Microsoft basic data partition: Difference between revisions

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In [[Microsoft]] [[operating system]]s, when using [[basic disk]] partitioned with [[GUID Partition Table]] (GPT) layout, a '''basic data partition''' ('''BDP''') is any [[partition (computing)|partition]] identified with [[Globally Unique Identifier]] (GUID): of <tt>EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7</tt>.<ref name=GPTFAQ>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/GPT_FAQ.mspx|work=Windows and GPT FAQ|title=Windows GPT Implementation}}</ref>

In the GPT scheme, BDPs are the only partition types which [[Windows XP]] 64-bit can mount and normally assign drive letters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/ca099518-dde5-4eac-a1f1-38eff6e3e5091033.mspx|work=Microsoft TechNet|title=DiskPart documentation}}</ref>

According to Microsoft, the basic data partition is the equivalent to partition types 0x06, 0x07, and 0x0B ([[FAT16]], [[NTFS]], [[FAT32]]) in the traditional [[Master Boot Record|MBR partition table]].<ref name=GPTFAQ />. In practice it is equivalent to 0x01, 0x04, 0x0C, and 0x0E (various older FAT partitions) types as well.

A Basic Data Partition can be formatted with any [[filesystem]] format, although most commonly BDPs are formatted with the [[File Allocation Table|FAT]]FAT32 or [[NTFS]] filesystem formats. To programatically determine which filesystem format a BDP contains, Microsoft specifies that one should inspect the [[BIOS Parameter Block]] that is contained in the BDP's [[Volume Boot Record]].

When a Microsoft operating system converts a GPT-partitioned [[basic disk]] to a [[dynamic disk]], all BDPs are combined and converted to a single [[Logical Disk Manager]] data partition (identified with GUID <tt>AF9B60A0-1431-4F62-BC68-3311714A69AD</tt>). This is analogous to the conversion from partition types 0x01, 0x04, 0x06, 0x07, 0x0B, 0x0C, and 0x0E to partition type 0x42 on MBR partitioned disks.

== References ==