Create an additional partition on the disk. How to add or change disk partitions
Some users do not know how to split one disk into several logical partitions, but this can be very useful. If you have several logical partitions, you can store information not on the system volume. In this case, the risk of losing it when reinstalling the system or formatting the disk is sharply reduced. This article will tell you several ways on how you can create a second volume D, like using standard means, and using third-party software.
Using Disk Management to create a new partition
The built-in disk management utility allows you to do everything necessary actions, while this program is present in all latest versions Windows. To run it you need pressWin+R enter diskmgmt.msc.
In the window that opens you need select drive C(or another section that you want to divide), you need to right-click on it and select the item “ Shrink Volume" In the next window you need to write the size of the new volume D, according to the standard everything is indicated there free space. But it's worth leaving system disk at least ten gigabytes free space for new programs and system files. 
After this it will start formation process. At the end of it, unallocated space will appear on which you need to right-click. 
Here you just have to select the item marked in the picture. In the next window you need to select letter for the new volume, in our case it is D. 
Then it was suggested write the name volumes, and also select the file system and cluster. Here everything can be left as default. After this, formatting will be performed and the new logical partition will become available for use.
Using the command line to partition disks
Separation can also be done using the console. To do this, you will have to open it with administrator rights and enter the following operators:
Application of Aomei Partition Assistant Standard
There are quite a lot of applications that help manage logical partitions, as well as cut off and create new partitions. You can find many examples on the Internet, but here we talk about one utility. After the user downloads and installs it, you need to go to Main menu, select the desired hard drive, then right-click and select “”. 
In the next section you will have to indicate the number of megabytes for a new section. 
Then all you have to do is click OK, and then Go.
After this, the device will reboot and you can use the new partition.
Hello. Today I decided to write about how to create a partition on a hard drive already under Windows 7. Simply put, how to partition HDD after installing Windows. First, I’ll write a few words about why you should partition your hard drive and create additional partitions. If for example you bought new computer, or a laptop, then most likely there is no operating system installed on it, and if it does have DOS, then you will most likely want to change it to Windows. I wrote about how to install Windows 7 in the article Installing Windows 7, you can read.
So, most likely your hard drive will not be divided into partitions, but it will either have one partition, or there will simply be an unallocated area. In principle, the hard drive can be partitioned when installing the operating system, there is a very clear editor, but if you did not do this and installed Windows 7 in one single partition, then you can create additional partitions after installing the operating system.
You don't even need special programs for this; Windows 7 has an excellent utility called Disk Management. I have used it to create partitions (local disks) more than once and there have been no problems. You can also take some space from an existing local disk and create another one. This will be useful if, for example, you want to install another operating system, and free memory not on the hard drive.
As for the question of whether it is necessary to divide the hard drive into partitions at all, the answer is a clear yes. It is very inconvenient when the operating system, all your files and everything in the world are installed in one partition. Firstly, this will slow down the operation of your system, and secondly, it will be very difficult to find something among this pile of folders. Well, in general, why do this, because you can split a disk very easily. Moreover, now hard disks large sizes.
Create a partition on your hard drive for Windows 7
Let's get started with the process of creating new partitions, also known as local disks on Windows 7.
Open Start and click right click on computer" . Then select Manage.
A window will open in which we select on the left and wait a little while information about the partitions on the hard drive is loaded.
Let's look at the structure of our hard drive. As you can see, I have already created sections. And you most likely will have only one section and an unmarked area. In order to take memory from one partition, right-click on a specific partition and select "Shrink volume...", follow the instructions.
After this, you will have a memory in the “Free” status (mine is light green). It is from this area that we will create our sections. And one more thing if you squeezed system partition with Windows, then I advise you to leave at least 50 GB of memory for it, and if the network is from something, then more is possible.
So, right-click on the “Free” area and select "Create Simple Volume".
The Volume Creation Wizard will open ( local disks). In the first window, click "Next".
We indicate the size of the partition we are creating. If you want to create a partition from the entire free area, then simply click "Next".
In the next window, I advise you to leave the formatting of the new partition, and if you wish, you can set the volume label. this is text instead of the inscription " Local disk". Click "Next".
