partitions question

[Anonymous]

I booted from the floppy and used the interactive mode.
I'm using the quick erase method.
I have two partitions.
Now I see:

[    ]  (IDE  0,0,0,-,-)  Maxtor 5T040H4 
[    ]  (IDE  0,0,0,-,1)   Partition 
[    ]  (IDE  0,0,0,-,2)   Partition 
[    ]  (IDE  0,0,0,-,5)   Partition

When I select the Maxtor it fills the first box with wipe and the rest with ****. I'm guessing that this erases the entire drive.
Now when I select (IDE 0,0,0,-,1) Partition it fills it with WIPE and Maxtor with ----.
I'm guessing that the middle partition is the Extended partition as when I'm looking at it in partition magic?[/code]

 

[dajhorn]

I'm guessing that this erases the entire drive.

Correct.

I'm guessing that the middle partition is the Extended partition as when I'm looking at it in partition magic?

If you select a partition, then you cannot select the entire disk.

Primary partitions are always 1, 2, 3 or 4. Extended partitions start at 5, and are contained within one primary partition. Most software does not expose the primary host of the extended partitions.

In your example device (IDE 0,0,0,-,1) is likely the C: drive, device (IDE 0,0,0,-,2) is likely the primary host of the extended partition, and device (IDE 0,0,0,-,5) is likely your D: drive.