It is quite natural that very often computer users may need disk and partition management tools, because even when buying a computer or laptop in a store, one may encounter a situation where only one system partition is present on the hard disk, in which the operating system is installed. But in the event of a violation of its operation and reinstallation, important data can easily be destroyed.
So isn’t it easier to put them in a virtual partition (logical drive), which will not be affected even in case of critical failures and reinstalling the OS? To split the disks, you can use your own means of Windows-systems, and software from other developers. Consider both of them, revealing their main advantages and disadvantages.
Disk partitioning during the installation phase of Windows
The tools of the Windows systems themselves should not be underestimated, because even with the lack of the necessary software at hand, you can perform all the necessary operations with their help. It's no secret that when installing all the latest system modifications, tools for partitioning the hard disk are present in the installer itself.
At the stage of choosing a system disk, you can create a new partition, specify its required capacity and perform formatting. If at that moment the hard drive is already divided into several partitions, you can delete them, and then create new partitions from the unallocated area that will be automatically attached to the main disk. The only question is what architecture the installed OS has, what is the total volume of the hard disk and the file system used in the future (modifications with 32 bits and FAT32 file structures do not work with disks with a capacity of more than 2 TB and do not allow creating more than four logical sections).
Partition Actions on Installed Windows Systems
After installation in an already running system, Windows can split the disk on its own. This is due to the fact that in the modifications of this OS, starting with the seventh, such tools have already appeared (previously it was necessary to use exclusively software from third-party developers). The toolkit itself is located in the disk management section, and you can call it either through the PCM menu (the "Management" or "Administration" item) or from the "Run" console (diskmgmt.msc).
If initially you have only one system partition, first you need to use volume compression, and then (when available space) you need to create a new volume, after which you will need to enter standard parameters regarding volume, label, file system type, etc.
In the case of existing partitions, you can just as easily delete them and create new logical drives from unallocated space. Alas, many users do not like the methods of partitioning the hard drive in Windows, if it is exclusively about system tools, because they are, to put it mildly, somewhat confusing. Software products from third-party developers look much easier in this regard, which, so to speak, more clearly reflect all the actions performed and are easier to use.
The best disk partitioning software
Today in the market of such narrowly targeted software there are a lot of corresponding applications and entire software complexes, and it will not be possible to describe them all simply physically. However, among all that can be found on the Internet and recommended to ordinary users who do not particularly delve into the intricacies of working with partitions, the following applications can be separately distinguished:
- Acronis Disk Director.
- AOMEI Partition Assistant.
- MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- GParted
- Active @ Partition Manager.
- Paragon Partition Manager Free.
- Partition Magic.
- EaseUS Partition Master.
It is immediately worth noting that almost all of the above programs for partitioning a disk work on similar principles, but each of them is worth considering separately to identify all the pros and cons.
Acronis disk director
Of course, Acronis software products in the market for software designed for HDD and SSD administration are the leaders.
The described program for partitioning a disk works with all versions of Windows and Linux, allows you to perform any actions with partitions, copy large amounts of information from one partition to another, supports the use of several operating systems installed on one hard drive, has an impressive boot manager, is capable of recover damaged partitions and data on them, and is also equipped with a built-in editor that allows the user to independently change some parameters of hard drives.
The disadvantages of this utility can only be attributed to the fact that the free version, when compared with the full one, is somewhat limited in its capabilities, and data recovery takes too much time. Nevertheless, most ordinary users will like it, because working with it is simple and convenient.
AOMEI Partition Assistant
Before us is another package for breaking up the hard drive in Russian. Among all the representatives of this software, the most popular among users is the free modification of Standard, but its capabilities are enough, which is called with its head. To perform basic operations, the user does not need to perform a huge amount of unnecessary actions, since all the tools are right at hand.
So, for example, it is absolutely elementary to resize partitions using the usual movement of a special slider. In addition, this package provides tools for converting partition styles between each other (MBR to GPT and vice versa) without data loss, it is possible to transfer licensed OSs from HDD to SSD and much more. A distinctive feature of the application is full support for UEFI Boot with the creation of special bootable media based on the program to perform any of the basic operations when starting from removable media.
There were no fundamental flaws in the program, although some users have noted the possible occurrence of failures when starting in Windows Vista, and most operations after repeated confirmation are performed when the system is rebooted and can take a lot of time.
MiniTool Partition Wizard
This program is another universal tool for breaking up a hard disk. Windows 7 you use or any other modification, it does not matter. The application works equally well with all known versions.
Among its tools, in addition to the standard set, you can find several unusual features. For example, the program can test hard disks for performance, allows you to visually inspect file structures, easily works with media and partitions with volumes exceeding 2 TB, and also backs up any type of data and even allows you to hide partitions from prying eyes!
Of the obvious shortcomings, most experts note that the formatting of partitions is too slow, as well as a somewhat unfinished (albeit Russified) interface.
GParted
Here is another unusual package for splitting a disk, which is a portable application that does not require installation.
Alas, it can only be used when creating bootable media like LiveCD and starting from them. But the program allows you to perform all the basic and related operations without having to start Windows. Despite this, the average user may need time to fully master it.
Active @ Partition Manager
This application for splitting the hard drive for Windows 10 and below (official version) is available only in the form of an English-language modification.
However, among his tools, there are also many interesting things. For example, the program is equipped with convenient “Wizards” for all operations performed, it allows you to display SMART data about hard drives, copes with tasks on creating disk images, and also has a built-in boot record editor in its arsenal, with which you can make changes by yourself!
Paragon Partition Manager Free
Paragon software has long been a legend. Among all that the program can do to partition a hard disk into Windows, there are quite a few standard tools that no modern package can do without.
However, it is worth paying special attention to the possibility of converting file systems (for example, NTFS to HFS), as well as the availability of our own tools for detecting bad sectors on the disk and protecting against potential failures. As additional tools, here you can find some optimization modules for disks and logical partitions.
Partition magic
Needless to say, this software product, if I may say so, belongs to the classics of the genre. Whether you will use this application to split the hard drive in Windows 7 in newer versions or in older versions, the result will still be absolutely amazing. If you recall, from the moment the first Windows-systems appeared that allowed working with logical partitions, it was this software product that was used to perform all the necessary actions almost everywhere and even integrated into some installation distributions (then the partition was done before installing the OS in DOS mode) .
Since then, the utility has not lost its relevance and has acquired some new features. In addition to the usual set, here you can find storage optimization tools, file system and partition style converters, tools for creating backups and installing multiple operating systems on one hard drive or in different partitions. By the way, there is an opinion that by using this particular utility, it is possible to extend the life of not only the hard drive, but also the operating system installed on it.
EaseUS Partition Master
Finally, another program concludes the review, which is quite in demand among ordinary users and specialists in the field of working with disks and partitions.
It has everything you need to work with partitions. But you should especially pay attention to the availability of tools to view all the changes made in relation to partitions, the ability to copy information from one disk to another without data loss, as well as tools to completely delete information from any partition (something like completely erasing a disk to free up free places by cleaning up deleted files that are present on it).
But the disadvantages can be attributed only to the fact that during the installation of this application several additional applets that are completely unnecessary for the user will be installed, so be extremely careful and do not miss the step at which you will need to abandon them.
conclusions
As for which of the presented programs to recommend to users, it is impossible to answer unequivocally, because each of the described products has its advantages and disadvantages. However, if you approach this issue solely from a practical point of view, you can recommend the first three applications from the list above. They are the most simple to learn and do not require the user to have any specific knowledge. All operations must be confirmed several times, and if you do something wrong or decide to refuse what action, you can always go back one or several steps so that the changes do not take effect.