Disk Partitioning | MBR vs GPT | Explained

1. MBR Partition Style: (Master Boot Record) is used with old operating systems.

Primary Partition:
o A primary partition is in which an Operating System can be installed.
o One MBR hard disk may contain a maximum of 4 primary partitions.
o Any one of the 4 primary partitions can be set as active partition.
o Since there can be 4 primary partitions with 4 different Operating Systems installed, one of the partitions that is marked "active" is used for the initial booting.

Extended Partition:
o A MBR hard disk may contain only one extended partition
o That one extended partition can be subdivided into multiple logical partitions.
o Logical partitions inside an extended partition are not bootable

2. GPT Partition Style:
• It is a new standard that is gradually replacing MBR.
• It is called GUID Partition Table because every partition on your drive will have a “globally unique identifier”
• Windows allows up to 128 partitions on a GPT disk
• To convert a MBR disk to GPT, select "UEFI" as boot mode in BIOS and disable "Secure Boot", then install the OS
• No need for extended partitions or logical drives

[selvin]

Great video, I learn a lot, thanks. Keep it up! 👍

[johansvensson]

Thanks, you just helped me with my homework cause the book didn't even go over this! Good stuff.

[nanabrimpong]

hi I need your help. I installed linux mint deviants edition 5 on my external hdd but I cannot find my ntfs partition on the external and my main ntfs partition on the pc's internal hard drive when I boot with the lmde 5. but it shows me the other linux partitions I have on both internal and external hard drives in the devices section.

I also went to the file system section of the lmde 5 I installed and I found an EFI folder which when I opened was showing the content of my internal window xp partition as folders within this same folder.

but I cannot find all the ntfs partitions either external or internal to mount. but my lmde 5 is set to automount all devised or drives or partitions whichever you want to call it to list in devices. but not showing.

Any help please?

one thing I also noticed is I don't have any efi or swap partition created on my external hard drive partitions. but the grub is installed on the external hard drive.

[pawel]

does it mean we can install 128 types (in theory) operating systems on GPT type of drive?

[retroguardian]

I would only need gpt if I had a drive over 2tb right? Or is there other benefits to?

[donf]

Would you suggest changing from MBR to GPT just for the sake of switching from a 2TB to a 4TB drive?

[selvin]

👍👍THIS IS THE BEST IN A NUTSHELL INFORMATION I HAVE SEEN ON YOUTUBE. THANK U VERY MUCH - (like & subscribe) 👍