Partitions on multi-boot--primary versus extended?

[NoHolyGrail]

I'm setting up my laptop to dual boot (default Vista installation and Ubuntu). There's also a possibility I may add XP later as a triple boot.

My laptop came with two partitions already, the second one labelled "Recovery". I was planning on adding three partitions, one for the Ubuntu installation, one for Swap, and one for storing my files (accessible to both OSs). However, this would be five partitions (or six, if I add XP later).

I've never had to deal with this many partitions before and just learned about the maximum of four primary partitions. How should I handle this situation?

[oldfred]

Ubuntu can be in logical partitions. One of the primary parititions can be converted to an extended partition which can hold many logical.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition/OperatingSystemsAndPartitions
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PartitioningSchemes
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Multiple_OS_Installation

Screenshots of using gparted
http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted
GParted partitioning software - Full tutorial
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html


If you plan on XP reserve another primary partition.

To get each MS to have its own boot loader make a partition and set its boot flag on, then install the 2nd product in it. Multibooters, Pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html
A user who installed two windows & it worked to boot from grub directly
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271600

[NoHolyGrail]

Thanks for this information.

I cleared some unallocated space between C: (Vista) and D: (Recovery), so I'm going to format that as an extended partition to house logical partitions for Ubuntu & Swap.

I think this should give me the flexibility to later shrink C: some more to make room for another primary partition for XP, or to expand my extended partition if necessary (for example, to add a logical partition for /home, which I don't have space for at the moment).

Does this sound like it should work?

[oldfred]

As long as you plan ahead a little it helps. If low on room then a new hard drive will probably be on your list in the near future.