Partitioning in Windows 7 - Help needed urgently

gladiator · 18 Nov 2009

Hi everyone,

I am new to windows 7. Recently i bought a laptop with windows pre-installed in it.
I have a HD drive of 500gb. Windows is already preinstalled on it. I Want to partition the drive without affecting any data. I loaded some 30 gb data already on the drive. I want to partition the 450gb drive into 3/4 drives each of 100gb, such that i can allocate the Os with a drive and remaining 2/3 with my personal data songs, movies...etc.

I want to partition the drive and I don't know how??? Can anyone please explain me step by step how to do it. The main point here is do i need to again reformat the whole drive such that before re-installing Windows 7 i can partition it (or) do i have any alternate solution such that while running windows I can partition the current drive without affecting any data other than system files....

Please help me ........

Thanks.:)

Tews · 18 Nov 2009

I dont think its possible to do without affecting your data, but I could be wrong...

gladiator · 18 Nov 2009

just tell me exactly,

as i need to do it this night

if i need to back up the data, how can i do it

please help me anyone....

ilesal · 18 Nov 2009

A good start would be to back up your data onto an external drive.

Type partition into the start menu search box.

When you create a partition it will be empty. You will have to create a folder with your say, Music, add the back up data and create a link in your Music folder on your OS, (add to library.)

Just out of curiosity why all the partitions? If the hard drive fails you still loose everything.

Barman58 · 18 Nov 2009

I assume at the moment you have a single drive with the OS and the programs at the beginning of the drive in a single Primary partition.

What you need to do is to first shrink the existing single partition to your desired 100GB, this will give you a 100GB partition and an un-allocated area of 400GB

You would (due to restrictions in windows); need to create an extended partition and then create 3/4 logical drives within this partition.

Although this may be done within windows using the built in Disc Maintenance Application in Computer Management - I would advise that for better control you use a 3rd party tool.

Many are available both free and chargeable - I personally use the partition wizard Bootable disk

Partition Wizard is a Windows based FREE Partition Manager. It works as partition magic and supports Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008 server and Windows 7. FREE for Home and Business user.

Warning

Although this is a generally safe procedure things can sometimes go wrong - read fully and be sure you understand the procedure and I would strongly advise that you back up any irreplaceable personal files before you begin just in case

macgyver2 · 18 Nov 2009

I do this to every laptop I have used. If I remember correctly the built in disk manager won't allow you to do this. 3rd party software is needed since it needs to move data around to not destroy your installation.

ilesal, granted if the drive fails its all gone. I do it for when I am out and the OS fails I have a second partition with everything I need to restore my computer to a working state. I also have 2 partitions to keep my person files away from the OS so in case of the OS is trashed all my personal files are still safe.

tbernstein · 18 Nov 2009

barman58 seems to have it right. You can use the built in disc manager, but it has limitations. In particular, when you try to shrink an existing partition it won't always let you.
Most well known partition programmes give you more control. The paid ones aren't very expensive. In the UK they are often given away free on magazine covers, I don't know about the USA.
I tend to mistrust the freeware ones, as being complicated or just unknown, ( you don't trust your partitions to anything unreliable), but I looked at the partition wizard site and it sounds good. And since there is a recommendation here, it is presumably going to be alright.

That being said, if you're not sure, don't do it. Just make folders for all the data.
I admit, I do have lots of partitions, spread over two hard drive, but there are plenty of threads on various web sites that contain postings querying why you'd want to.
I do it for he same reason you do - organisation and also to protect data if I have to reinstall Windows.
(I use Paragon Partition manager - free from a magazine)

gladiator · 18 Nov 2009

thanks guyz for all the replies,

Finally i am thinking of just reloading windows 7 again, So that at the installation time it asks me the option of partitioning. So using this partition option I am going to divide my whole HD. Is it safe to do it??? Is it possible using my laptop with an Windows 7 OEM.

Anyone just help me regarding this doubt......

Thanks...

SIW2 · 18 Nov 2009

Hi,

Because you only added another 30gb of data - Windows Disk Management should be fine for the job.

Type partition into start search box. When Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions pops up, click it.

You will see the drive in the next window.

Rt click the Big Windows partition and select Shrink.

Shrink it to 100 gb.

You then have a bit under 400gb Unallocated space.

Rt click the Unallocated space and create a New simple volume - select the entire amount and quick format as NTFS. The drive letter it offers by default should be fine.

If you already had 3 partitions on the drive ( you might as there may be a couple put on there by the OEM, you will actually be creating an Extended partition( It will have a Green border ).

Windows always makes the 4th partition an Extended.

You can make further sub divisions inside that - called Logical drives - in exactly the same way.

Rt click the new approx 300gb partition/ Logical drive you just created and select shrink - select 100gb

You will then have about 200gb Free space. Rt click that and create a new Simple Volume of 100gb - Quick Format to ntfs and accept the drive letter.

Then create another Logical drive from the remaining 100gb.

gregrocker · 19 Nov 2009

bumped * good advice^^

** Partitioning in Windows 7 - Help needed urgently **