Partition Dilemma!

[martian]

Windows distinguishes each and every partitions and devices using alphabets (A: C: D: E: etc..). My question here is "Is there a limit to how much such logical drives it can address, say Z:"? Lets suppose I got a 500 GB HDD, some 20 partitions, a DVD combo, thumb drive, card reader, etc.. will Windows be able to address all those?

[JGuru]

Yes , Windows can , provided you have 24 partitions (from C to Z).
As far a Linux is concerned there is no limit!! (You allocate partition for
root (/) and swap). I think in Windows you can't go beyond Z!!.

[khansdream]

Can't go beyond Z:...?????????????

Disgusting yaaaar, I am not sure bcoz I still have to wait for 500G HDD and all those external drives.

But can guess, windows would be struck at Z: or may be at P: or perhaps S:

Whats say..............????

[martian]

Only till Z: ? . Lets hope if I get to configure my PC like that Windows doesnt choke! Yeah, I've heard thats not a problem with Linux!

[gary4gar]

i heard that windows becomes unstable on having to many partitions.
is it so??

[Rollercoaster]

well i have reached X:
i have two 200gb sata in raid 0(multiple partitions)
one 80 gb pata(multiple partitions)
dvdrw
dvdrom
floppy
daemon (2 drvs)
nero img drive
external usb hdd
ipod
usb memstick and
a memory card reader...

EDIT: my system is perfectley stable!!!

and guys i think after Z: is over then we can add more drives/partitions by mounting them in folders(NTFS) in other drives thru disk management...(some one pls confirm)

[thetopcyborg]

maybe we can go beyond z: drive....as alcohol 120% says that it can go upto 36 vietual drives(aldo it provides 6max. to me)...

and if it's not capable to go beyond z: in xp, it MUST be in Vista as Microsoft must be aware of the higher capacity drives and the need for partitioning....

I hope some Vista tester sees this.

[kalpik]

^^ Yes, you cannot go beyond Z: and guys, get real, why the hell would you wanna create sooo many partitions? Ok, consider you have a 500 GB hard disk.. If u have such a hard disk, you must have pretty big files to store.. supposy you create 100 partitions, then you just have 5 GB per partition! Which restricts your max file size to 5 GB! IMHO, the lesser partitions you have, the better it is. I have a 120 GB hard disk with only 2 partitions.

[martian]

The reason I find need for several partitions is many... Lets suppose you like to work on some 3 or 4 Linux flavours... 2 or 3 Windows flavours... a Floppy Drive, DVD Combo, Thumb Drive, Card Reader, Mobile Phone, my friends' HDD to copy files... Ha, and in a few months' time how can I go without a Mac OS in my PC, Blu-ray, HD-DVD... Just Imagine! Windows would choke right?

[Rollercoaster]

Ha! by the time u manage to lay hands on all that stuff.. new windows will be available and it will not have that limitation

[martian]

You are right Rollercoaster, Windows surely will have a brand new face by then... Windows Vista and all~ Lets wait and see. Thanx folks. It was quite a help!