GNOME Partition Editor

How-to Fix Invalid MSDOS Partition Tables

Summary

This article describes how to fix some common problems that cause an MSDOS partition table (also known as Master Boot Record - MBR) to be invalid.

Note that a computer with an invalid partition table can often still boot up. However, tools like GParted will not work until the partition table is corrected.

CAUTION:   Editing partitions has the potential to cause LOSS of DATA.
You are advised to BACKUP your DATA before proceeding.

Contents

MSDOS Partition Table Rules

TIP:   Primary and extended partions are identified by numbers 1 to 4 (e.g., /dev/sdb3)
Logical partitions are identified by numbers 5 and higher (e.g., /dev/sdb7).

A valid MSDOS partition table must obey all of the following rules:

  1. At most four primary partitions, or three primary partitions and one extended partition are permitted.
  2. Primary and Extended partitions must not overlap.
  3. Primary partitions must not exist within an Extended partition.
  4. An extended partition may contain multiple logical partitions.
      It is permissible for a logical partition to end on the same sector as the end of the extended partition.
  5. Logical partitions must not overlap other logical partitions.
  6. At least 2 unallocated sectors are required in front of a logical partition.
      This space is required for the Extended Boot Record (EBR).
  7. All partitions must exist within the size of the disk device.
      Sector numbering begins at zero, so the first sector is sector 0.
  8. Each partition must start within the first 2^32 (4,294,967,296) sectors of the disk device, and be smaller than 2^32 sectors.
      For disks with 512 byte sectors, 2^32 sectors is 2 Tebibytes (2 TiB).

Symptoms of an Invalid Partition Table

You might have an invalid partition table if you notice either of the following symptoms when using GParted:

Entire Disk Device Shown as Unallocated

There are a few situations that can cause this problem. To learn the cause, in GParted double-click on the "unallocated" disk device and check the information window for warning messages.

Common warning messages that cause this problem are as follows:

Applying Action on Logical or Extended Partition Fails

To determine if the failure is due to an invalid partition table, expand the GParted details in the "Applying pending operations" window, and search for the source of the error.

If the text "Unable to satisfy all constraints on the partition" is found, then there might be less than 2 unallocated sectors in front of each logical partition.
For example, there should be at least 2 unallocated sectors between:

The 2 unallocated sectors are required to store the Extended Boot Record (EBR). The EBR contains information about the following logical partition. The Linux kernel considers EBRs to be two sectors long, in order to "leave room for LILO (LInux LOader)".
See How-to Fix Unable to Satisfy All Constraints.


Instructions (step-by-step)

TIP:   The sudo prefix is used to acquire root privilege.

How-to Fix Overlapping Partitions

The following instructions describe how to manually correct the problem of overlapping partitions.

Other methods also exist, such as using testdisk to scan the disk device to rebuild the partition table. The testdisk application is included on GParted Live.

NOTE:   Be sure to choose the correct disk device path.
In the following example, the disk device containing overlapping partitions is /dev/sda

  1. Ensure you have a good backup of your data.
  2. Confirm the problem by running parted on your disk device (e.g., /dev/sda).

    For example:
        $ sudo parted /dev/sda unit s print
        Error: Can't have overlapping partitions.
        
    You should see the error message Error: Can't have overlapping partitions.
  3. Gather partition details for analysis using the fdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo fdisk -l -u /dev/sda
    
        Disk /dev/sda: 60.0 GB, 60011642880 bytes
        255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7296 cylinders, total 117210240 sectors
        Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
        Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        Disk identifier: 0x000b2d37
    
           Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sda1   *          63    81922347    40961142+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sda2        81915435   117210239    17647402+   5  Extended
        /dev/sda5        81915498    98494514     8289508+  83  Linux
        /dev/sda6        98494578    99008594      257008+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        /dev/sda7        99008658   115394894     8193118+   b  W95 FAT32
        
  4. Check the fdisk output for the following problems:

    • Do any of the primary or extended partitions overlap?

      In other words does one partition (numbers 1 to 4) have a start value lower than another partitition (numbers 1 to 4) but also an end value higher than the start of the other partition?

    • Do any of the primary partitions exist within the extended partition?

