Windows 7 - How can I partition a single hard drive?

Since the time I have purchased my laptop, I have a single C Drive of 288GB (the specs say 320 GB). Now I'm planning to install Windows 8 beta (in future) on my system without losing my data.

Will creating a partition of my disk help?

I want to have two drives. One just for the OS and the other for my files, so that whenever I want to install a new version of Windows, I just need to format one drive without the loss of any data.

Is it possible?

Please help.

Thanks in advance.

Have a look at this tutorial.

Partition or Volume - Create New

Before you do partition your hard drive it would be wise to backup any personal data to an external source first in case anything goes wrong.

By creating a partition in a manner explained in the tutorial, will all my data (except Windows 7's files) will be transferred to the new partition.

I want like 20GB partition for OS and all the rest space for my personal use, so that when I install Windows 8, I install it on the 20GB partition to avoid data loss.

As far i understand from your post you are quite new in this task and it is very dangerous to do this stuff withouth taking precaution..

Please take this few steps that you dont face any problem.
As you mentioned you have only one partition:
1..... Backup your data and make image of your system from system image software either from windows in built or 3rd party software ( can find at download.com) at store it on external hd or make repair disk or usb drive...... ( If you dont know how to do this steps please follow this section

2.. use disk partition sofware as easus partition master { be sure you have your operating system dvd as sometimes it crash boot function}

3. Last make at least 100 Gb of partiotion on 1st drive as you have enough amount of hd partition to try windows 8...

Rest other seniors may help you regarding this topic

1. Open Disk Management:

Go to Start and select Control Panel, chose Administrative Tools, under Computer Management you should see Disk Management. Select it, or open it from Administrative Tools from the Start Menu or even type in "diskmgmt.msc" in the Run Box ("Windows Key" + "R")

2. Shrink your Hard Drive Space.

Right click on your Hard Drive and select "Shrink"

Now depending on how much space you want to give Windows 8, you will need to shrink this to whatever as long as you still have enough space for Windows 7, for example I have a 150GB Hard Drive

Windows 8 DP = 35GB
Windows 7 = 115GB

1GB contains 1024 Megabytes, so 35GB x 1024MB = 35,840MB.

Now work out 150GB x 1024MB to find out how much Megabytes are in 150GB = 153,600MB

153,600MB - 35,840MB = 117,760 MB to find 115GB, in the Shrink Window change it to that.

3. Make a new Partition.

This should explain everything below and will be easier to understand;
Partition or Volume - Create New

After shrinking there should be a new grey box saying Unallocated Space, Right Click that and Select "New Partition". Give it all 35GB/35,840MB.

Install Windows 8 and select the 35 GB Partition to install it to.

Your done

Hope this helps,
Cheers, Joe

Even if you keep your OS and installed programs on separate partitions, when you install a new OS into your OS partition, you'll still have to reinstall most of your programs. Many programs put files in places other than your program files folder, which is what you're trying to put on a separate partition. So when you install a new OS, the programs won't be able to find the files that they stored on other parts of your computer, like the registry (which is ingrained into your OS and will likely stay on your OS partition). Even if you could somehow copy all these extra files from all over your computer back into the same places on your new OS, many still likely wouldn't work because they wouldn't be immediately compatible with your new OS.

The main reason you'd want two separate partitions set up like this is to keep your OS running smoothly, and improve boot time. I'm about 95% sure you won't be able to keep very many of your programs installed correctly when you install a new OS. Some simple programs might be ok, but any complex ones will likely fail terribly. Just though you should know before you try any of this, only to find out it doesn't work

Now, there might be a way to keep everything installed if you're just reinstalling the exact same OS you were running before (again, this is really only done to keep performance up and clutter down) but upgrading to a whole new OS just involves too many complex changes in how programs are supposed to operate for old programs to work right away like you're hoping. Sorry