Create volume or partition?

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  1. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Create volume or partition?


    when I'm formatting a HDD that is completely clean (no partitions or volumes) should I create a partition or some kind of volume to format the drive, which will format the whole drive, I don't know which one to go with.

    If partition, what kind, primary extended etc.

    If volume, what kind of volume RAID, stripe etc
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  2. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #2

    Whats going on said hard drive? What are you going to use it for? Do you know what RAID is and why you might want to use it?
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  3. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    it's just a HDD, I'll be doing it to a usb aswell
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  4. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #4

    I know its just a HDD. Quick answer, just go with what windows recommends.

    If its just a secondary drive you should end up with just one primary partition. If you are installing windows to it you will also end up with a system reserved partition. To use RAID you need to setup an array of two or more drives.
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  5. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Oh I just meant like know when you have a HDD with nothing on it, and you first need to format it

    so you would do
    Create partition
    select partition __
    format

    I was just wondering at the "create partition" step, if you would do create volume instead if it was more effective to format the entire drive
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  6. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #6

    It just depends on whether you want to partition it or not. Like I said originally, it depends on what you plan to do with the drive. I have some PC's with only one hard drive. I chose to split the drive up into two partitions so I could put my documents and pictures etc on the second partition. That way I don't loose them when I have to re-install Windows.
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  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #7

    To partition & format for OS install take a look here:
    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
    Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install

    To partition & format for a 2rd HD Drive take a look here:
    Partition or Volume - Create New
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  8. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    i dont want to partion it, should i just create a volume then?

    create a volume or create a primary partition? before i format it
    Last edited by Brink; 03 Dec 2011 at 18:19. Reason: merged
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  9. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #9

    Just follow the tutorial that theog gave you.

    You will need a primary partition on your hard drive before you can install Windows.

    As you only want a single partition, creating a volume won't concern you. A volume is a logical partition created in an extended primary partition.

    The drive can have three primary partitions and a fourth extended partition for any logical volumes you want to create.
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  10. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    thank you very much
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