Should external HDD be primary or logical?

[georgetok]

Just bought a 2 TB Seagate GoFlex HDD to store data & video Files.

It shows single Primary Partition.

Should I keep it as it is Primary OR do I need to make it Logical ?

Also should it be made active if it is kept as Primary ?

What if I want to make 3 Partitions, again just to separate data files & video Files ?

How then should they be made ? All Primary or one Primary & other 2 Logical OR entirely different ?

Thanks

 

[Mark56]

This guide will explain all you need to know.

http://www.werockyourweb.com/primary-vs-extended-logical-partition

 

[DelJo63]

every HD needs at least ONE primary

 

[Mizzou]

What if I want to make 3 Partitions, again just to separate data files & video Files ?

Really no need to make separate partitions to manage your content type. Why not just use folders to accomplish the same thing. I also recently purchased a 2TB GoFlex with the USB 3.0 interface, pretty quick for a USB external drive.

 

[DavieDee]

External HDD's don't need a primary partition if it's not being used to boot an OS.

Just to store data make 3 NTFS logical partitions.
Again no need to set a primary partition to Active unless it's being used to boot an OS.

 

[DelJo63]

Using partitions is another form of Divide-n-Conquer.

1. Errors or corruption in one does not imply total loss or total recovery
2. Provides opportunity to have different usage patterns/partition
3. Allows unique backup scheduling and media.

Sole drawback is any hardware/mechanical issues will still impact all partitions.

 

[cliffordcooley]

It only needs to be primary if it is going to be a boot partition.