SSD Partition question

[Benteke]

Ready to reinstall W7 on a brand new (never used) SSD and want to partition it (2 partitions, one for OS, one for data) before I install the OS. I've only ever partitioned AFTER the OS was installed, so just want to know if there's a preferred method (DISKPART vs. disk management vs. 3rd party like minitool etc).

Thanks-

 

[whs]

I would use disk management. Just make sure the installer aligns the SSD - which it should.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

 

[pbcopter]

Ready to reinstall W7 on a brand new (never used) SSD and want to partition it (2 partitions, one for OS, one for data) before I install the OS. I've only ever partitioned AFTER the OS was installed, so just want to know if there's a preferred method (DISKPART vs. disk management vs. 3rd party like minitool etc).

Thanks-

You can set the operating system partition size during the installation. Then use Disk Management after the installation to create the second partition from the remaining unallocated space.

See steps 6,7,8 and 9 in this tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

 

[Benteke]

I would use disk management. Just make sure the installer aligns the SSD - which it should.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

I'll be using restore disks to install the OS and I don't remember seeing an option to partition the drive before installation the last time I ran them. If I wait till after the OS installation, I'll run into the same problem as I did on my current drive, (disk management couldn't shrink the boot partition smaller than 350GB AND couldn't delete the recovery partition - see attachment below), forcing me to have use 3rd party software to do so.... I just want to create two equal sized partitions on the new SSD.

 

[whs]

Disk management is limited in it's capabilities. That's why most of us use OEM programs to manipulate the disk layout. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Benteke]

Disk management is limited in it's capabilities. That's why most of us use OEM programs to manipulate the disk layout. Nothing wrong with that.

So you're saying that I shouldn't use disk management to partition a brand new drive into two equal size partitions?

 

[mjf]

(Free) Partition Wizard is a more powerful tool. You can partition before or after the install. It also has an option to "align all partitions". I used this align capability on an SSD that had an OS installed but wasn't aligned.
Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

 

[Benteke]

(Free) Partition Wizard is a more powerful tool. You can partition before or after the install. It also has an option to "align all partitions". I used this align capability on an SSD that had an OS installed but wasn't aligned.
Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

Thanks, I have PW free (bootable) on a flash drive but was just wondering if I should use that OR if it could be done using disk management or DISKPART (see OP). I was told it would be better to partition the new SSD before installing the OS.

 

[whs]

Disk management is limited in it's capabilities. That's why most of us use OEM programs to manipulate the disk layout. Nothing wrong with that.

So you're saying that I cannot use disk management to partition a brand new drive into two equal size partitions?

What I am saying is that not everything you'd like to do (e.g. shrink beyond the MFT) can be done with disk management. But if there are no partitions on the drive yet, that is a different story. Then you just have to make sure that the first partition you define takes only as much space as you want it to have - and not the whole disk.

 

[Benteke]

What I am saying is that not everything you'd like to do (e.g. shrink beyond the MFT) can be done with disk management.

Yes, I know this first hand.... see post #4. but I was using DM to shrink partitions after the OS install. I'm trying to find out the best tool to partition a new SSD prior to anything being placed on it.

But if there are no partitions on the drive yet, that is a different story. Then you just have to make sure that the first partition you define takes only as much space as you want it to have - and not the whole disk.

Yes, the drive I want to partition is a brand new SSD. It's never been used, still sitting in the box. I was going to swap out my optical drive for the NEW SSD, start Win7 as usual (my main HDD) and then use either DISKPART or disk management to partition the SSD.

 

[whs]

That sounds good. Just do not forget to align the SSD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

 

[mjf]

(Free) Partition Wizard is a more powerful tool. You can partition before or after the install. It also has an option to "align all partitions". I used this align capability on an SSD that had an OS installed but wasn't aligned.
Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

Thanks, I have PW free (bootable) on a flash drive but was just wondering if I should use that OR if it could be done using disk management or DISKPART (see OP). I was told it would be better to partition the new SSD before installing the OS.

On reflection - I think the reference to the location of the Master File Table is a valid point so it probably would be safer to do your partitioning first. If you have a large SSD (eg 500GB) and want to only allocate 100GB to the OS partition you don't want the MFT located beyond the 100GB boundary. When I look at the location of the MFTs on my partitions I don't appear to see any consistencies in their location.

I don't see why you wouldn't want to use a program with a GUI (Disk Management or Partition Wizard). I almost always use PW because of its flexibility and ease of use but it's up to you.

 

[AddRAM]

Everyone has their own method, I prefer using a Partition Wizard Boot CD

Bootable Partition Manager| MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

 

[Benteke]

I don't see why you wouldn't want to use a program with a GUI (Disk Management or Partition Wizard). I almost always use PW because of its flexibility and ease of use but it's up to you.

I'm not against using either. I'm just trying to figure out the least painful of my available options. If PW will do both the alignment & partitioning, then maybe PW is the best option.... I've never partitioned a drive prior to OS installation. I've always done it after.

 

[whs]

The alignment you can do with cmd.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

 

[mjf]

Choose whatever method you want.
Whatever method you choose make sure all the SSD partitions are aligned. To check
1) type msinfo32 in the search box then
2) components -> storage -> disks
3) look for your SSD and check each partition starting offset (it will be in bytes) divide by 4096 and make sure each is a whole number (integer).

If not then PW should be able to sort you out


If you are doing a clean install then do all this before you do all the updates.

 

[AddRAM]

PW will do everything you want, it has a very ease to use GUI interface.

It`s all clicks, and you simply use a slider to size your partitions, you click apply and it does everything for you.

Your drive will be shown in the GUI and all you have to do is right click on your drive, you`ll see a drop down and everything is right there.

 

[Benteke]

PW will do everything you want, it has a very ease to use GUI interface.

It`s all clicks, and you simply use a slider to size your partitions, you click apply and it does everything for you.

Your drive will be shown in the GUI and all you have to do is right click on your drive, you`ll see a drop down and everything is right there.

Ok, I think I'll use PW for this then... Just one more clarification.... The alignment is performed after the partitioning, correct?

 

[whs]

With PW you can align any time.

 

[Benteke]

With PW you can align any time.

Ok, thanks. Is there a preference (before / after), or does it not matter?