Step by Step Process of Partitioning a hard disk on Windows 7

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Dividing a hard disk into several components (or partitions) is useful for organizing your files and folders and protect against possible data loss.

By splitting your drive into multiple partitions, you then have as many disks in Windows, you can use in your own way to sort your data.

You can reserve a partition for your system and software and one for your records. If your hard drive has a capacity of several hundreds of gigabytes, you can create partitions to group your pictures, video files, music files. If you are several to use the same machine, you can even assign a score to each user.

Like Windows Vista, Windows 7 is known to partition a hard disk, even if it contains data and without risk to themselves. It enables you to reduce the size of a partition, create new ones to increase their size, etc.. So no need to use third party software even though it is quite possible to perform partitioning with GParted.

Here is how to manage your partitions in Windows 7....

Save important files:

If Windows 7 can resize partitions without losing data that are above, you are not immune from a crash or failure. We strongly recommend that you back up your important documents before you partition your disks.

Preparing the hard disk for the process:

The files are scattered on your hard disk, reducing the size of an existing partition can be strongly limited. To consolidate all existing files on your partition in the same place, thereby maximizing the available space to create additional partitions, you must first defragment your hard drives.

• Click the Start button and then click Computer.
• Click the right mouse button on the drive you want to resize and click Properties.
• Open the Tools tab.
• Click Defragment Now.
• Click Defragment the disk.
• Once the defragmentation is complete (0% fragmentation), click Close.

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Reduce partition:

To create a new partition, you must first make room for an existing partition by reducing its size. You can then use this space to create a new partition inside.

• Click the right mouse button on the Computer icon located in the Start menu and click the Manage command.
  
  
• The Computer Management console opens. In the left frame, scroll down under Storage, click Disk Management item.
  
  
• The list of existing disks and partitions is displayed.
  
  
• Click the right mouse button on the disk used by Windows and choose Shrink Volume.
  
  
• Windows will then inform the maximum size that can be recovered (amount of space to reduce) and the new size of the current partition (total size in MB after discount).
  
  
• So grab the size you wish to retrieve your new partition, 20 000 for 20 GB for example and click the Minimize button.
  
  
• Your current score is reduced and the unallocated space is emerging as a result. It is in this space that you can create one or more new partitions.

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Create a new partition:

You now have unallocated space where you can create a new partition.

• Click the right mouse button on the unallocated space. In the menu that appears, choose New Simple Volume.
  
  
• The wizard for creating a simple volume opens. Click the Next button.
  
  
• Specify the size of the new partition. By default, it takes the whole size of the unallocated space. If you want to create multiple partitions in the unallocated space, enter the size of the first partition. Click the Next button.
  
  
• Scroll down Assign the drive letter next, and choose the drive letter you want to assign to this drive in Windows. It is through this letter that the reader will be identified in the explorer. Select G for example and then click Next.
  
  
• To use the new partition must be formatted. Select the file system (NTFS safer and providing more opportunity). Write if you want to name the new drive, and click the Next button.
  
  
• The next window summarizes the operations that will be made. Click Finish.
  
  
• The partition is then created and formatted. Note that this operation may take several tens of minutes depending on the size of the partition.
  
  
• Once formatting is complete, the partition is considered a new drive. You can use it as another hard drive.
  
  
• If you do not use all the unallocated space, you can create the same way in other partitions.

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Delete partition:

A partition is useless? You can remove and use the space freed up to expand another partition. Please note, deleting a partition deletes all data on them.

• Return to the disk management console of Windows 7.
  
  
• Click the right mouse button on the partition to delete and select Delete Volume.
  
  
• The removal of the partition you will lose all data on them. Click No to cancel the transaction if you still have to back up important data on the partition. Click Yes to delete the partition.
  
  
• Clicking the right mouse button on the space that appears and click Delete Partition.
  
  
• Confirm with Yes.
  
  
• The partition is then removed and transformed into unallocated space. You can use this space to create new partitions or to enlarge existing adjacent partition.

Enlarge a partition:

You may use the unallocated space to enlarge a partition that is next in the pattern of scores (left or right). This is done in data loss.

• Click the right mouse button to enlarge the partition that is next to the unallocated space and choose Extend volume.
  
  
• Extend Volume Wizard opens. Click the Next button.
  
  
• The unallocated space is automatically selected. If you do not want to use it in full, enter the space to use for expansion. Click the Next button.
  
  
• Then click the Finish button.
  
  
• The score is then enlarged.