How To Split Hard drive

[david622]

I have a Gateway All In One computer running windows 7 64bt with a 2TB hd, my question is: how can I split my hd into two different partition without messing up my “Factory Recovery Partition”?
Thanks In Advance!

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. It's simple to do but ideally first post a screenshot from disk management so we can see what you have

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the forum. It's simple to do but ideally first post a screenshot from disk management so we can see what you have

Open Disk management (C:\Windows\System32\diskmgmt.msc) and Expand the columns so we can read them. With the sniping tool (%windir%\system32\SnippingTool.exe) take a snapshot of the whole window and save it to your HDD. Use the paper clip (on the Quick Reply top menu) to browse to the file and upload.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Also, before you make any changes to the drive, make sure to back it up!

 

[Layback Bear]

Use this tutorial by Golden, so these members can have a look.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

Jack

 

[david622]

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

First, your backup drive should NOT be inside your computer. Having it there subjects it to the same dangers as the other drives, such as malware, user error, power surges blowing through the PSU and frying everything, theft, etc. I suggest removing it and placing it in an external enclosure, then keep it powered down and disconnected from the computer except when updating the backup.

 

[Layback Bear]

First, your backup drive should NOT be inside your computer. Having it there subjects it to the same dangers as the other drives, such as malware, user error, power surges blowing through the PSU and frying everything, theft, etc. I suggest removing it and placing it in an external enclosure, then keep it powered down and disconnected from the computer except when updating the backup.

Totally agree.
I have had a power supply blow up and destroy everything in the computer.
Of course it didn't hurt anything that was not hooked to the computer.
If something is worth backing up, it's worth protecting.

Jack

 

[david622]

Thanks Jack, I removed my Windows Backup F External drive from my computer, no I don't want to lose that.

 

[Megahertz07]

Back to the OP subject (how can I split my hd into two different partition):
- Backup your data.
- On disk management, click on C:, to select the partition, right click - Shrink volume - select size.
- It will end with an unallocated space at the end of the disk. Right click on it and select New Simple Volume. Assign a letter to it, format as you desire and give it a name.

 

[david622]

Thank You, after I shrink my “C” drive, will my factory restore work with my c drive now that it is smaller? If in when I should ever need to restore my computer back to factory state I don’t want there to be any problems.

 

[Megahertz07]

If the 2T HDD is the original disk, the answer is Yes.
Factory Restore is an partition image. If the partition image is larger than the target partition it may give you an error.
You can always delete the new partition that you created, expand C: and then do the Factory Restore.

 

[david622]

Great Answer! Thank You!

 

[dg1261]

after I shrink my “C” drive, will my factory restore work with my c drive now that it is smaller? If in when I should ever need to restore my computer back to factory state I don’t want there to be any problems.

IME, it depends on the OEM in question. I did some experiments several years ago and found Dell's factory recovery method preserved any repartitioning I may have done, while HP's method wiped my changes and restored the original partition layout. I have no idea how Gateway would do it.

 

[david622]

Thank You,
But I think I might should leave "C drive" alone, don't want to create any problems later down the road! I want that Factory Restore to be there when or if I need it. Thanks

 

[Megahertz07]

HDDs or SSDs can fail.
After a clean install and updates, I always do a disk image on a backup drive.
Did you do the Factory Recover disks? You can burn DVD's or use a USB flash disk.

 

[david622]

no, all i have is and Image. is there anyway to create iso of my "Factory Restore Partition"

 

[david622]

now that's a good question.

 

[david622]

I thought about doing a fresh backup and then restoring my computer installing my updates and doing a usb flash disk clone backup.

 

[Megahertz07]

I thought about doing a fresh backup and then restoring my computer installing my updates and doing a usb flash disk clone backup.

That's an excellent idea.
For the updates use the offline MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
Use Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free to create the disk image.

To do a set of Factory Recovery disks, normally you can launch an application from BIOS or from Windows.