partitioning - Why do I already have 4 primary partitions, and which one (if any) can I change to logical?

I have a brand new computer and I was about to put a new partition on, and somehow, there are already 4 primary partitions. The first is called system, then C:\, then the recovery drive, and then one that says HP_TOOLS, which for some reason contains files pertaining to the BIOS. Would it be safe to convert the system or HP_TOOLS partition to a logical partition so that I can make a second partition. Or if anyone knows EASUS PM better than me, is there any way to create a partition as a logical partition, because it will only allow me to create a primary partition, and for some reason, it will only allow me to have 3 primary once I switch, instead of 4.

Answer

The NT systems can have 4 primary partitions without any problem + extended. I have never seen any problem with it, or any real reason for doing it. If there is also a hidden partition, then you would see it in Easus. Notes: There are some tiny portions of unallocated that might not be visually represented in Easus and in disk manager

Mentally I picture many primaries like this.

|---primary---|------Primary-----|------Primary-------||==extended==with logical==||

Being old school and trying to keep the thing as normal and regular as possible i prefer only 1 primary. What I concider the "normal method" is like this.

|---Primary----|----------The space called extended where Logical Drives are set-------|

Which to us after that is all created looks like this.

|---Primary----||=====Logical============Logical============Logical===all in that ext space=||

|---Primary----||=====Logical=====|=======Logical=====|=======Logical===================||

See the differance? Well dont feel bad because I don't totally understand either.

Right now you can not make a logical without that Extended hole space made First. Logicals are all created IN the extended space. A primary does not use the extended space method. Until you or the progam remove or move any primaries that are in the way, and create or enlarge an extended space, you will not be able to put Logicals INTO the extended space.

Without a backup, and knowing that primaries ARE a workable method, the least would be a clone backup of the whole drive before proceeding. Most methods for partition conversion, require entire re-write of the data, and messing with the partition table. they wouldnt let ME do that without a backup :-) so why trust software .