The terms disk management and partitions may sound a bit technical, but they are a rewarding subject. Some knowledge about this will teach you to better understand the essence of the Windows 10 computer. We’ll take you from the basics: recognize drives and create a new partition.
Lex Souren
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| classic HDD and below sata SSD |
Every computer has one or more places where the data is stored. Such a place is called disk. Given the word, it seems to have a round shape and in many cases it is. This has its origins in the past, just think of the gramophone record and then the CD and DVD. They were round and the data was read while the ‘disk’ was spinning. In the early days, computers were soon equipped with such a disk, on which the data was written. Many (older) computers still have a buzzing sound after start: the disk is started and starts spinning. A computer can have more than one drive. This can have advantages, you will read more about that later.
Nowadays, the disk has often been replaced by memory chips on an SSD (Solid State Disk or Drive). Although it is still referred to as a disk, it is no longer round or spinning. For disk management, it doesn’t matter whether the computer has a round disk or an SSD. In the image at the bottom left you can see examples of these ‘disks’: the traditional hard disk and a SATA SSD.
From now on, we will call the traditional drive an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a memory drive an SSD. An SSD is smaller, lighter, quieter and much faster than an HDD. An SSD is, however, still considerably more expensive. Desktop computers (the cabinet models) usually still have an HDD, but nowadays you often see a combination: an SSD for the Windows 10 operating system and other programs and an HDD for storing your own files. This has a major advantage: Windows and the programs remain separate from your own files.
A laptop usually contains a (smaller) HDD or – in the more expensive models – an SSD, sometimes combined with an HDD. In addition, there are laptops and tablets with a cheaper SSD variant: eMMC. The most recent version is an nvme SSD, we’ll get to that later. There are also computers that have dual HDDs. One HDD can then have a backup of the other. We omit this latter technique here. 
WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?
To recognize the drives and their type, after we have started the computer and the desktop is visible, we click the Explorer at.
Tip: If you always want to be able to reach the Explorer quickly, click in the bottom bar in the Windows screen (the so-called Taskbar) in the search bar with the text ‘Type here to search’ or ‘Search in Windows’. Sometimes there is only a magnifying glass, click on it. Type ‘Explorer’ and then click on File Explorer and the File Explorer will appear. You’ll see the icon at the bottom of the Taskbar, then right-click on it and click Pin to Taskbar. You will then see approximately the image as above.
If you use a laptop, it usually only has one disk and no option to build in an extra disk. If you still want to use a second disk, then an external disk (for example with a USB connection) is more obvious. On our computer we see that it has two drives, an SSD and a HDD. The type of disk is initially not visible here, because in the ‘folder options’ the setting is Quick access stands. However, we can change this by using the same Explorer in the tab Image clicking the Options button at the top right. Then choose in the field behind Open explorer in in front of This PC. Then click at the bottom To apply and OK.
If you now click on the Explorer, the following may appear: 
Now the disks (an SSD with Windows 10 and a HDD Data 160) can be seen. You will also see a DVD player. That is not a disk, but we call it a ‘drive’. Disks are always shown with the icon, where the disk represents Windows 10.
Tip: Want to see more information about the drives? Then hold on the keyboard the Windowskey and press key R. In the field that opens, type ‘diskmgmt.msc’.
The first drive is shown here – confusingly – Disk 0 mentioned and the second Disc 1. But it is clear to see that this really concerns two separate disks, which are separate from each other in the computer. In addition, there are Disk 0 in addition to Windows, two more partitions, called ‘partitions’. These are made by Windows and belong to the first partition, which contains all other programs besides Windows by default. We explain partitions later in this article.
WHY TWO DISCS?
What is the advantage of two separate disks? As mentioned before, the Windows (10) operating system and all programs are installed on the first Disk 0 put. Since this is an SSD, booting is faster than if this were an HDD. Personal files (documents, photos, videos), as well as a backup (copy) of Windows and programs, can be stored on the second drive (Disc 1) are set. The fact that the personal files are not on the SSD is important because these files will not be ‘affected’ if Windows becomes damaged or, in the worst case, does not want to start anymore. Those files are safe on the second drive. If the first drive has also been backed up to the second drive, Windows can be restored from here and your personal files will be available again.
