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I have windows 7 installed.

On the moment i have the following partitions on 1 hard disk: (300 GB)

C: (Windows) (Primary, System, Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Active) 100 GB

D: (Data) (Logical) 100 GB

E: (System Reserved created after Boot repair) (primary, system) 100 MB

Now i want to create a new primary partition on this disk, because i have +/- 100 GB left, for a new OS. However when trying to make a new partition, it makes it a Logical partition, not Primary. How to make it primary...?

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How big is your hard drive? –  Joseph Nov 14 '09 at 23:33
As it says: '...on 1 hard disk: (300 GB)' –  Deniz Zoeteman Nov 16 '09 at 17:25
Whoops! Missed that. What OS are you trying to install? –  Joseph Nov 18 '09 at 2:41
Would it matter? Linux. –  Deniz Zoeteman Nov 22 '09 at 14:44

4 Answers 4

up vote 1 down vote accepted

To create a second primary disk, you'll need to use a partitioning tool to hide the first primary disk. After the second installation, you can then unhide the first one.

Rather than play this game of hiding and unhiding partitions, it's best to use a boot manager to take care of the whole thing. Some such products are :

BootIt NG ($34.95)
Support of over 200 primary partitions (if desired). I've used it and it's probably the best.


Partition Commander 11 ($49.95)

Norton PartitionMagic 8.0 ($69.95)


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The new OS should create the partition for you if the free space hasn't already been partition. That would be the easiest way.

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yeah i get that but it won't. running Windows 7 RTM build 7600. –  Deniz Zoeteman Nov 16 '09 at 17:26

As you are allowed at least 3 primary partitions, my guess is that your free space is in that one logical partition. Have a look at the color coding, and the words Primary and Logical in your graphic.

If this is the case there is no way of creating another primary without deleting the Logical drive and starting again. Oh, yes there are 3rd party utilities to reclaim disk space.

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No, i already tried this. Still not working. –  Deniz Zoeteman Nov 14 '09 at 20:32

You should have a couple of options. The built in 'DISKPART' utility is surpirisingly powerful. You run it from an administrative command line. DISKPART

Another solution could be to use the built in 'Disk Managment' console snap-in, which is similar to diskpart but with a GUI. Disk Management Snap-In

Both can perform the same functions, though i prefer the command line DiskPart. If neither soltion will work for you, a boot disk with older disk utilities may be your best bet.

In any case, I would avoid anything you have to pay for. There are plenty of free options outh there, and they all perform the same.

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