How to partition a Windows 8 disk. Three ways to partition a Windows 8 hard disk (instruction)

Splitting a hard disk into several partitions is not so difficult as it seems at first glance. The article will discuss the partitioning in the Windows 8 operating system. Here, you will find a description of both the popular partition tables - GPT and MBR. By and large, differences in actions are minimal, but still they are.

If the built-in OS program does not allow you to partition the disk, Windows 8 can use for the same purposes external programs, which are quite freely available in the global network. One of them will be considered in the article. Typically, third-party tools have much more flexibility and broad capabilities.

GPT or MBR?

If your computer was recently purchased, it is likely that it has a disk with a GPT partition table. MBR has many problems that can not be considered critical, but in the GPT all the past shortcomings are resolved. So it's better to use GPT if you decide to split the disk. Windows 8 allows you to specify which table to use if no partitions have been created on the HDD.

Disadvantages of the old file type table

It is impossible to create partitions on the HDD with MBR, the total volume of which exceeds two terabytes. If the volume of your hard drive is equal to three terabytes, on it still one third will remain marked as unused, no matter how much you struggle over changing partitions.

The number of primary partitions on an MBR disk can not exceed four. If you need more, you will have to create several logical partitions, which will be placed in the primary.

MBR can be modified by viruses. This situation reduces the overall security of the PC.

Built-in utility

If your system has a HDD with a GPT table, you can split the hard disk into two by built-in tools, and it's very easy to do this. Go to the "Control Panel" and click the "Administration" item. Then open the "Computer Management" utility, and then in the left column find the inscription "Disk Management".

If you are using a laptop, never touch the recovery partition, it is used by the device for your needs.

Right-click on the disk that you want to share. In the context menu, tap on the label "Compress volume." The system will ask you to specify how much to separate from the existing disk. After clicking on "OK" it may seem that the computer is frozen, do not rush to force the program to finish, otherwise you can lose all the data on the partition that you are compressing. Have patience to break the hard drive, Windows 8 requires a series of complex operations.

After the operation is completed, next to the section that has been reduced, an unplaced area of memory will appear. Click on its image and choose "Create Partition" from the context menu. In the creation window, you need to find the file system and the size of the new volume.

If you do the same operation with the MBR-disk, an additional volume will be created, not the main one. The system will display the one and the other equally.

How to properly partition a hard drive during a Windows installation?

This method of partitioning the HDD has both advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages are simplicity and clarity. In addition, the procedure does not take a lot of time. The main disadvantage is that we will only apply this method during the installation of the new operating system. And the user does not resort to the process of division not only for this reason. In addition, resizing partitions and any editing of them will be impossible without formatting. And formatting, as you know, removes all information from the partition.

After some time after the OS installation program is loaded, the user will be asked to choose the volume in which the system files will be located. It is here that there is an opportunity to break the disk. Windows 8 will only show one volume in this window if the HDD has just been purchased. If used before, most likely, the choice of volumes will be more extensive. To start editing the partitions, click the "Disk Setup" button, it is located at the bottom of the window.

Before any manipulation of disk space, one or more volumes must be deleted. Remember that by deleting a volume, you lose all the data that was stored on it. If there is free disk space that is not yet marked, you do not need to delete partitions.

After that, click on the "Create" button. In the opened window, you will be asked to enter the desired volume size. After that, you only need to click on the "Apply" item.

Using third-party programs

In order to split the disk, Windows 8 can use not only built-in tools, but also other products. The most popular programs for editing volumes are released by Paragon and Acronis. They have both free versions, and commercial ones, with enhanced functionality. This manual describes Acronis Disk Director. Download, install and run it. The main window greets the dialog of choosing which mode to work in. Manual has more complex settings, automatic requires minimum action. Choose manual.

detailed instructions

Click the button on the top menu "Master" - "Create section". Select the disk that you want to share. Click Next to specify how much space you need to bite off the existing volume or volumes. Press the "Next" button again. Now the program will start checking HDD for errors. After that, you will be asked to specify the size of the new partition. There is an opportunity to specify the exact number of megabytes, and use the graphic slider.

Do not take all the free space if you want to create several volumes at once. Here, specify whether the primary section is logical or logical. For a simple user, there is no particular difference, choose a logical one. If the system needs to change this parameter, it will take care of everything itself.

The next step is to decide which file system will be at the partition. If you are using the Windows 8 operating system, choose NTFS. It is possible to specify the file systems used in the OS of the Linux family. Next, in the drop-down menu, select the letter and label for the volume. To apply the changes, click the end button.

Final steps

All the done manipulations will be reflected on the graphic display of the HDD partitions. But that is not all. Now the program must be closed. Before the exit, the user will be asked whether to perform all the operations mentioned above. A program can not be completed without a response. Split the Windows 8 disk will be possible only if you answer "Yes." After that, the computer must be restarted.