How to Partition a Second HDD

Partitions on a hard drive are much like room partitions, separating one large area into smaller, sectioned off spaces. The data on one partition is completely separate than the data on another partition. This allows you to keep important documents separate from the operating system files (which can become infected or corrupted). Partitioning a second hard drive is no different than partitioning your main hard drive, the process only takes a few minutes.

Instructions

1. Connect the second hard drive, if it is not already (if it's an internal hard drive, skip this step).

2. Open the Disk Management utility. Open the Start menu and type "compmgmt.msc" into the Search box. Select "Storage," then "Disk Management" in the sidebar of the Computer Management window.

3. Right-click the unallocated space on the second hard drive and select "New Simple Volume."

4. Click "Next." Set the desired partition size. You can specify an exact size or choose the minimum or maximum space available, then click "Next." Set a drive letter and click "Next."

5. Set the desired file system or leave the settings at their default. Click "Next." Click "Finish" to create the partition on the second hard drive.

References

• Microsoft: Create and Format a Hard Disk Partition