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Have you ever encountered a Windows 10 message telling you that you’re running out of space? Part of your hard disk is full, but you still have plenty of space on another partition. Yes, many of us have faced the same problem. That’s why we need to separate hard disk partition on Windows 10.
Although it might seem to be an easy task to perform, it requires precision in following each step to avoid losing important data from your hard disk. In this blog, we’ll provide you with different methods to separate your hard disk partition. We’ll also share some pros and cons for each method to provide you with knowledge so you can choose the right one for yourself.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before you start, you should backup all of your important data on an external hard disk, USB, or online cloud servers which you are currently using. Only begin creating partitions after you have backed up all of your data. It’s important to have a backup of all of your data, as creating a new partition will destroy all of the data on the drive. You’ll also need the Windows 10 operating system installed on your computer.
What Requires Your Focus?
As we mentioned earlier, creating partitions requires precision when following each step. The difficult part is that you might lose access to your important data permanently if you accidentally selected the wrong partition or deleted the wrong file. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you create a backup of all your data beforehand. It’s also important to keep a record of what you did. This way, you can undo your actions if an error occurs.
Different Methods to Separate Hard Disk Partition on Windows 10
Method 1: Using the Windows 10 Disk Management Utility
The first method is to use the inbuilt tool by Windows 10. Disk management enables you to create, delete, shrink, expand, format, or set active partitions. You can create a new partition by shrinking the area of unallocated space on the hard disk.
- Right-click on the "Start" button and select "Disk Management" from the pop-up menu. This will open the Windows 10 disk management utility.
- Locate the partition that you want to shrink, right-click on it, and select "Shrink Volume." This may take some time based on your computer’s speed and partition size.
- Enter the amount of space to shrink; it’s your choice how much space you would like to shrink and reserve for the new partition.
- Now, you will see the unallocated partition from the Disk Management utility. Right-click on that unallocated partition and select "New Simple Volume."
- Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new partition.
- Assign the new partition a drive letter from the volume list.
Pros:
- The built-in utility is free.
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
- Faster than downloading and using the third-party partition manager tool.
Cons:
- Not the most user-friendly tool for beginners due to technical jargon used during the process.
- May take some time based on your computer’s speed.
Method 2: Using MiniTool Partition Wizard
The second method is to use a third-party tool to separate the partitions. MiniTool Partition Wizard is a software that will allow you to easily and safely create, resize, move, extend, shrink, split, align, copy, and delete partitions on your hard disk.
- Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard onto your computer.
- Open MiniTool Partition Wizard and select the partition you want to split.
- Click "Split" to a dialog partition split. Drag the slider line or enter the size into the dialog box, which will show you what your storage will look like after you divide the partition. Then click OK.
- After clicking OK, you’ll see the changes, one being the original partition, and the other the newly created partition.
- Once you have examined these changes, click "Apply," and MiniTool will apply your choices to your computer, which will then format your new partition.
Pros:
- MiniTool Partition Wizard is a user-friendly software with an intuitive interface, making it easy to use for beginners.
- Offers additional optimization measures.
Cons:
- This tool is not free, and you need to purchase it to use all of its features.
- Has a risk of slowing down your computer during partition management.
Method 3: Using EaseUS Partition Manager
The third method is to use another third-party tool, EaseUS Partition Manager. It also provides backup and restore, MBR/GPT disk conversion, and dynamic/basic disk conversion. The tool makes it easy to organize your disk partitions and improve computer performance.
- Download and install EaseUS Partition Manager
- Launch EaseUS Partition Manager, right-click on the partition which you want to create another partition from, click Resize/Move partition.
- In the partition resizing window, drag the slider bar leftwards or rightwards to shrink or extend the partition. Then, click Okay to proceed.
- Then click Apply to confirm all changes.
Pros:
- The partition manager tool is user-friendly and has an intuitive interface.
- Offers additional optimization measures.
Cons:
- Not all features are free, and you need to purchase the software to access some essential features.
- The disk management process may be slow for larger partitions.
Why Can’t I Separate Hard Disk Partition On Windows 10?
- You don’t have enough unallocated space on the hard disk to create the new partition.
- The hard disk cannot be partitioned if it’s running on Windows 7 Basic Edition.
- You have selected the wrong partition for partitioning, which leads to data loss.
Fixes:
- Remove all extra files from your hard disk or delete unnecessary applications that are no longer in use to free up space.
- Upgrade your computer to Windows 10 Pro, Home, or Enterprise Edition.
- Make sure to check the partition space and backup all the necessary data before partitioning.
Implications and Recommendations
Separating hard disk partitions can help you save more space while keeping your data organized and secure. It ensures that you’ll always have space for new data and that old data is well kept in case you need it in the future. This process is an excellent time management strategy for those who wish to increase productivity.
5 FAQs About Separating Hard Disk Partition on Windows 10
Q1: How many partitions can I create on my hard disk?
A: you can create up to four primary partitions on one hard disk, and one of these primary partitions can be an extended partition which includes multiple logical partitions.
Q2: Is there a maximum size of partition that I can create?
A: The maximum partition size is determined by the type of file system you’re using. For NTFS, you can create a partition up to 256 TB. For FAT32, the maximum partition size is 2TB.
Q3: Can I undo the partitioning process?
A: No, you cannot undo once you have partitioned your hard disk. However, you can reverse the process by deleting the partition you created, and then combine the unallocated partition with another partition to recover your lost disk space.
Q4: Can I create partitions on an external hard drive?
A: Yes, you can create partitions on an external hard drive if it has the necessary software installed.
Q5: Can I create partitions on a used hard disk?
A: Yes, you can create partitions on a used hard disk. However, make sure you have backed up all of your data before creating partitions.
In Conclusion
Partitioning a hard disk on Windows 10 is a convenient and effective method to organize your data, make better use of space, and improve your computer’s performance. We have covered different methods to separate your hard disk partitions, and the pros and cons of each method. It’s essential always to keep a backup of your data before creating a partition to avoid losing it.