Bug 1021263

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #795206 +++

Version of component:
parted-3.1-13.fc20.x86_64


Description of problem:

(portion of original description)
When creating GPT partitions for Linux filesystems, libparted uses the Microsoft Basic Data partition type code GUID (EBD0A0A2-B9E5-4433-87C0-68B6B72699C7). This is fine as far as Linux is concerned, since Linux ignores partition type codes for the most part; but the result is that the Windows file manager shows Linux filesystem partitions as being unformatted but accessible disks. Attempting to access such partitions results in a prompt to format them. (See attached screen shot.) This behavior is potentially dangerous; a simple user error can easily result in trashing the Linux installation.

Note that libparted creates partitions with appropriate Linux-specific type codes when creating swap, LVM, or Linux RAID partitions. It also creates Linux-specific type codes on MBR ("msdos") disks; it's ONLY Linux filesystems on GPT disks that are affected.

Additional note:

Rod Smith's patch was pushed by upstream over one year ago:
http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/parted-devel/2012-September/004237.html

Page 107 of the UEFI spec, Version 2.3.1, Errata C June 27, 2012 says in part:

"The PartitionTypeGUID field identifies the contents of the partition. This GUID is similar to the OS Type field in the MBR. Each filesystem must publish its unique GUID"

"OS vendors need to generate their own Partition Type GUIDs to identify their partition types."

parted'd behavior, and by extension the Fedora and RHEL installers, and tools that rely on parted, are directly contrary to the UEFI spec, which parted ostensibly follows by voluntarily agreeing to support the GPT partition scheme.

When the partition type GUID currently used by parted is seen by Windows 7/8, the partitions are visible in the UI, and when the user clicks on them is invited to format them. When the partition type GUID is set to the linux GUID, the partitions aren't visible at all in the Windows UI.