Ideally, you should also regularly make a copy of the Windows backup as well as a copy of all your personal files, preferably on an external drive! You can store this external drive separately, in case your computer or laptop is stolen or in the event of a hostage attack with ransomware!
RECOGNIZE TYPES OF DISCS
Until recently, it wasn’t easy to know what kind of drive is inside a computer unless you unscrewed the device. Since the latest Windows updates, this can be seen without opening: Right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen, then choose task management and then at the top of the tab Performance. Here you can see that this is an SSD in three places:
SOMETHING EXTRA ABOUT DISC TYPES
In addition to the ‘normal’ SSD, there is now also a modern variant: the M.2 type. There are several variations of M.2, but the main difference is that the connection in the computer or laptop is completely different, namely without cables. The speed of an M.2 can also be (considerably) higher than the normal SSD.
In addition, we now also see another type called eMMC. This is actually not a real disk, but a memory card that is found in budget models of laptops and tablets. This is cheaper than an SSD and is permanently mounted inside the laptop or tablet. The speed is not as high as that of a regular SSD.
ONE DISK IN THE LAPTOP OR PC
We have always talked about a PC or laptop with two disks in it. That second disk can often be added afterwards (with PCs). But what if your computer only has one disk and nothing can be added? Then we can ‘divide’ that disk into parts, called ‘partitions’. This is especially useful if that one drive is very large. Then the space next to the Windows system is (too) spacious. Let’s take as an example a computer or laptop with one 750 GB disk. Windows normally settles for 25 to 100 GB, so we’re left with roughly 600 GB. Open the Explorer, right click on C:Windows and choose Characteristics.
Above you can see that of the 700 GB (actually Above you can see that of the 700 GB (actually 698 GB) 674 GB are still unused, so Windows takes up about 25 GB here. The image below shows that this 750 GB disk, rounded, shows about 700 GB. This is normal and for a technical reason, which we will not consider here. To make a separate space on this disk for our personal files, we are going to divide it into two different partitions: one for the Windows and one for the files.
First, let’s set up the partition for Windows. To that end, we’re going to shrink the 700 GB. Go to Disk Management, as we did before: press the Windows key + R and type ‘diskmgmt.msc’. 
First, let’s set up the partition for Windows. To that end, we’re going to shrink the 700 GB. Go to Disk Management, as we have done before: press the Windows key + R and type ‘diskmgmt.msc’. The following image appears (right):
In the main part (here 698 GB) right click and choose Reduce volume. The computer will now calculate. Note: This part, which has Windows 10 on it, has the letter C:, which can be seen in the following image. You should see ‘C: Shrink’ at the top.
The first image above (C: shrink) shows the standard situation. The second line shows the maximum size that can be reduced (689721 MB) and then the last line remains: 25123 MB. The latter is the size of the total Windows 10. That is very tight, because then the operating system can no longer ‘grow’. That’s why we’re adjusting that last space: change the number in line three so that line four remains 100,000 MB. Then there is a lot of extra space for Windows. Now press the button shrink at the bottom of. 
Windows Disk Management shows that there are now two partitions: on the left the reduced size to 100 GB, and on the right the remainder of 600 GB.
The remainder of 600 GB is named Unassigned got. That means that partition still needs to be prepared. Right-click in this field and choose New Simple Volume. A window will now open with Create New Simple Volume Wizard, click on Next one. This window indicates the maximum size: 614843 MB. This is ok, click again Next one. In this window, Windows itself tells you to call this partition ‘E’. This is ok, click Next one. In the next window you can enter a name yourself in the bottom field. Here we have chosen the name ‘DATA’. 
when you’re on now Next one click, the partition will be formatted. Finally click Complete. In the Explorer you can now see that an extra partition of 600 GB has been created. Success: one disk now has two partitions, so that the operating system and your own documents are no longer together. 
Now that a new partition has been added, you can of course move as many of your own files (photos, documents) to this location. And also, for example, back up Windows.
Tip: to ensure that personal files are stored directly in this location from now on, go to Start, type ‘storage settings’ and click at the bottom Change where new content is saved.
In the window that now opens, you will see at the top where Windows and programs are, under C:. Below that you will see all the places where you can put personal files. Change all those places to the new partition, here DATA E:, then click on the arrow next to it and select To apply.