Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install

How to Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install​

   Information

The purpose of this tutorial is to see what tools are available to partition the hard drive while installing Windows 7. Although not a complete partitioning utility, you can delete existing partitions, create new partitions, extend partitions into unallocated space, shrink existing partitions, and format.

   Tip

It is not necessary to create the Windows 7 partitions on a new (empty) hard drive or format the partitions before installing Windows 7 as the installer will do that automatically.

Here's How:
1. Boot your computer to the Windows 7 DVD. At this screen choose to install now.


2. Select to "Go online" for latest updates.


3. Select the Operating System you wish to install.

4. Accept the license terms and click next.

5. Select "Custom (advanced)".

6. In this screen you see existing partitions (my test setup). Click "Drive options (advanced)".

7. I used "Delete" to remove the existing partitions. Now select "New" to create new partitions in the Unallocated space.

8. You can choose to use the entire empty space, or just a part of the space.

9. In this screen, I have chosen to use half of the 20 GB available.

10. Windows will, by default, create the "System Reserved" partition.

11. In this screen you see the "Reserved Partition" of 100 MB. I recommend keeping this. Next, you have the options of creating a new partition in the unallocated space, extending the selected partition into the unallocated space, shrinking the selected partition, or deleting one or all existing partitions.

12. I have chosen to extend the partition into all the unallocated space.

Now you can complete your Windows 7 installation in the partitions you have created. You can also cancel the installation process here while leaving the newly created partitions intact. Useful if you intend to install a different Operating System into one of the newly created partitions.

Conclusion:

While the Windows 7 hard drive partition utility is limited, it offers a convenient way to install Windows 7 without filling the entire hard drive. The leftover space can then be used for other purposes.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Extend a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Create a New Partition or Volume in Windows 7

 

[DoubleZ]

Okay, thank you very much for all your help kind people!

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome.

Don't hesitate to post back if you need further help.

 

[Brink]

Glad we could help.

 

[highbreak]

Hi,

May I know is it must to create an additional 100mb(system reserved) partition during windows installation?
Can I proceed with the installation without creating?

What is the purpose for creating an additional system reserved partition?

Thanks

 

[iseeuu]

Hi,

May I know is it must to create an additional 100mb(system reserved) partition during windows installation?
Can I proceed with the installation without creating?

What is the purpose for creating an additional system reserved partition?

Thanks

Hello highbreak and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

The Windows 7 installer will automatically create partitions on an unpartitioned hard drive. Best results when only one hard drive is connected during the install.

The 100MB System Reserved partition holds some advantages, like helpful recovery utilities, and adds some security to your system. It also makes it easier to boot to more than one Operating System (as in dual booting).

However, you can install Windows 7 without the System Reserved partition and the advantages. Just create the Primary partition you want to install Windows 7 into and then install it there. The Windows 7 installer will skip the System Reserved partition.

See also this: http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html

Cheers!
Robert

 

[highbreak]

Hi Robet, thanks a million.. i had been trying to figure this out for the past 1 week.

However, I'm still unable to get my new system that i bought a week ago to work successfully even after a series of troubleshooting (etc. windows update issues that slow down the system, keyboard & mouse freeze for couple of secs, system unable to detect primary drive once in a while)

Its driving me nuts!!

 

[highbreak]

Hi Robort,

Is there any alternative ways to boot W7 in safe mode? From MS official website, it says that by pressing F8 before the Windows logo appears, it will prompt you with windows advance boot options.
However, it prompt me with Bios advance options instead of windows boot options after depressing F8.

I'm on Asus P8H67-M MB with UEFI BIOS interface.

Thanks

 

[iseeuu]

Hi Robort,

Is there any alternative ways to boot W7 in safe mode? From MS official website, it says that by pressing F8 before the Windows logo appears, it will prompt you with windows advance boot options.
However, it prompt me with Bios advance options instead of windows boot options after depressing F8.

I'm on Asus P8H67-M MB with UEFI BIOS interface.

Thanks

You get to Safe Mode after the BIOS boots but before Windows loads. I would suggest you enter the BIOS and disable the "quick boot" or what ever it is called on your system to make it easier for you to follow the boot process and know when to tap the F8 key to enter Safe Mode. You can always go back later and enable the quick boot again.

You should get a screen like the 6th image in this thread with the option to enter Safe Mode:

http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Bprunner51]

Is it really this simple?

Hi,

Helping my daughter. Her primary hard drive died. We got a replacement from Best Buy. She has ordered a Windows 7 recovery disk from HP. She is not a heavy user or does anything fancy. So.......

We should be able to just 1) install the new drive, 2)boot the recovery disk 3) and just do a Windows 7 install and use the default settings to let it partition the new drive and install. No real need to do any of our partitioning etc.

It sounds too simple???

jim

 

[iseeuu]

Hi,

Helping my daughter. Her primary hard drive died. We got a replacement from Best Buy. She has ordered a Windows 7 recovery disk from HP. She is not a heavy user or does anything fancy. So.......

We should be able to just 1) install the new drive, 2)boot the recovery disk 3) and just do a Windows 7 install and use the default settings to let it partition the new drive and install. No real need to do any of our partitioning etc.

It sounds too simple???

jim

Hello Jim, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

You just described a project I finished tonight. A client brought me a HP computer with Vista that would not boot into Windows. Found the hard drive dead so I replaced it with a new one, ordered HP recovery disks, and restored the computer to its original condition. Just boot the recovery disk and let it do its thing! Simple enough.

