Solved Need to Partition Drive C into C, D, E and F

[Sunnylake36]

Have a new Lenovo ThinkCenter desktop. It has Windows 7 Professional 64 bit. Drive is 1 TB. I need to partition it into Drives C, D, E and F. (Lenovo also sent me a set of recovery discs and a drivers disc). A friend said Windows 7 Professional has a partitioning feature. It's accessible through START, COMPUTER, MANAGE, DISC MANAGEMENT. I went there but it only talks about shrinking or expanding an existing drive. There doesn't seem to be a partitioning option.

Question: Does anyone know if there is a partitioning feature built-in to W7P? If so, how do I access it.

If there is not one, can you recommend a simple, downloadable partitioning program that will not, at the same time, dump a bunch of unwanted "stuff" onto my computer?

This is my first post on the forum. Name is Jerry. I'm 80 - but have a fair knowledge of this as I have partitioned drives before (many years ago).

Thanks...!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Jerry:

Windows Disk Management should work for this purpose.

You've already got a C, so I assume you just need D, E, and F.

Might I ask why you need the other partitions?

If you have only 1 hard drive, you would need to shrink the current C. That will generate "unallocated space". You can then make D, E, and F from this unallocated space.

Windows Disk Management will shrink C.

How much space does your C drive currently have and what sizes do you want for the new partitions?

Savvy?

 

[Berton]

However, sometimes the Shrink of C: doesn't work too well as some of the OS files may not be close together and are marked as unmovable, can't be moved even with the usual defragging.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Post screenshot of disk management. I want to know the situaton as it is NOW. Most likely there's a recovery partition and/or a driver partition. Maybe a partition called "system resreved" used for bootmanager/bootmenu.

 

[AddRAM]

Don`t try to use Disk Management to create 4 Primary partitions, it will turn your disk to Dynamic.

Make and use a Partition Wizard Boot CD, much safer, and it will allow you to make 4 primary partitions.

Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD.

But you can use Disk management to create an extended partition with as many logical drives as you want, at least with as many letters you have remaining.

What are partitions and logical drives?

 

[Sunnylake36]

I must say I am very impressed by the prompt replies and comments from all of you....! Thanks.

To IGNATZATSONIC - The attached screen shot shows the current spaces. Disc 1 is simply a memory stick that is plugged into the computer. The reason I want to partition the hard drive is because all of my computers for the past 10 years have had these same partitions (C,D,E & F). I find that if my drive C crashes, I only have to restore C. It does not affect anything on D, E or F. That is a BIG time saver. Additional reason: After all these years, I know where everything is on my computer. My plan is to partition as follows: C = 400GB, D, E and F = approx. 171 GB each. After everything is complete, if C has too much space, I will shrink it - if possible - and expand D, E and F proporationately. I plan to download Virtual XP when I've completed the partitioning process, which is why I want to have 400GB in Drive C initially.

To BERTON - That is good information. Thank you.

To KAKTUSSOFT - Screen shot attached. Thanks for your suggestions.

To ADD RAM - Good information - will give it consideration.

Jerry

 

[Sunnylake36]

Another comment....

Since I have the restore/recovery discs from Lenovo, I might not even need the recovery partition that is shown in the screen shot.

Jerrry

 

[ignatzatsonic]

We can't see how much free space you have now on C partition, but generally I would:

Shrink C, creating unallocated space.

Make an extended partition from that unallocated space.

Create however many logical partitions you want inside that extended partition.

I'm assuming D, E, and F will only hold data of some type.

Definitely say NO to "dynamic disks". You can avoid that by using an extended partition with logicals inside it.

Your Lenovo recovery partition may be more reliable than recovery discs, so I'd at least think about keeping it.

 

[gregrocker]

The reason to create Extended Logical partitions after shrinking C is because you have a limit of 4 Primary or 3 Primary and unlimited Logicals - as long as they are adjacent to each other. The partitions relied upon to boot which are in this case 100mb and Recovery must also remain Primary. So if you had four Primary already like an HP, we'd advise converting C to Logical then creating as many adjacent to it as you need, but since you only have 3 you can create the next one Logical and all subsequent ones also Logical.

You might as well use Disk Mgmt which is safest for shrinking the OS partition: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html

Then to create Logical I'd install and use Partition Wizard:
How to Create Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Create Partition Video Help

PW also has a cool feature where you can borrow available space from any other partition even if it isn't adjacent and whether it is Primary or Logical: How to extend partition easily with Partition Wizard - video help.

However I find that a bunch of data partitions are more of a hindrance than help. So I'd only create one large one so that you don't have to keep juggling the space of a bunch of smaller ones.

 

[Sunnylake36]

Thanks to all who responded. Some good suggestions, and I'm carefully weighing my options.

Jerry