be OK to go with the present sdx? numberings then hardwarewise.

thanks for the response.

[Just18]

Primary partitions are limited to four - 4

If you use one for an extended partition then you have three left.

Why wouldn't sdc4 be a logical then ?

Because it was created as a primary and not within the Extended Partition.

I stand corrected then.   I remember somewhat from my old Windows
book three was the limit (long time ago).   Then extended and logicals.

That is correct ...  3+1 ......  3 standard plus 1 extended primary partitions making up the 4

I guess when a primary is assigned a number (sdc4) it's pretty hard to
change.   Well it's better.   Just can't get them numbered according to
exact physical disk location then.   

Should be OK to go with the present sdx? numberings then hardwarewise.

thanks for the response.

If it is not causing trouble then there is no need to redo the partitioning scheme, IMO.

The primary partitions ARE numbered according to physical location on the disk .....  numbers 1 through 4.

Logical partitions numbering begins after the four primary partitions.

If the Extended partition was the last primary partition, then they would not only be in numerical order, but also listed according to position on disk.

It would be 'nicer' - if you are ever redoing the partitioning of this or another HDD - to make the Extended partition the last primary, thus giving a more easily read list, and probably more logical sequence to us humans.

regards

[Ferdes Fides]

It would be 'nicer' - if you are ever redoing the partitioning of this or another HDD - to make the Extended partition the last primary, thus giving a more easily read list, and probably more logical sequence to us humans.

At one time, long time ago, it was in order, but I deleted a partition instead
of just reformatting it, and the first partition became sdc3, sdc1 was in the
middle somewhere and so forth.  Next time I'll know better what I want...
more smaller partitions anyway.

Thanks for your time and reading.  I'll mark this solved shortly.


FF

[Just18]