Is there any way to get more than 4 primary partitions?

[dragos240]

Just curious. Is there?

[bodhi.zazen]

No

You may have an extended partition with multiple logical partitions.

If needed : HowTo: Partitioning Basics - Ubuntu Forums (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=282018)

[lisati]

Just curious. Is there?

I don't think so, partly for historical reasons.
Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning#PC_BIOS_partition_types

[Bucky Ball]

Nope, but Linux doesn't need to be on a primary partition if that helps, only MS.

You can install Ubuntu to a logical inside an extended partition, and you can have heaps of logicals!

[dragos240]

So you couldn't get more than 4 primary partitions if you wanted to, like using advanced modding, of your system, etc.

[Bucky Ball]

It don't work that way.

[gn2]

Yes, it's really easy.

Just fit more hard drives.

[Bucky Ball]

Yes, it's really easy.

Just fit more hard drives.

Good point. There is that. :-k

[dragos240]

Change of question. How many hard drives can you have?

[Bucky Ball]

Depends on the motherboard. An IDE cable can take two devices. There used to be two cables=four devices. More usual now, with the advent of SATA, one.

SATA is usually four plugs on the board.

External hard drive numbers depend on amount of USB, Firewire and eSATA ports. I guess if you used a hub and POWERED external hard drive enclosures (not powered by the rails of the computer), you could achieve quite a number.

Before attempting this experiment, make sure you can afford it when you reach breaking point!

[ddrichardson]

Depends on the motherboard. An IDE cable can take two devices. There used to be two cables=four devices. More usual now, with the advent of SATA, one.
While true of SATA150, SATA300 and eSATA can have 15 per line with a port multiplier.

[SuperSonic4]

Do you know where I would get one of these (preferably from the UK - Sterling needs to be stronger before I start importing again XD). I have two eSATA ports already.

I can directly connect 6 sATA devices onto mine - this could be either hard drives or optical drives

[Stan%]

BootIt NG is a boot/partition manager, that has a setting to allow as many primaries as you want. If you install it, it will replace your current boot manager.

You can install it free but donate if you can. (at least it used to be free, I haven't used it in some time)

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm

Wait, see what others have to say about using it with Linux.

[ddrichardson]

I don't know a lot about the technology but here (http://www.span.com/product_info.php?products_id=15709) and here (http://www.scan.co.uk/Index.aspx?NT=1-0-20-540-0) have them.