Have you ever tried to format your computer, or in other words, erase all the existing information on it? If so, surely you have heard that you have to create a backup of your files, because you will lose them when you perform the full format . To make this backup you must make a partition of the hard drive , here we will show you how to partition a hard drive with Windows 7 or 10, and how many partitions you can make.

What is a Partition | How many partitions can a hard drive have?

Index(  )

1. What is a hard drive partition?
2. Why partition a hard drive in Windows?
3. Types of partitions to create on the hard drive in Windows and their advantages
   1. One physical hard drive, but several virtual ones
   2. Primary partition
   3. Secondary partition
   4. Extended partition
   5. Advantages of having a partitioned hard drive
4. How to partition a hard drive in Windows 7 or 10
5. How to Partition a USB Drive

What is a hard drive partition?

This term is the one that is given to any division generated on a hardware or physical hard drive, but digitally or virtually.

Even if you have only one hard drive, on your computer it will be projected as two different mass storage spaces. Each one has its different files, a different operation and its resources are distributed by default among the various divisions that have been generated on the hard disk.

This modality has many purposes, among which it allows us to perform specific functions such as saving a backup copy of your most important and valuable files, since these files are saved in one of the divisions that have been created on the disk, while in another part we carry out the general formatting.

In this way, one part of your order can be massively cleaned while the other part remains intact.

It should be noted that this also depends on the capacity of your hard drive because it will share the resources, in the event that it has little capacity it could slow down or affect the operation of the computer in some way.

This modality for your hard drive has many factors, which characterize it. Depending on the capacity of your computer, they make it more effective and efficient when working. In addition to the functions and advantages of having a divided hard drive are many.

Why partition a hard drive in Windows?

When we partition a disk we divide the storage that it has. We create one to boot, another where the operating system is located and the last one to save all the files.

But it’s not just about that. Because in case you want to install another operating system you can do it. You could have Windows on one and Ubuntu on the other. This way the operating systems and files you have on each partition will not get mixed up in any way.

What you need to keep in mind is that partitioning the hard drive is useless for creating backup copies to some extent. This is mostly because if the drive gets damaged, you won’t be able to access any of the partitions.

What it is for is what I mentioned above. A backup in the cloud or a USB drive is essential so that you do not lose your information in case the disk is damaged.

Types of partitions to create on the hard drive in Windows and their advantages

Creating partitions on our hard drive has different advantages to consider:

One physical hard drive, but several virtual ones

To get an idea of ​​what this process represents, we must imagine the following: We have a hard disk in a material or physical way , which is distinguished as hardware. However, in our computer or in a virtual way, we will have two or more, there the term partition, because the resources of the same are divided, with this we can generate actions in a part of the storage disk, without affecting the other.

We can have various types of partitions, each with different characteristics.

1. Primary partition

It is the basic division of the hard drive, which is based on a kind of table which measures or determines the resources of the complementary hard drive and there separates its components for each segment created.

In addition, it is the one that immediately detects the computer when it starts or turns on, therefore, it is where the new operating systems that we want to install on our PC are installed.

Currently , a maximum of four partitions is allowed , clearly depending on the resources that it has. In addition to virtually any operating system in existence, the partition will detect it and add it to its slice, as long as there is or is supported. We have the space that will handle the loading process. You can have multiple operating systems on different drives. Every time you start the computer you can choose which system you want to start.

2. Secondary partition

This partition is used to store information . From videos, photos, files, documents, whatever you want. You can have a maximum of three primary partitions and one secondary, which would be the fourth in this case.

3. Extended partition

As the same name pronounces it, this partition allows us to create or generate more than 4 divisions on our hard drive.

However, this process is not designed for adding operating systems, due to compatibility and resource issues. This implies that these partitions can only store data. As a backup copy of important files among other relevant data.

Of course, this process is somewhat complex or complicated for people who have little knowledge concerning computers and all its components.

One of the parts that is most affected by this process is the hard drive, since all the information is separated from it to leave it completely clean and new, as mentioned before, all existing files will be lost if a copy is not made to save these files.

Advantages of having a partitioned hard drive

In addition to the backup copies that can be stored in each of the partitions or divisions created, it will allow us to increase the storage space on our computer.

This feature is because as we move large data or programs, it frees up space on the primary partition, which increases its productivity and stability.

Nowadays, partitioning a hard drive is quite common to save specific information in one partition and install Windows in another. This is something extremely comfortable for many reasons. The idea is to have the operating system in one partition and in the other to keep the files that are really important.

This does not mean that it is not necessary to have a backup copy of our files. Ideally, you would have a copy in the cloud, the files on one partition, and the operating system on the main partition.

This way , every time you format your computer , you don’t have to save all your files or have to re-download them from a backup. You just format the main partition and all your files are kept on the other partition.

Which undoubtedly speeds up the formatting process since the only thing left to do is install the programs we use and that’s it. In addition, there is also less time wasted defragmenting the drive in case you want to do it.

In short, having the disk partitioned is an excellent way to save time in many ways and have all our information organized.

How to partition a hard drive in Windows 7 or 10

So now that you are clear about what creating a partition is for, let’s see how you should do it to achieve your goal. We will see step by step with the same tools that Windows has how you should proceed to create a partition in any version of the operating system.

• First of all, you will have to go to “Start” and then type “Create and format disk partitions”.
• Press “Enter” on the result and a window will open.
• This window will be the “Disk Manager”.
• At the top you can see the drives you have installed on your computer. At the bottom you can see the discs and the size of each onewith their areas.
• Once you are clear about which disk you want to partition, you will have to click on it and a new menu appears where you have to choose “Reduce volume” to partition.
• You can also choose “Delete Volume” or “Format”in case you want to clean the disk, you can also join two or more partitions and redo space allocation.
• But we are going to choose the first of the options. After this you have to choose the size you want for the new partition, reducing the space of your current partition. For this you will have to select it in MB.
• Now you have to wait a few seconds. Then an area appears that says “Not assigned”in the graphic that we saw at the beginning. That is the area available to create a new partition.
• In order to create it you will have to right click and a new menu will appear. Here you have to select “New Simple Volume”.
• A new pop-up window appears “Wizard for new simple volume”you will have to click “Next”.
• In the next window you will have to choose the size of said partition.
• Now you will have to choose a letter for the drive. It can be any so select from the drop down list.
• The best thing to do after this is to select to format the new partition. In the file system there must be “NTFS” where it says “Volume Label” you must color the name of the new disk.
• Once finished you will see a new window where it will tell you “Completion of the wizardfor a new simple volume”.

You can also create a new partition without formatting in case you want to do it a little faster. However, we recommend formatting to start with such a completely clean partition. In the same way we can add unallocated spaces to a new or existing partition, thus increasing its size.

How to Partition a USB Drive

In case you didn’t know, it is also possible to partition a USB drive . In this way you can divide all the data that you have stored in said USB memory. You can save information or files related to your work on one side and personal files on another partition.

Let’s see then how you should proceed to be able to partition a USB drive in a simple way.

• The first thing you have to do is connect the USB drive to your computer.
• As soon as it is recognized, you will simply have to open the “File Explorer”and then go to “This Computer”.
• Now right click on the USB drive, select “Format”and then check the “Quick Format” option in the new window.
• Then you should go to “Hard Disk Manager”. What we saw before.
• You will be able to find the USB drive just like any hard drive. You will simply have to repeat the process that we did previously.