We check all the information and click "Finish".
Well, that's all. As you can see, nothing complicated. Believe me, it is better to immediately divide the hard drive into partitions than to keep all the information in one section. By the way, you can go to "My Computer", new section has already arrived and is ready to go.
A hard drive is designed to permanently store information used when operating a computer. They are also called hard drives or hard drives. The abbreviation HDD also stands for hard drive in computer terminology. Hard disk is one of the most fast devices for writing and reading information, not counting RAM.
Most often, it is not convenient to use a hard drive as a single storage of information, so most users of PCs and laptops split the hard drive into partitions for convenience.
The concept of a hard drive partition
A partition (often referred to as a volume) is an area of a hard drive that can be formatted for a specific file system. A partition or volume is designated by a letter of the Latin alphabet, for example F, E, H, Z, or other letters that are not currently used on this hard drive.
Type of computer hard drive
Types of hard disk partitions
Experts in modern computer terminology related to hard drive partitions distinguish three main types of volumes on a hard drive:
- Primary (Primary partition);
- Extended partition;
- Logical partition.
The primary hard drive partition typically stores user data, programs, and operating system files. There can be more than one primary partition on a hard disk, but there cannot be more than four. It is impossible to install more than one operating system on one primary hard drive volume, so if you want to use several operating systems on one PC, split the hard drive into several partitions. And since there cannot be more than four primary partitions on one hard drive, there cannot be more than four installed operating systems either.
During each session of working with a computer in active state There is only one primary partition, the one from which the operating system was loaded. Many operating systems have the ability to boot only from the active volume on the hard drive.
An extended partition combines logical drives, which are also called logical partitions. Create logical drives in the extended section you can great amount. They can store various information, such as user data, applications, programs, personal photos, videos and documents, even operating system files that can be loaded not only from the primary partition.
Logical partitions are almost no different from extended partitions. Any logical drive is simply an area of an extended partition.
Computer hard drive
Partitioning your hard drive
Many laptop owners personal computers after the purchase they think about the problem division of hard disk into partitions. The essence of this partition is to divide the computer's hard drive into two or more partitions. In most cases, create a local drive C containing the operating system and system folders, as well as local drive D on which they mainly store their favorite movies, music, photos, text documents etc. But to store personal data, not one, but several local disks can be used and they can be named by any letters of the Latin alphabet.
Hard disk division occurs only formally
Advantages of partitioning your hard drive
Splitting your hard drive into several partitions has many advantages. For example, the most compelling advantage of this procedure is that personal files such as videos, photographs and documents will be stored on separate disk. Because if the need arises to reinstall the operating system, and formatting the disk with the OS is simply inevitable in this case, then all your personal files and folders will be saved.
There is, of course, another solution to this problem. Before reinstalling the operating system, move all important data to removable media, but this activity is quite labor-intensive, especially if the amount of information that needs to be saved amounts to tens or even hundreds of gigabytes. And if a situation arises when an emergency reinstallation of the operating system is necessary, access to personal files saved on a shared local drive along with the OS is no longer possible, important information will simply be lost.
This is what a computer's hard drive looks like when purchased in a store.
Storage of system and personal files in different sections of the hard drive will be more convenient. It will be easier to find the information you are interested in, since each section will be less cluttered, and you will easily find necessary files or folders. In addition, an obvious advantage breaking down hard partitioning the disk is that operating system it is easier to work with a less loaded partition, that is, the performance of the OS increases significantly.
Another advantage of dividing a hard drive into partitions is the ability to use several operating systems on one computer. For example, Windows 7 and Windows 8 or Windows XP can be installed on one hard drive, but for this the hard drive must be partitioned. If a failure occurs in one of the operating systems, you will have another operating system installed and ready to use.
To summarize, it is worth highlighting the main advantages of dividing a hard drive into partitions. So, the advantages of this procedure include:
- ensuring the security of personal data even if failures occur in the OS;
- high efficiency of organizing information stored on the hard drive;
- increased OS performance due to less partition load;
- the ability to install and use several operating systems on a computer.
