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How do I create a partition on a virtual hard drive?

Published in Disk Partitioning 2 mins read

You can create a partition on a virtual hard drive using the diskpart command-line utility in Windows. Here's how:

Steps to Create a Partition using Diskpart

The diskpart utility allows you to manage disks, partitions, and volumes using commands. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a partition on a virtual hard drive:

  1. Open Diskpart:

    • Type diskpart in the Command Prompt or PowerShell (run as administrator). This opens the Diskpart command-line tool.

  2. List Disks:

    • At the DISKPART prompt, type list disk. This command displays all the disks connected to your computer, including the virtual hard drive.

  3. Select the Disk:

    • At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk [number]. Replace [number] with the number corresponding to the virtual hard drive you want to partition. For example, if the virtual hard drive is Disk 1, you would type select disk 1.

  4. Create the Partition:

    • At the DISKPART prompt, type create partition primary size=102400. This command creates a primary partition. The size parameter specifies the size of the partition in megabytes (MB). In this example, 102400 represents 100 GB (102400 MB = 100 GB). Adjust the size according to your needs.

  5. Assign a Drive Letter:

    • At the DISKPART prompt, type assign letter=D. This assigns the drive letter "D" to the newly created partition. You can choose any available drive letter.

  6. Exit Diskpart:

    • At the DISKPART prompt, type exit. This closes the Diskpart utility.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a 50 GB partition on Disk 2 and assign it the drive letter "E". The commands would be:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 2
create partition primary size=51200
assign letter=E
exit

Important Considerations:

  • Backup Data: Always back up important data before making any changes to disk partitions. Incorrect commands can lead to data loss.
  • Virtual Hard Drive: Ensure that your virtual hard drive is properly attached to your system before you start.
  • Partition Type: The example uses create partition primary. You can also create extended or logical partitions depending on your requirements.

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