[parted-devel] [PATCH] GPT -> MBR synchronization

[H. Peter Anvin]

Alexander Graf wrote:
> 
> While this would work for most Linux systems and other OSs that are 
> GPT-aware, it fails miserably when you try to bring Windows into the game.
> 
> Imagine the following Scenario:
> 
> I have a Mac. This Mac has 4 partitions on it:
> 
> 1. EFI driver partition
> 2. Mac OS X
> 3. Windows
> 4. Linux
> 
> When you did the GPT->MBR sync, Linux was the active partition and thus 
> the only one being in sync on the MBR. How do you boot Windows?
> 
> Another problem would be that even if Windows would've been the active 
> partition at that time and we forget all other points against that, you 
> wouldn't be able to access the Linux or Mac OS X partition within 
> Windows, assuming it's not capable of using the GPT properly (which at 
> least the Windows XP I last used was not).
> 
> So basically it's not a good idea to sync only the active partition.
> 

Well, if you have more than 4 partitions, you do have to make tradeoffs.

FWIW, I *do* believe at least some types of Windows can understand GPT 
for the purpose of data partitions, but XP might not be one of them.

I really don't want to see us hard-wire the first four, however; that's 
worse than anything.  I guess you end up wanting a virtual flag of some 
sort.

	-hpa