A hard drive is a very complex device that provides fast access to stored information
Dividing a hard drive into partitions using built-in Windows OS tools
Since we have found out the main reasons why a hard drive is partitioned and become familiar with the main advantages that such a solution subsequently brings, we should consider in detail how to partition a hard drive into local disks in practice. Moreover, we will describe the algorithm for performing this procedure in relation to the most popular operating systems - Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Partitioning a hard drive in Windows 7
If your computer or laptop has the Windows 7 operating system installed, then to divide the hard drive into partitions, follow these steps:
Step 1. Right-click on the “Computer” icon on the desktop or in the “Start” panel, open the context menu, and click “Manage.”
Right-click on the Computer icon
Step 2. In the window that opens, select the “Disk Management” utility from the menu. After this, you will have to wait for a few seconds until a window with the hard drive structure opens.
Select Disk Management
Hard disk partitions
Step 3. To partition the hard drive you need to select a volume that has enough large space, but it’s worth remembering that it’s best to compress a non-system partition if possible. Right-click on the selected volume and select “Shrink Volume” from the context menu. A small window will open and you will still need to wait some time.
Select Shrink disk and wait a few seconds
Step 4. System offer available options compression. Will be indicated maximum values, but it is not recommended to use them, so reduce the size a little to the level required for you. This will be the size of the future logical disk. Enter in the boxes required values and click on the “Compress” button. Next, we wait again until the compression process is completed.
Maximum valid values to compress the volume
Step 5: Once the process is complete, a new partition will appear in the Disk Management window. A black stripe and the inscription “Not distributed” will be visible on the top of it. To convert it into a hard disk volume, right-click, then select “Create simple volume”.
Unallocated space on your hard drive
Step 6. The “Simple Volume Creation Wizard” will open, click “Next” and select maximum size.
Creation simple volume
Step 7. Assign from the proposed letters of the Latin alphabet the letter that will later become the name of the new section and click “Next”.
Working with the Simple Volume Wizard
Select the name of the future partition in the Simple Volume Creation Wizard
Step 8. Check the box next to “Format this volume as follows”; select the NTFS file system; cluster size – default; Check the box next to “Quick Format” and click “Next”.
Manually setting formatting options
Step 9. When the “Completing the Simple Volume Wizard” window appears, check all the data and click the “Finish” button.
Completing the Create Simple Volume Wizard
Step 10. And the new hard drive partition is ready!
Ready new section
So without using additional software You can easily and simply partition the hard drive on a computer or laptop with the Windows 7 operating system installed.
Partitioning a hard drive in Windows 8
Owners of Windows 8 OS can split the hard drive into partitions using the Disk Management utility, but to open this window you need to hold down two keys at the same time. Windows keys+ R. As a result, the “Run” window will appear, in command line you need to enter “diskmgmt.msc” only without quotes and press the Enter button on your computer keyboard.
Next, the “Management” window will open, similar to that in the operating system discussed earlier. In order to create a new partition on your hard drive, you need to sequentially perform the same steps as in the algorithm described in Windows 7. That is, you perform all the manipulations described in steps 2-10.
Partitioning a hard drive in Windows 10
The hard drive on computers and laptops with the Windows 10 operating system installed can be divided into partitions using the same built-in Disk Management utility. Open this utility In Windows 10, you can open the Start menu. We type “Control Panel”, left-click on it and select “System and Security”.
Finding Control Panel in Windows 10
Control Panel in Windows 10
Hard disk structure
In the window that opens, scroll down the scroll bar and find the “Administration” item. In this item you need to find “Creating and formatting a hard disk”, click on it and wait a couple of seconds, after which a window with the “Disk Management” utility opens in front of us. We carry out further steps in full accordance with the hard drive division algorithm in Windows 7, again we do steps 2-10.
Other ways to create a new volume on a hard drive
It is worth mentioning that the Disk Management utility also allows you to delete hard drive partitions. You will need this if, for example, there is no more free space left, and new volume it is simply necessary to create. To do this, you can right-click on the hard disk partition to be deleted and select “Delete Volume”. On the spot remote partition An unallocated volume will appear that can be formatted to the parameters you require.
