formating unalocated space?

[engineer]

hello. have a question regarding unalocated space. i have a 300gb sata that has 4 partitions. there is 9gb left of unalocated space that i want to format and install ubunto.now it seems that windows xp will not let me do this.is this because windows only allows 4 partitions maximum?

[minsonngo]

On master boot record (MBR) disks, you can create up to four primary partitions, or you can create up to three primary partitions and one extended partition. Within the extended partition, you can create an unlimited number of logical drives.

[engineer]

okay minsonngo.does this mean i cannot format until i make this a logical drive?,if yes how do i do this?

[minsonngo]

First you need to create and extended partition... then you create a logical drives within it.

Here is how to create a extended partition first... http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_07.htm

Then here is how to create a logical drives next... http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_08.htm


Then your all set to go.



***But here is your problem... PRIMARY partitions are generally created for OSs...

Extended partitions with logical drives in them are for storage...

IN YOUR case... you already have FOUR PRIMARY partitions... which means XP will not let you create another one for Ubuntu. XP allows 4 partitions per HDD.

You need to delete two of your unused PRIMARY partitions and redo one of them as an extended partition with any number logical drives you want... AND then you can make that 9GB of unallocated space a primary partition for Ubuntu. You now have three primary partitions and one extended one for a total of four.

Basically any HDD can have four partitions max. But you can create an extended partition and create as many logical drives within it as you want.

[engineer]

okay minsonngo thats what i thaught. thank s for your input.

[minsonngo]

No problem. Let me know how it goes for ya. :D