      In other words does one partition (numbers 1 to 4) have start and end values within the boundaries of another partitition (number 1 to 4)?
      If this is the situation then either the extended partition must be altered so that it does not encompass the primary partition, or the primary partition must be changed to be a logical partition within the extended partition. Fixing this situation might require backing up the partitions, repartitioning the disk, restoring the partition contents, and then repairing the ability to boot.
    • Do any of the logical partitions start or end outside the extended partition?

      In other words is the start of a logical partition (numbers 5+) less than the start of the extended partition?
      Also, is the end of a logical partition (numbers 5+) greater than the end of the extended partition?

    • Do any of the logical partitions overlap?

      In other words does one logical partition (numbers 5+) have a start value lower than another logical partition (numbers 5+) but also have an end value higher than the start of the other partition?

    In this example the end of primary partition sda1 overlaps the beginning of extended partition sda2.

        81,922,347 --- end of sda1
        81,915,435 --- start of sda2
           Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sda1   *          63    81922347    40961142+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sda2        81915435   117210239    17647402+   5  Extended
        /dev/sda5        81915498    98494514     8289508+  83  Linux
        /dev/sda6        98494578    99008594      257008+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        /dev/sda7        99008658   115394894     8193118+   b  W95 FAT32
        
  5. Determine a new end value (and partition size) to avoid the overlap.

    NOTE:  

    • In cases where we do not know if the starting or ending sector is the problem, we assume that the starting sector of each partition is correct, and that the ending sector might be in error.
    • No sectors are required between primary and extended partitions.
    • At least 2 sectors of unallocated space are required in front of logical partitions.

    In this example, we assume that the starting sector of extended partition sda2 is correct. Hence we need to change the end sector of primary partition sda1.

    The new end sector of sda1 should be the start of sda2 minus one sector.
    * For logical partitions we would need to subtract at least two (2) sectors.
        new sda1 end = (sda2 start) - 1
                     = 81915435 - 1
                     = 81915434
        
    New size of sda1 will be the new end of sda1 minus the start of sda1 plus one sector.
        new sda1 size = (new sda1 end) - (sda1 start) + 1
                      = 81915434 - 63 + 1
                      = 81915372
        
  6. Make a copy of the partition table in an editable file using the sfdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo sfdisk -d /dev/sda > sda-backup.txt
        
  7. Use your favourite editor to edit the file to change the old partition size to the new partition size.
    If you are using GParted Live, you can edit the file using the Leafpad editor.

    For example:
        $ sudo leafpad sda-backup.txt
    
        # partition table of /dev/sda
        unit: sectors
    
        /dev/sda1 : start=       63, size= 81922285, Id= 7, bootable
        /dev/sda2 : start= 81915435, size= 35294805, Id= 5
        /dev/sda3 : start=        0, size=        0, Id= 0
        /dev/sda4 : start=        0, size=        0, Id= 0
        /dev/sda5 : start= 81915498, size= 16579017, Id=83
        /dev/sda6 : start= 98494578, size=   514017, Id=82
        /dev/sda7 : start= 99008658, size= 16386237, Id= b
        
    Change the old size of the primary partition sda1 (81922285) to the calculated new size (81915372).
        # partition table of /dev/sda
        unit: sectors
    
        /dev/sda1 : start=       63, size= 81915372, Id= 7, bootable
        /dev/sda2 : start= 81915435, size= 35294805, Id= 5
        /dev/sda3 : start=        0, size=        0, Id= 0
        /dev/sda4 : start=        0, size=        0, Id= 0
        /dev/sda5 : start= 81915498, size= 16579017, Id=83
        /dev/sda6 : start= 98494578, size=   514017, Id=82
        /dev/sda7 : start= 99008658, size= 16386237, Id= b
        
    Save the file and exit the editor.
  8. Write the corrected partition details to the partition table using the sfdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo sfdisk /dev/sda < sda-backup.txt
        Checking that no-one is using this disk right now ...
        OK
    
        Disk /dev/sda: 7296 cylinders, 255 heads, 63 sectors/track
        Old situation:
        Units = cylinders of 8225280 bytes, blocks of 1024 bytes, counting from 0
    
