[parted-devel] [parted 1.8.8] msdos label and file system corruption issues with > 2TB disk

[H. Peter Anvin]

xerces8 wrote:
> From: "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa at zytor.com>
> 
>> Michael Reed wrote:
>>> What are the various protocols in use for booting from GPT partitions
>>> on BIOS systems?  Trying to standardize on one could be a "good thing".
>>>
>> So far, the only supported protocol is to have the bootable partition(s) 
>> present inth the MBR.  Data-only partitions can be present in the GPT only.
> 
> Sorry, but isn't it so, that BIOS loads and executes the boot sector (MBR) and
> does not care about any partitions ?

This is correct.  However, the handover protocol from the MBR to the 
operating system boot sector uses a (possibly synthetic) structure in 
MBR partition table format.  Furthermore, not all operating systems can 
boot off any partition table format even though they may be able to use 
it for data.

	-hpa