Have you ever encountered situations when, when installing Windows for the first time or in an already running system, it was necessary to partition a disk into partitions? Windows 7 is used or the system is ranked higher, it doesn't matter at all. Apparently, many will answer this question in the affirmative, since they usually follow the recommendations of experts who say that the best option is to install the system on one partition and save user files on another. Indeed, this is often necessary so that in the event of damage to the installed OS and / or its reinstallation, the user's documents or personal data remain intact. But how to divide the hard drive into several partitions so that each of them can be used for its intended purpose and independently of each other?
Why partition a disk?
First, let's brieflyLet's dwell on why this may be required at all. One of the options, when a special partition is allocated for the system, so that if it is damaged, errors and failures do not affect important user information, is familiar to everyone. However, not everyone is aware that the division of a local disk with Windows 7 on board can also be used to install a second or even a third operating system on your own computer (if only there is enough space). For example, you can often find custom PCs and laptops that run both Windows and one of the Linux modifications in parallel. And with the advent of the stationary version of the Android x86 OS, it became possible to install it even on some laptop models, for which it is fully adapted. A plus? Sure!
Partitioning a disk in Windows 7: options
So, what can I advise an ordinary user as the simplest tools that can perform all the necessary operations. It is believed that among all the methods designed to perform disk partitioning, in Windows 7 or in modifications above, three main methods can be used:
- breakdown at the system installation stage;
- creating additional partitions in the installed OS;
- use of highly specialized third party programs.
Immediately note that the second method allows you to use the tools of the operating system itself, but such tools are only in the "seven" and later versions. If you need to perform similar operations in thaton the other hand, "Vista" or "express", you will have to use only third-party programs, since in their main set such a tool is not initially available.
Partitioning a disk when installing Windows 7
So, the first solution is an option that can be used without problems directly when performing a system installation. This method works equally well in the case of a clean installation of Windows 7 on a new hard drive, and if it is reinstalled if the recovery tools are powerless.
As usual, after starting from the bootable media, the preferred language and region are selected, after which, at the partition selection step, you can do two things. If you are doing the first installation on a hard drive that has no partitions at all, only unallocated space will be displayed in the window.
Click the button to create a partition, and then specify the required volume for it (this is necessary only because the system automatically reserves all available space for itself). As a rule, about 50-100 GB are allocated for the system partition in the case of installation of the seventh modification. You can leave the rest of the disk space for a logical disk or create several of them.
Please note that a maximum of four such partitions can be created on MBR disks. Further, if necessary, format the created partitions or simply select the one you need for installing Windows, after which its formatting will be performed automatically. Letters for each section createdyou do not need to assign manually, as the system will do it without your participation.
When it comes to reinstalling the system, all unnecessary partitions can first be deleted to free up space, and then follow the same method that was used in the case of unallocated space.
Preliminary steps before partitioning a disk using system tools
Before you perform disk partitioning with Windows 7 on board in an already installed system, you should pay attention to a small nuance.
It is strongly recommended before performing such operations to defragment the disk or partition from which it is supposed to "bite off" part of the space. This can be done by a standard tool by calling it through the disk properties on the service tab.
Using the disk management tool on a running system
Now you can perform disk partitioning in Windows 7 with its own standard tools - the toolkit located in the disk management section (diskmgmt.msc). This technique, however, looks a little more complicated.
In Disk Management, select the disk or partition you want to split, through RMB go to the volume compression item.
The amount available for compression proposed by the system can be left unchanged (the total size of the entire partition will be divided approximately in half). After that, confirm the compression, and then onIn the appeared unallocated space through the RMB, proceed to create a simple volume, after which the standard "Master" starts.
You can leave the suggested size unchanged or set your own parameters, and then you should choose the letter that will be assigned to the partition so that it is displayed correctly in the system. The letters "A" and "B" are not recommended. If you had only one "C" drive before splitting, select the letter "D". If there is already a partition under this letter, choose the next one in alphabetical order, but do not forget that if the system has both a logical disk and an optical drive, the drive is automatically assigned the letter “E”, so you can’t touch it either.
Next, select the type of file system you prefer, specify the volume label (partition name) and format (you can use the quick one). Wait for the formatting to finish, after which a new logical partition will appear in the system.
AOMEI Partition Assistant and its analogues
If you are not satisfied with any of the proposed options, you can use some program for partitioning disks in Windows 7 or in any other OS, including outdated modifications. As one of the easiest tools, we can recommend the Partition Assistant application from AOMEI. Similar programs from Acronis also look good. In them, actions are even simpler.
Select the section based on whichwill create a new one, through RMB or in the menu at the bottom left, go to the item to change the size of the partition, and then just use the slider, the movement of which sets the desired volume. After confirmation, unallocated space will appear, on which the tool for creating a new partition is called through RMB. Next, specify the desired size or leave it unchanged, select the letter and file system, and then simply click the "OK" button. The "Apply" button will appear in the top bar of the main application. After clicking it in the window of pending operations, click the "Go" button and agree to the reboot. Splitting will be performed on system restart.
How to get rid of unnecessary sections?
Finally, let's see how to remove hard drive partitioning. In Windows 7, you can use disk management for this, where you can choose to delete it via RMB on the partition.
You can also perform a similar procedure through the command line, where the diskpart toolkit is first called, and then the commands shown above are sequentially entered for the selected partition. If you cannot delete the partition in this way, you can enter the line delete volume override. as the delete command.
In the AOMEI program described above, the actions look similar. You only need to select the deletion method (quick deletion or permanent deletion of the partition and all data), and then, as for partitioning, confirm the pending operation.
Note:to delete absolutely all existing partitions from flash drives and external USB drives, you can use the most common full formatting using Windows tools or low-level formatting programs like HDD LLFT.