           Device Boot Start     End   #cyls    #blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sda1   *      0+   5099-   5100-  40961142+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sda2       5099    7295    2197   17647402+   5  Extended
        /dev/sda3          0       -       0          0    0  Empty
        /dev/sda4          0       -       0          0    0  Empty
        /dev/sda5       5099+   6130    1032-   8289508+  83  Linux
        /dev/sda6       6131+   6162      32-    257008+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        /dev/sda7       6163+   7182    1020-   8193118+   b  W95 FAT32
        New situation:
        Units = sectors of 512 bytes, counting from 0
    
           Device Boot    Start       End   #sectors  Id  System
        /dev/sda1   *        63  81915434   81915372   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sda2      81915435 117210239   35294805   5  Extended
        /dev/sda3             0         -          0   0  Empty
        /dev/sda4             0         -          0   0  Empty
        /dev/sda5      81915498  98494514   16579017  83  Linux
        /dev/sda6      98494578  99008594     514017  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        /dev/sda7      99008658 115394894   16386237   b  W95 FAT32
        Successfully wrote the new partition table
    
        Re-reading the partition table ...
    
        If you created or changed a DOS partition, /dev/foo7, say, then use dd(1)
        to zero the first 512 bytes:  dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/foo7 bs=512 count=1
        (See fdisk(8).)
        
  9. Confirm the problem is now resolved by running parted on your disk device.

    For example:
        $ sudo parted /dev/sda unit s print
        Model: ATA ST3060022ACE (scsi)
        Disk /dev/sda: 117210240s
        Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
        Partition Table: msdos
    
        Number  Start      End         Size       Type      File system     Flags
         1      63s        81915434s   81915372s  primary   ntfs            boot
         2      81915435s  117210239s  35294805s  extended
         5      81915498s  98494514s   16579017s  logical   ext2
         6      98494578s  99008594s   514017s    logical   linux-swap(v1)
         7      99008658s  115394894s  16386237s  logical   fat32
        
    You should now be able to use GParted with this device. :-)

How-to Fix Partition Outside the Disk

The following instructions describe how to manually correct the problem of a partition extending beyond the end of the disk.

Other methods also exist, such as using testdisk to scan the disk device to rebuild the partition table. The testdisk application is included on GParted Live.

If the problem occurs with the extended partition, then you might consider using the fixparts application. The fixparts application is also included on GParted Live.

NOTE:   Be sure to choose the correct disk device path.
In the following example, the disk device containing a partition outside the disk is /dev/sdb

  1. Ensure you have a good backup of your data.
  2. Confirm the problem by running parted on your disk device (e.g., /dev/sdb).

    For example:
        $ sudo parted /dev/sdb unit s print
        Error: Can't have a partition outside the disk!
        
    You should see the error message Error: Can't have a partition outside the disk!
  3. Gather partition details for analysis using the fdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo fdisk -l -u /dev/sdb
    
        Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
        255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
        Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
        Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        Disk identifier: 0x00068df3
    
          Device  Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sdb1   *          63    12578894     6289416    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb2        12578895   180345689    83883397+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb3       180345690   390058199   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb4       390058200   488408189    49174995    5  Extended
        /dev/sdb5       390058263   459089504    34515621   83  Linux
        /dev/sdb6       459089568   488392064    14651248+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        
  4. Check the fdisk output for the cause of the problem.

    Does any partition have an end value larger than the disk size?

    To be precise, since the first sector begins at sector zero (0), check to see if the end of any partition is greater than the disk size minus one sector.

    In this example the end of extended partition sdb4 is beyond the size of the disk.

        488,408,189 --- end of sdb4
        488,397,168 --- size of sdb device
        Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
        255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
        Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
        Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
        Disk identifier: 0x00068df3
    
          Device  Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sdb1   *          63    12578894     6289416    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb2        12578895   180345689    83883397+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb3       180345690   390058199   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb4       390058200   488408189    49174995    5  Extended
        /dev/sdb5       390058263   459089504    34515621   83  Linux
        /dev/sdb6       459089568   488392064    14651248+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        
  5. Determine a new end value (and partition size) to prevent the partition outside the disk problem.

    The new end sector of the partition outside the disk should be the size of the disk minus one sector.

