Trying to create partitions (with screen shot)

Hello,

I'm trying to partition my 500 GB hard drive into 3 drives total. Right now, there is only a C Drive, but I want to divide that.

When I go into the Windows 7 installation, this is what I see:



Extend and new are grayed out, and even in disk management, there is no unallocated space.

Can somebody please guide me into partitioning this hard drive. I've searched and the only answers I find are for dual boot setups. Partition Magic is not supported by Vista (.: 7 as well).

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Since your hard disk is empty, do this
Delete all the partitions, then you will get the choice to make new partitions.. (the red X for delete)

Hey 29a....I signed up just to help you out. I've done this at least 14 times, and am currently running XP, Seven, and Ubuntu. First, get this..EASEUS Partition Master is a magic partition manager software for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/2003/2008 Server. Free for home users......then what you'll have to do is shrink your Disc 0 Partition 2 (C drive ) to whatever size you want. After you do that, post back, I'll be here bro.

Actually, what Akash said...my method only works if you are running an OS. Delete that partition and than create 3 160GB partitions, or w/e size you want em. It's gonna ask in megabytes, so you can calculate 160 x 1,024 mbs...to get the amout you need.

akash3656 said:

Since your hard disk is empty, do this
Delete all the partitions, then you will get the choice to make new partitions.. (the red X for delete)

Click to expand...

After I delete both, what will happen? There will be nothing on that list. Also, is it safe to delete the system reserved partition?

jaycustom said:

Hey 29a....I signed up just to help you out. I've done this at least 14 times, and am currently running XP, Seven, and Ubuntu. First, get this..EASEUS Partition Master is a magic partition manager software for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/2003/2008 Server. Free for home users......then what you'll have to do is shrink your Disc 0 Partition 2 (C drive ) to whatever size you want. After you do that, post back, I'll be here bro.

Click to expand...

By using that program, would I be able to save the files that are presently on the system? Could I use Disk Management on Windows to achieve the same ends? I have 7 installed, but I'm not against formatting it again to have partitions.

So you do have Seven installed??? Ok, then get Easeus..and select your C drive and select resize...then shrink it to atleast 20GBs...then you have 470GB to make w/e you want. No..I dont believe you can resize you Seven partition from Windows 7..but easeus is free and a great program.

I'll try it out now. Thanks for sticking around.

Yes, Easeus will keep seven working and intact, as long as you DO NOT delete that Sys Reserve...your PC will not boot.

oh..no prob. I love doing this stuff and showing ppl...its great to run multiple OSes...good luck and any questions I'll be here.

Alright, it wouldn't let me launch the program because I'm running W7 64bit.

Damnit....didn't consider that...sorry dude...I'm on 32 bit. Well....than if you dont mind losing files, you can put the disc in and delete the C drive. But that means you Seven and all your files are GONE (unless you backup to a flash drive) Then you can make partitions with the 7 disc, and it also works well too. I had to fix errors on my disc, so after that I had no OS, so I created my 4 partitions with the seven disc.

I recently installed it so I don't mind losing files, but so I lose them only once, can I just run this through with you?

1. I keep "Disk 0 Partition 1" (100 MB) there the entire time.
2. Delete "Disk 0 Partition 2" (465 GB)
3. Theoretically, the "New" button will no longer be grayed out so I click it.

So it will ask me how many GBs I want the C drive to be?
If I put in 75 GB, it will give me the option again and I can click "New" again?

Yes...all correct. It will warn you about deleting C drive. The only thing you have wrong is it doesn't ask in GBs..it wants MBs. so if you want a 100GB part., you have to enter 102,400MBs. (100 x 1,024. But yes,leave the 100mb reserve, delete C, then click 'new" and enter size in mbs, repeat, till all space is used. Let me know how it goes.....

Thanks for all your help.
I'll keep you posted.

Actually 29a, if your wiping the whole drive anyway, you CAn delete the 100Mb partition. Unless you are installing windows 7 again, that 100mb part. will mess you up.

Hey, I reinstalled Windows 7 again and everything worked as planned. I now have 3 volumes (C:, D:, and E). I left the 100 MB partition since I missed the message before I started, but I don't see it in explorer so ignorance is bliss.

Very much obliged for the help.

One thing I noticed was a folder called "$WINDOWS.~BT" in the new E: drive. Is it anything or can I just delete it?

Awesome, good job. Yea, now that you have 7 back, you'll want to keep that 100mb part. because that is your systems boot files, etc. That WINDOWS. BT is something to do with bluetooth, I have no idea how it even got there. I've done it a million times and never saw it. So ditch it. Ok, man....no prob with the help and FYI, if you're considering Dual booting, you should install oldest to newest OS. If you want to dual boot, PM me.

Appreciate it. Thanks again dude.

Well, looks like your case is solved..... BTW, if you want to dual boot install oldest OS first then the newest OS..

29a said:

Hello,

I'm trying to partition my 500 GB hard drive into 3 drives total. Right now, there is only a C Drive, but I want to divide that.

When I go into the Windows 7 installation, this is what I see:



Extend and new are grayed out, and even in disk management, there is no unallocated space.

Can somebody please guide me into partitioning this hard drive. I've searched and the only answers I find are for dual boot setups. Partition Magic is not supported by Vista (.: 7 as well).

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Ok, this might go against some other's that have made suggestions, but here's what I recommend:

First, let's not use any third party software, mostly because they have little support in case you run into problems with them using W7. Seven comes with it's own partitioning software, that I see you've found

Using that softare, try to avoid partitioning at all while an OS is installed. This causes you to run into many problems later (like the in-ability to shrink in some cases, and the possibility of failing, and bricking your drive).

Boot from your Win7 disc, and completely wipe the drive. setup your partitions the way you'd like them forever, as re-partitioning any drive multiple times will severely degrade the life of the drive; especially if your doing it on a drive while trying to keep the data on it.

WIPE the drive, setup the partitions in the fashion you like, trying to keep a minimum of 30-50GB for your Win7 install. Make sure you start from scratch here, by deleting all existing partitions, and setting up your own in denominations of MB. (30,000-50,000 MB for your W7)

From here, you shouldn't have any problems, as long as your observe the best practices outlined above.

If you find yourself needing to change the partitions while Win7 is loaded, you can click Start -> type "Partition" and click the partition editor that pops up. anything that the partitioner doesen't recommend, dont try to do.

Let us know if you have any trouble.

Thanks,
Daniel