Of course if anything does come up, we are here to help!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Bprunner51]

Restore is hanging

Robert,

Well we installed the new drive, started the restore provided by HP. Drive partitioned fine. Installled windows, set the windows password bu then it went into the post recovery process -blue screen saying we might get several restarts etc but it just hangs there. Nothing is going on althouth the drive flashes once in a while. Pretty sure it is hung since the computer eventually goes into sleep mode. I know we are close but not sure what our problem is now. We can boot the computer, put in the password but then it goes straight to this same process. Help!!

 

[iseeuu]

Robert,

Well we installed the new drive, started the restore provided by HP. Drive partitioned fine. Installled windows, set the windows password bu then it went into the post recovery process -blue screen saying we might get several restarts etc but it just hangs there. Nothing is going on althouth the drive flashes once in a while. Pretty sure it is hung since the computer eventually goes into sleep mode. I know we are close but not sure what our problem is now. We can boot the computer, put in the password but then it goes straight to this same process. Help!!

Aaargh! Might have to call HP?

If you do a redo, I skip the Windows password during setup and add it later to speed things up.

Also, might check the BIOS to see if your hard drive is set for IDE mode, AHCI, or Auto detect/RAID. I think IDE mode is safest bet, or Auto detect. Again might check with HP for their advice? I think Auto detect/RAID is default setting. You might try resetting the BIOS to a default setting and redo the restore disks?

Cheers!
Robert

 

[farmerinthedell]

This is my first post here so please be gentle. .
Here is my situation, I am doing a clean install of Windows 7 on a laptop that I just bought that does not have a previous OS installed on the HD.
I got to this portion of the installation and have the HD partitioned like this so far:

Disk 0 Partition 1: System Reserved 100.0 MB Total Size 86.0 MB Free Space Type = System

Disk 0 Partition 2 116.3 GB Total Size 116.3 GB Free Space Type = Primary

Disk 0 Partition 3 349.3 GB Total Size 349.3 GB Free Space Type = Primary

My goal after Win 7 is installed is to have drive C (Disk 0 Partition 2) contain Windows 7 and other program files while drive D (Disk 0 Partition 3) contain data files. Will this HD setup get me that setup, or is there a better way to get it as I want it?
TIA.

 

[iseeuu]

This is my first post here so please be gentle. .
Here is my situation, I am doing a clean install of Windows 7 on a laptop that I just bought that does not have a previous OS installed on the HD.
I got to this portion of the installation and have the HD partitioned like this so far:

Disk 0 Partition 1: System Reserved 100.0 MB Total Size 86.0 MB Free Space Type = System

Disk 0 Partition 2 116.3 GB Total Size 116.3 GB Free Space Type = Primary

Disk 0 Partition 3 349.3 GB Total Size 349.3 GB Free Space Type = Primary

My goal after Win 7 is installed is to have drive C (Disk 0 Partition 2) contain Windows 7 and other program files while drive D (Disk 0 Partition 3) contain data files. Will this HD setup get me that setup, or is there a better way to get it as I want it?
TIA.

Hello TIA, and welcome to Widows Seven Forums!

Your plan looks good to me ... please let us know how it turns out?

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Muhammad Zahid]

Hi i am installing windows seven on my new Dell N5110 laptop.
Before installing its was showing the partion window to do the partition of unallocated space.
The unallocated space was approx 600 GB.Than i made 1 partion from it of about 80 GB and the
other Of 171.4 Gb.
Now i am trying to make more partition from reamaining unallocated 342.8 Gb but the after making above two partions the new
button is become disable.
Now the question is how can i make further more partitions from this unallocated space.I have attached
the screen shot so that u can more understand.
The partition 1 and partition 2 as u can see in the picture were already created in system.I only created the partition 3 and partition 4.

Please help me as soon as possible.I will be very thankfull to you.

 

[Saltgrass]

Only 4 primary partitions allowed.... I would just do the partitions for the OS install and do the rest using Disk Management from within Windows.

 

[iseeuu]

Hi i am installing windows seven on my new Dell N5110 laptop.
Before installing its was showing the partion window to do the partition of unallocated space.
The unallocated space was approx 600 GB.Than i made 1 partion from it of about 80 GB and the
other Of 171.4 Gb.
Now i am trying to make more partition from reamaining unallocated 342.8 Gb but the after making above two partions the new
button is become disable.
Now the question is how can i make further more partitions from this unallocated space.I have attached
the screen shot so that u can more understand.
The partition 1 and partition 2 as u can see in the picture were already created in system.I only created the partition 3 and partition 4.

Please help me as soon as possible.I will be very thankfull to you.

Hello Muhammad, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Windows only allows 4 "Primary" partitions on each hard drive.

Understanding Disk Partitions

You should reconsider how to divide up all the space on your hard drive so you can use it?

Cheers!
Robert

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You can make more partitions, but they must be "logical" partitions, not "primary".

You would make one extended partition from that unallocated space and then make as many logical partitions as you would like inside that extended partition.

 

[Muhammad Zahid]

can I delete pArtition 1 and partition 2 that i have not created and than make partitions of my own choice.
Doing this will effect any bad impact or not??

 

[iseeuu]

can I delete pArtition 1 and partition 2 that i have not created and than make partitions of my own choice.
Doing this will effect any bad impact or not??

That would depend upon if there is anything in those partitions that you want to keep. If you delete them, any data there is lost.

According to your picture, Partition 1 is 39MB with 1MB of data.
Partition 2 is 2GB in size with maybe 100MB of data.

2GB is too small a space to install Windows 7, you would need at least 80GB to 100GB. But Partition 3 is 80GB so you could install Windows 7 there.

If you do not want to keep any of the old stuff, and want a "clean" install of your Windows 7, I would suggest to delete all 4 partitions and let Windows 7 make the partitions during the install. Then later you can shrink the Windows partition and make a second partition if that is what you want to do then.

The choice is up to what you want.

Cheers!
Robert