Removing a volume using Disk Management
The steps described in the algorithm show how to create a new partition using the compression method. But there is a way to create a new volume from unallocated space, which may appear after deleting a partition, as described in the paragraph above, or after previous divisions, there could simply be unallocated space on the hard disk, from which you can create a new volume by following steps 5-10 of the above algorithm .
In addition, it is possible to expand another of the existing volumes into the free space after deleting the old volume, or the partition can be expanded into unused unallocated space. To do this, click on the “Extend volume” item in the context menu, select “Next” and “Finish”.
Partitioning a hard drive when installing Windows OS
After starting the operating system loader, select the language, accept the terms License Agreement, and select " Full installation" The bootloader will prompt you to select a partition on which the operating system will subsequently be installed. Next, a window will open with a “Disk Settings” button. By clicking on this button, you will have access to all the tools that will allow you to work with disk space.
In this window, using the buttons, you can format the disk or disks, delete partitions, create new disks and select for them right size. Any changes you make will only take effect after you click the “Apply” button.
External hard drive
Dividing a hard drive with special programs
In addition to built-in tools, such as the Disk Management utility, they also use special programs, they are also called volume managers. On this moment there are a huge variety of them. The functionality of these programs allows you to perform many functions, not only dividing a hard disk into partitions. Among the most popular programs who received a large number of positive feedback, it is worth noting the following:
- Acronis Disc Director;
- Paragon Partition Manager;
- AOMEI Partition Assistant;
- Norton Partition Magic;
- EASEUS Partition Master
- Ranish etc.
Majority similar programs can be downloaded for free on the Internet, in addition, many of them are available in Russian.
Hard control program Acronis disk Disc Director
Hard control program Paragon disk Partition Manager
Conclusion
The above describes in detail how to quickly and easily divide a hard drive into partitions using the built-in tools of Windows operating systems in versions 7, 8 and 10. The option of how to partition a hard drive initially when installing the operating system on a computer or laptop is also considered. Here is a list of the most best programs to manage hard disk partitions according to user opinions.
The described benefits obtained from dividing a hard drive into partitions are simply undeniable. After all, this way you not only rationally use disk space, but also increase the performance of the operating system.
In this article I will tell you how to create a partition on a hard drive in windows 7.
Hard drive partition- This is part of the hard drive on which information can be stored. Partitions can be created, compressed, formatted, deleted. A partition is created to separate user files from operating system files. Typically, it is enough to have two hard drive partitions on your computer: Local Disk C and Local Disk D.
On Local Drive CWindows operating system files are stored, as well as installed programs. On another partition of the hard drive (it may be called differently for you) you can store your important documents, programs, photos, videos, music. If the operating system fails, the data on this local drive will be saved, since the system will be reinstalled on Local Drive C.
Earlier partition the hard drive it was only possible with the help third party programs. For example Partition Magic, Acronis Disc Director. Now, with the advent of new operating systems, this procedure can be done using built-in windows tools 7.
So let's get started creating a partition on your hard drive in windows 7. To do this, you need to follow the following instructions.
Step 1 . Right click on my computer icon and from context menu select Manage.
Step 2. In the snap Computer management In chapter Storage devices select Disk management.
Step 3. Next, click on Local drive C or another drive that you want to compress (If you have only one hard drive C, then you have no choice, you will have to compress it; if there are other partitions, then the choice is yours from which drive you want to “take away” the memory). Compressing the disk is necessary to provide free space for creating a new partition. In the context menu window that appears, click Shrink Volume...
Step 4. The process will begin to determine the available space for compression. You'll have to wait a little... After a few seconds, a dialog box will appear in which you need to configure drive C for compression.
In field Compressible space size (MB) indicate the size by how much you need to compress the disk. (The compressed size is the size of the future partition being created). After you calculate what size you need, click the button Compress.
Step 5. After the compression process is completed, an unallocated black section will appear. Right-click on it and click Create a simple volume...
Next a window will appear Create Simple Volume Wizard, which will help you create a simple disk volume.
A simple volume can only reside on one disk.
To continue, click the button Further.
Step 6. Next you need specify the size of the partition to be created. In line Simple volume size enter the maximum size in M.B. or leave it as is (by default, the maximum size is indicated in the simple volume size field).
