How To Create a Partition

You can learn how to divide your computer's hard drive into two separate parts.Partitioning a hard drive makes it easier to install multiple operating systems on a single computer.Partitioning your hard drive is possible on both Windows and Mac computers.

Step 1: The start can be open.

The Windows logo can be found in the bottom left corner of the screen.The Win key can be pressed on the keyboard.

Step 2: You can type computer management into Start.

You can use this to find the Computer Management program on your computer.

Step 3: Click Computer Management.

The Start window has it at the top.It opens Computer Management.If you're not using an administrator account, you may not be able to access this program.

Step 4: You can click on the Disk Management tab.

There is a sidebar on the left side of the Computer Management window.Double-click if you don't see the option.

Step 5: You can choose your hard drive.

The hard drive's box can be found in the window near the bottom of Computer Management.The number of gigabytes of storage and the hard drive's letter should be on this box.

Step 6: Click to take action.

There is a tab in the Computer Management window.Doing so leads to a menu.

Step 7: Pick all the tasks.

The option is near the bottom of the menu.Clicking on it will prompt a pop-out menu.

Step 8: Click Shrink Volume...

There is a pop-out menu.Clicking will show you how much free space you have.A new window will open when it finishes.

Step 9: Determine the partition's size.

You can enter the amount of space to shrink in MB by typing the number of megabytes that you want your partition to be.The maximum number of megabytes is listed above the field that you type in.One gigabyte is 1000 MB.You would type 5000 into the text field to make a partition.

Step 10: Click Shrink.

It is at the bottom of the page.This will allow you to create a partition on your hard drive.The process may take a few minutes.

Step 11: The new partition should be selected.

Click the partition that says "Unallocated" to the right of the hard drive's space.

Step 12: Click again.

There is a tab in the window.

Step 13: Click the New Simple Volume if you want to select all tasks.

There's a pop-out window.

Step 14: Click next.

There is a window in the bottom-right side.This will lead you to the partition setup.

Step 15: You can click next.

It will take you to the next page if you accept your partition's size.

Step 16: Click Next to select a drive letter.

You can change the partition's drive letter by clicking the drop-down box.It's an optional step.

Step 17: The "Format this volume with the following settings" box needs to be checked.

It is near the top of the page.You can set up your partition with Windows default settings, which will allow it to work like your regular hard drive.Click the "File system" box if it doesn't say "NTFS"You can format your partition for Windows.The partition's name can be changed in the "Volume label" box.

Step 18: Click next.

It's at the bottom of the page.This will lead you to the final page.

Step 19: Click Finish to finish.

Partitioning your drive will begin when you do that.You will be able to see the partition in the "Devices and drives" section once this process is complete.Depending on the size of the drive and the partition's size, it can take several minutes to several hours to partition.

Step 20: Click it to go.

The tab should be at the top of the menu bar.Click the desktop or open a new Finder window if you can't see it.

Step 21: You can click the utilities.

It's at the bottom of the menu.

Step 22: Click Disk Utility.

The icon is similar to a Mac hard drive.The Disk Utility program can be opened by doing so.

Step 23: Pick your hard drive.

Just below the "Internal" heading, you can click your Mac's hard drive in the upper- left side of the Disk Utility window.

Step 24: Click on the partition.

There is a tab at the top of the Utility Disk window.

Step 25: Click on it.

The hard drive circle is on the left side of the page.

Step 26: Determine the partition's size.

To increase the partition's size, click and drag the knob at the bottom of the circle.The "Size:" field can be used to set your partition's size.

Step 27: You can choose a file format for your partition.

Go to the drop-down box and click a format.The partition's file system will be set as your choice.If you want to set up a partition for use with Mac, click the option in the drop-down menu.In the "Name:" field, you can enter a name for your partition.

Step 28: Click to apply.

It is in the bottom-right corner of the page.If you do that, your Mac will create your partition.If your hard drive and partition are larger than one Terabyte, this process will take a while.

Step 29: Click Done when prompted.

Your Mac's partition has been created.