Master Boot Record

The master boot record is the first sector on the harddisk.

It contains the "bootstrap." This is a program, which is called by the BIOS to load the actual operating system.

This sector also contains a description of how the harddisk is divided into separate areas (partitions). This description is listed in the so-called "partition table." It contains one entry for each partition. The entry lists the location of the partition on the harddisk and the "type" of this partition.

Due to historical reasons, this partition table can include only four entries.

The format of this master boot record (bootstrap / partition table) is permanently defined and is absolutely required by all operating systems.

 

Partition Types

Almost each operating system uses its own file system to save its data. Recognition of the file system is triggered by the partition type. Thus, for each file system, the correct partition type has to be entered. (In this program, the partition type is indicated using a hexadecimal system.)

The following list can never be complete because every manufacturer of operating systems is basically able to define his or her own types at any time.

MS-DOS:

FAT 12, partition smaler than 32 MB: Type "01"
FAT 16, partition smaler than 504 MB version higher than 3.3: Type "04"
FAT 16, partition smaler than 2 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"

Windows 95:

FAT 16, partition smaller than 2 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"
FAT 16, partition smaller than 2 GB and end higher than 8 GB: Type "0E"

Windows 95b OSR 2, Windows 98:

FAT 16, partition smaller than 2 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"
FAT 16, partition smaller than 2 GB and end higher than 8 GB: Type "0E"
FAT 32, end not higher than 8 GB: Type "0B"
FAT 32, end higher than 8 GB: Type "0C"

Windows NT:

FAT 16, partition smaller than 4 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"
NTFS; start not higher than Cylinder 1024: Type "07"

Windows 2000:

FAT 16, partition smaller than 4 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"
FAT 16, partition smaller than 4 GB and end higher than 8 GB: Type "0E"
FAT 32, partition smaller than 127 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "0B"
FAT 32, partition smaller than 127 GB and end higher than 8 GB: Type "0C"
NTFS; start not higher than Cylinder 1024: Type "07"

OS/2:

HPFS; partition smaller than 2 GB and end not higer than 8 GB: Type "07"
FAT 16, partition smaller than 2 GB and end not higher than 8 GB: Type "06"

Linux:

ext2fs, start not higher than Cylinder 1024: Type "83"
Swap partition (should be set up additionally): Type "82"

Extended Partitions:

Normal: Type "05"
Partition bigger than 8 GB or higher than 8 GB : Type "0F"

Novell NetWare:

Netware 286: Type "64"
Netware 3.11: Type "65"

Other:

If one partition type is not listed here, type "06" is usually suitable for the installation of an operating systems. The type is often going to be corrected automatically during the installation.
If needed, consult the manual of your operating system to obtain further information and tips.