MBR and VBRs!

Hi,

Could someone tell me what you get in terms of MBRs and VBRs for boot drives that have been formatted as follows?

(1) No partitions have been added.
(2) A single partition has been added.

If my understanding is correct you get

(1) MBR with a single partition record used
(2) MBR with two partition records used and two VBRs

Please correct me if I am wrong.

PCFarmer

 

MBR-Master Boot Record- the very first sector of all hdd's

VBR-Volume Boot Record- the very first sectors of all partitions (excluding the extended partition box). IF the partition is fat32 it is first 3 sectors, NTFS first 7 sectors (?), linux ext2/3 I think first 3 sectors with the first sector blink if grub is not installed there. All 3 types above keep a back up copy of the VBR.

reading:http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structMBR-c.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_boot_record

The MPT (Master Partition Table) part of the MBR can contain only 4 entries (4 primary partitions or 3 primary on 1 extended partition, the extended partition can have up to 26 extended volumes)

The MBR also contains the boot strap loader.

The VBR contains a boot loader and Bios Parameter Block (BPB) {used to be called Disk Parameter Block}

IF no partitions are made there are no entries in the MPT (Master Partition Table).

1 partition made- 1 MPT entire and one VBR.

Each extended volume will also have a secondary partition table 1 track before the volume.

The above holds true for hdd's with FAT/NTFS/most Linux partition types.
VISTA can use a very different partition setup, and think Apple is also different.

Post back for any clarification.

 

Many thanks for the information, it was very helpfull.

From one farmer to another.