Click to continue Further.
Step 7. In the next window Simple Volume Wizards assign a drive letter to the partition from A-Z by clicking on the drop-down list (indicated by the arrow), and then click Further.
Step 8. In a new window you have to perform. Formatting is the process of creating a file system. It is also necessary to save data on this partition.
Select the radio button in the section Format this volume as follows and select:
- File system - FAT or NTFS. Choose NTFS.
- Cluster size- the choice of cluster size depends on what files you will store on disk, if the files are not big size, then select a small cluster; if the files are large, for example photos, videos, music, then select a larger cluster.
- Volume Label- enter the name of the disc (for example: music, video, photos, programs, documents, etc.).
Uncheck the boxes Quick formatting And Compress folders and files. Click to continue Further.
Step 9. The Create Simple Volume Wizard completed successfully. This window displays all selected options. If you want to change something, click Back, if everything suits you, then click Ready.
Step 10. Once the formatting process is complete, a new primary partition will be created, highlighted in blue.
That's all, new section in the operating room windows system 7 created. Go to My computer. In chapter Hard disks you will see the created partition. You can start filling it with information.
To create a partition, you will need unallocated space on your hard drive. If the hard drive is new, then it is not initially marked. If there is no unallocated area on the disk, then it can be created using .
Warnings
1. To perform operations with sections of hard disk must be used account with administrator rights.
2. Make sure that in the service settings Disk Defragmenter The startup type is set to "Manual". If this service is disabled, then when you try to create a partition you will receive an error:
The specified service cannot start because it is disabled or all devices associated with it are disabled.
Method 1: Create a partition using Windows 7 Disk Management
1. Open Control Panel (View: Icons) > Administrative Tools > Computer Management.
2. From the left menu, select Disk management.
3. In the middle part of the window, right-click the unallocated area (shown as an "unallocated" partition, marked in black) in which you want to create a partition, and select the command from the menu that appears.
5. Specify volume the disk being created in megabytes or gigabytes. Remember that 1 gigabyte contains 1024 megabytes.
7. Select a drive letter from the drop-down list of available letters and click Further.
8. Select the file system and formatting method for the new partition. If desired, enter a volume label. So that the partition appears in the Computer folder simply as Local disk, delete the contents of the field Volume Label.
I recommend for new sections to always do with file system NTFS and the minimum possible cluster size (512 bytes). Full formatting will carefully create a cluster table, the NTFS file system will allow you to store files larger than four gigabytes, and minimum size cluster will ensure the most rational use disk space with inevitable file fragmentation.
Warning
If Windows 7 prompts you to convert a simple volume to dynamic, click No. No need Convert a simple volume to a dynamic volume. If you agree, then the reverse transformation will be possible only during complete Windows reinstallation 7.
After completing these steps, a new partition will be created in the unallocated area. You can close Disk Management.
Method 2: Create a partition using DiskPart (command line)
2. Type diskpart and press ENTER.
3. Type list disk and press ENTER.
After this command, a list of all physical hard drives and you will be able to see their IDs as serial numbers, which will be useful in the next step. You will also see which disk contains unallocated space - its volume is non-zero and is displayed in the graph Free.
4. Enter select disk X (instead of X enter the identification number (ID) of the disk on which there is unallocated area to create the partition) and press ENTER.
5. Type the command create partition primary and press ENTER.
This command will create a blank RAW partition on the drive you selected in step 4.
6. Type list volume and press ENTER.
The command will display a list of all sections with their IDs. Like disk IDs, partition IDs are represented as numbers, starting from zero. Note the ID of the RAW partition, whose size is the same as the unallocated area volume you saw in step 4.
7. At this stage, you need to decide which file system will be used on the created partition and format it.
- To execute full formatting partition with file NTFS system, enter the command: format fs=ntfs and press ENTER.
- To perform a quick format with NTFS, run the command format fs=ntfs quick
- To fully format a partition with FAT32, run the command format fs=fat32
- To perform a quick format with FAT32, run the command format fs=fat32 quick
8. Once you have finished formatting the new partition, type exit and press ENTER.
The new partition should now appear in the Computer folder, with a drive letter already assigned.