Basic Data Partition

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Microsoft-defined GUID Partition Table attribute flags for BDPs^[1]

Bit number	Meaning
60	The volume is read-only and may not be mounted read-write.
62	The volume is hidden.
63	The operating system may not automatically assign a drive letter to the volume.

A Basic Data Partition is a partition on a data storage device that is used to hold disc volumes that are to be visible to Windows XP and later operating systems^[2]. The Globally Unique Identifier for the Basic Data Partition in the GUID Partition Table scheme is EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7.

According to Microsoft, the Basic Data Partition is the equivalent to partition types 0x06, 0x07, and 0x0B in the MBR Partition Table scheme^[2]. However, in practice it is equivalent to partition types 0x01, 0x04, 0x0C, and 0x0E as well.

Basic Data partitions are the only partition types (in the GPT scheme) to which Windows XP will normally assign drive letters.^[3]

A Basic Data Partition can be formatted with any filesystem format, although most commonly BDPs are formatted with the FAT or NTFS filesystem formats. To determine which filesystem format a BDP contains, Microsoft specifies that one should inspect the BIOS Parameter Block that is contained in the BDPs 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 (GUID AF9B60A0-1431-4F62-BC68-3311714A69AD). This is analogous to the conversion from partition types 0x01, 0x04, 0x06, 0x07, 0x0B, 0x0C, and 0x0E to partition type 0x42 on MBR partitioned discs.

[edit] References

1. ^ How Basic Disks work. Microsoft TechNet.
2. ^ ^{a b} Windows GPT Implementation. Windows and GPT FAQ.
3. ^ DiskPart documentation. Microsoft TechNet.

[edit] See also

• Microsoft Reserved Partition