Firstly, let's see what partition type, primary partition and logical partition is, if you are clear about partition type, please skip the first paragraphs and see how to change partition type between logical and primary without data losing directly.
Primary Partition Type
A primary partition contains one file system. In MS-DOS and earlier versions of Microsoft Windows systems, the first partition (C:) must be a primary partition. Some operating systems are not limited in this way; however, this can depend on other factors, such as a PC's BIOS. The "partition type" code for a primary partition can either correspond to a file system contained within (e.g. 0×07 means either an NTFS or an OS/2 HPFS file system) or indicate the partition has a special use (e.g. code 0×82 usually indicates a Linux swap partition).
Extended Partition Type
An extended partition is a primary partition which contains secondary partition(s). A hard disk may contain only one extended partition; which can then be sub-divided into logical drives, each of which is assigned additional drive letters. Windows allow creating at most 4 primary partitions, or 3 primary partitions and one extended partition. Extended partition could contain many logical partitions.
Why change partition type
There are many reasons why you need to change partition type between logical partition and primary partition, below are some examples.
- In MS-DOS and earlier versions of Microsoft Windows systems, the first partition (C:) must be a primary partition. So it is impossible to set up dual boot operating system if there is no other primary partition, except that you convert an existing logical partition to primary.
- Due to Windows limitation, you can only create 4 primary partitions at most, so you are very likely to encounter this problem that you cannot create more partitions, especially for Windows 7 users.
- In some special conditions, only primary partition or logical partition is allowed (not both), but you cannot provide partition with such type.
If you can change partition type directly from primary partition to logical, or convert logical partition to primary, it is time saving and more convenient.
Change partition type without data loss
With partition editor software, you can change partition type between Logical and Primay without losing data, for details, refer the videos
How to convert logical partition to primary?
How to convert primary partition to logical?
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6 Responses to Change Partition Type between Logical and Primary without Data Losing
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Translator
a option of set as logical isn’t available
Please note that there are 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partition plus an extended partition at most in a hard disk. Of course there could be many Logical partitions in the extended partition.
Not every primary partition can be set a Logical. For more details, you may contact support@hdd-tool.com and send your disk management, and then you’ll know which partition can be set as logical
when i will switch my partition from logical to primary the primary is gray and disabled so i can’t switch
i have 5 partition (c) 20 gb, (d) 20 gb, (e) 40 gb, (f) 40 gb, (g) 40 gb. in my drive. in (C) Partition, I have Window XP & In (D) Partition, I have Window 7, & Other three have My Work data. Now I want to Delete both (c) & (d) partitions & merge It & want to installed Window 7.
For this I was Run window 7 setup CD. & Delete Both, & found two Unallocated Row partition, I Try to create But I Can’t Create both. one is Possible but with other I found an Error & can’t create.
Than I was run Window XP CD & Do same & I do Both partition Separately but I want to merge Both 20 Gb partition & want one 40 Gb Partition.
How can I merge It?
So without creating ANY logical partitions…. the limit is 3 or 4?
Or 5 (more than 4) like some sites claim?