    In our example:
        new sdb4 end = (sdb disk size) - 1
                     = 488397168 - 1
                     = 488397167
        
    New size of sda1 will be the new end of sda1 minus the start of sda1 plus one sector.
        new sdb4 size = (new sdb4 end) - (sdb4 start) + 1
                      = 488397167 - 390058200 + 1
                      = 98338968
        
  6. Make a copy of the partition table in an editable file using the sfdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo sfdisk -d /dev/sdb > sdb-backup.txt
        
  7. Use your favourite editor to edit the file to change the old partition size to the new partition size.
    If you are using GParted Live, you can edit the file using the Leafpad editor.

    For example:
        $ sudo leafpad sdb-backup.txt
    
        # partition table of /dev/sdb
        unit: sectors
    
        /dev/sdb1 : start=       63, size= 12578832, Id= 7, bootable
        /dev/sdb2 : start= 12578895, size=167766795, Id= 7
        /dev/sdb3 : start=180345690, size=209712510, Id= 7
        /dev/sdb4 : start=390058200, size= 98349990, Id= 5
        /dev/sdb5 : start=390058263, size= 69031242, Id=83
        /dev/sdb6 : start=459089568, size= 29302497, Id=82
        
    Change the old size of the partition sdb4 (98349990) to the calculated new size (98338968).
        # partition table of /dev/sdb
        unit: sectors
    
        /dev/sdb1 : start=       63, size= 12578832, Id= 7, bootable
        /dev/sdb2 : start= 12578895, size=167766795, Id= 7
        /dev/sdb3 : start=180345690, size=209712510, Id= 7
        /dev/sdb4 : start=390058200, size= 98338968, Id= 5
        /dev/sdb5 : start=390058263, size= 69031242, Id=83
        /dev/sdb6 : start=459089568, size= 29302497, Id=82
        
    Save the file and exit the editor.
  8. Write the corrected partition details to the partition table using the sfdisk command.

    For example:
        $ sudo sfdisk /dev/sdb < sdb-backup.txt
        Checking that no-one is using this disk right now ...
        OK
    
        Disk /dev/sdb: 30401 cylinders, 255 heads, 63 sectors/track
        Old situation:
        Units = cylinders of 8225280 bytes, blocks of 1024 bytes, counting from 0
    
           Device Boot Start     End   #cyls    #blocks   Id  System
        /dev/sdb1   *      0+    782     783-   6289416    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb2        783   11225   10443   83883397+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb3      11226   24279   13054  104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb4      24280   30402-   6123-  49174995    5  Extended
        /dev/sdb5      24280+  28576    4297-  34515621   83  Linux
        /dev/sdb6      28577+  30400    1824-  14651248+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        New situation:
        Units = sectors of 512 bytes, counting from 0
    
           Device Boot    Start       End   #sectors  Id  System
        /dev/sdb1   *        63  12578894   12578832   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb2      12578895 180345689  167766795   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb3     180345690 390058199  209712510   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
        /dev/sdb4     390058200 488397167   98338968   5  Extended
        /dev/sdb5     390058263 459089504   69031242  83  Linux
        /dev/sdb6     459089568 488392064   29302497  82  Linux swap / Solaris
        Warning: partition 4 does not end at a cylinder boundary
        Warning: partition [6] does not end at a cylinder boundary
        Successfully wrote the new partition table
    
        Re-reading the partition table ...
    
        If you created or changed a DOS partition, /dev/foo7, say, then use dd(1)
        to zero the first 512 bytes:  dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/foo7 bs=512 count=1
        (See fdisk(8).)
        
  9. Confirm the problem is now resolved by running parted on your disk device.

    For example:
        $ sudo parted /dev/sdb unit s print
        Model: ATA ST3250022ACE (scsi)
        Disk /dev/sdb: 488397168s
        Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
        Partition Table: msdos
    
        Number  Start       End         Size        Type      File system     Flags
         1      63s         12578894s   12578832s   primary   ntfs            boot
         2      12578895s   180345689s  167766795s  primary   ntfs
         3      180345690s  390058199s  209712510s  primary   ntfs
         4      390058200s  488397167s  98338968s   extended
         5      390058263s  459089504s  69031242s   logical   ext2
         6      459089568s  488392064s  29302497s   logical   linux-swap(v1)
        
    You should now be able to use GParted with this device. :-)

How-to Fix Unable to Satisfy All Constraints

We plan to outline how to approach this problem. In the meantime you can seek help in the GParted forum.

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