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Change partition to logical without losing data
Question: there are 4 primary partitions already on my hard disk. As a result, when I was creating the fifth partition in the unallocated space released from the fourth primary partition, system prompts the disk will be converted to dynamic disk. I don’t want to use dynamic disk so I searched solutions on the internet, and someone suggested converting the last primary partition to logical, but I have no idea of this. Who can tell me how to change a primary partition to logical without losing data?
Primary Partition VS. Logical Partition
An MBR partition table is just allocated with 64 bytes space for primary partition entries, and each entry takes up 16 bytes. That is to say we can only create 4 primary partitions at most on an MBR hard disk. In order to create more than 4 partitions, Microsoft introduces Extended Partition where lots of logical partitions can be created. For more details, please see our previous post Ways to Convert Partition Type, Partition Style, and Disk Type.
Therefore, as long as we set one of primary partitions to extended partition (logical partition), we are able to create more than 4 partitions. Tip: do not set Windows system partition or boot partition logical, because it may cause system unbootable.
How to Change Partition to Logical without Losing Data
To do this kind of conversion, users had better resort to a third party partitioning program, because Windows itself does not offer the corresponding solution. For freeware, just try using MiniTool Partition Wizard. Detailed steps to set partition logical are shown below:
1.Download and install the free partitioning software to your computer, and then start and launch it to get the main interface:
2.Select the primary partition you want to convert to logical and choose the function “Set Partition as Logical” from the left side.
Now we can preview the selected partition has become a logical partition, but this is for preview only. Please do the last step.
3.Click “Apply” button to make all changes performed.
After changing a primary partition to logical, we can shrink it to release free space where multiple logical partitions can be created. Therefore, when you are going to create new partitions but there are 4 primary partitions already, just try taking this solution.
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