Disk Manager is a utility that manages the system disks and the volumes or partitions contained. With Disk Management, you can initialize disks, create volumes, format volumes with file systems FAT, FAT32 or NTFS. 

Disk Manager allows you to perform most tasks related to disk without rebooting the system or interrupting users. Most configuration changes enter into force immediately. 

In this article, we learn to use the Disk Management of Windows Vista, it is also present in Windows 7, in both systems is the same management. 

Disk Manager is easy to manipulate: the menus can be accessed with the button of the mouse known as right click, show where the tasks you can perform on the selected object, assistant to the steps leading to creation. 

What you can do with Disk Management? 

R. You can extend the disk, reducing the disk, create other partitions, delete partitions, change the drive letter among other things, all in one tool, and better, using the tool of the system. 

Warning: Before handling the Disk Management, it is important to back up files in case (this article was written in Windows 7, which did not have any problems with the files). 


Disk Defragment 

Before it is important to partition the disk defrag to work. The defragmentation of a disk volume may require a long time, depends on the size of the volume, number of files, the percentage of fragmentation and the availability of system resources. For example, use a disk of 40 GB. 

Open Disk Defragmenter, click: Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Defragmenter: 



Will open the Disk Defragmenter tool. Select (click once) the drive to be defragmented, and just below the button clicked the Defragment Disk. 



The next step is to wait while he makes the analysis of the disk: 



Still continuing in the footsteps of wait defragmentation defragmentation (replacement). Are 10 steps, which may take several minutes or even hours (in HD of 40 GB of example, took 11 minutes). 



After completing the defragmentation will appear below the menu (Last Performance), time and date of the last performance and the percentage fragmented, here shows 0% means that it was defragmented, appears when 1%, 2% so on, you must defragment disk, but to create a partition, it is important to keep the 0%: 



After that just click Close, the next step now start to use the Disk Management. 


Disk Management, create new partition 

From now on we will learn to use the Disk Manager (Manager partitions), which is available in Windows Vista and Windows 7. As I said, this article was written in Windows 7 and the procedures are also valid for Vista. 

To open Disk Management, open the Start menu of Windows Vista or Windows 7. 



In the search box type diskmgmt.msc, typing the command then the file will appear in the box, just click the file to open the tool. 



Wait for the loading of the service. 



With that now you opened the Disk Management of Windows Vista or Windows 7, which provides for basic actions on partitions as: Creating new partitions (pieces), delete partitions (pieces), resizing and other features. 



First we will resize the single partition (drive) available in the manager, if the unit C. Click the button for context (right click) on top of unit C in text mode window and then click the Volume Down. 


Wait while the tool is to consult the volume for the availability of space. 



After the consultation shows a dialog box, where it contains information on the disc. In the first field have 38202MB total space in the HD and can remove up to 21745MB in the second field, which means free. 



Then type the size of the unit we want to create (I have a HD of 40 GB and I have a D: drive with 10 GB) in the white box and click Decrease. 



Note that the operation would not delay to make the drop, and the window graphics mode, we have two fields: the C: drive and not allocated (ie, the D: drive with 10000MB we created, ready to create new partition). 



In the graph window has not allocated a unit by clicking the button with the mouse on it, then clicking on New Simple Volume. 



Once the wizard is new partitions, where you click Next. 



The next screen shows the total to choose new partition, click Next. 



Choose a letter to the new partition and click Next. 



Then choose the file system, which can be NTFS or FAT32. The size of allocation recommended leaving the unit in default, you can also make a name for the volume label of your choice, it is important to check the option Run a quick format, so you do not need to format the drive in Windows Explorer, as we have all in one tool. 



Here we have all the details of the new unit created. Lack only click Finish. 



Just a few seconds and then appears the new unit ready for use both in text mode and in graphics mode. 



Then appears a box warning again (volume found, or the name you typed in the creation of the partition) or have to open Windows Explorer the drive ready for use. 



Already we can see in Windows Explorer to a new drive appeared. 



So far you have learned to create new (s) partition in the next step learn to exclude partition. 

Disk Management: Deleting partition and extending the unit 
So here we learn to use the Disk Manager (Manager partitions), to create new partitions and new, and remembering that only allowed a maximum of 4 partitions, now we put in place for how to delete unwanted partitions. 

Window in text mode menu "Volume" have the D: drive, click the button with the mouse over it, then click on Delete Volume. It can be done in graphical mode window. 



Appears immediately after the confirmation dialog box and all the data indicating that the volume will be erased if you made the backup of the unit click on Yes 



After a few seconds, we only drive C: in text mode window and a window unit is not allocated in graphical mode. Need now, put the "Unallocated" back to the C: drive 



In text mode window in the C: drive-clicking the mouse on it, then click on Extend Volume. 



Then the wizard appears to stretches of volumes, click Next. 



See the next screen that shows the amount already free to be extended. Click Next. 



Soon after shows in the dialog box to confirm the configuration selected. Click Finish. 



The next screen shows already in the C: drive with your full size back in the system, both in text mode or in graphical mode. 



Learn in the next step to change drive letter.


Disk Management: Changing drive letter 

It is uncommon but can happen in the system, something go wrong and have a drive letter change, when we partition the HD, and C: and D: or even a creation of partitions and exclusions wrong just delete the partition, leaving with a drive letter to change as shown in the image below: 

See I should have 2 drives as C: and D: but I have C: and F: I want now is to transform the drive F: to D: but we have data on the drive F: about 540M. 



Again open the Disk Management as we have learned since the beginning of this article and found that the units also have C: and F: 



In the window text or graphic-clicking the mouse on top of the unit to be amended, then click Change Drive Letter and Paths. 



On the next screen appears a box of options with the letter to be changed, then click Change ... 



Selected and click on the desired letter, here I choose the letter D and click OK. 



A confirmation notice will be displayed. What it means? 

An example: Say you have shortcut on the desktop in a folder, file, game etc, which is in the drive F: as the bill is amended, the shortcut on the desktop may no longer function in that case we put a new shortcut in the properties of the unit or change the shortcut only the letter of the way, show the next image. 



In the properties of the shortcut in the "Destination" is shown here as F: Click the letter F next to withdraw this letter and put the letter D 



After the change of F to D, click Apply then OK, there problem solved. 



And by the end we see that Disk Manager to drive F: is now D: and this change was made with data on the disc, without loss to lose any file, thereby ending the work with the Disk Management. 



Finally confirmed in Windows Explorer that the letter F: is now D: 



In this article learn to create, delete, format and partition exchange of letters, this can be done with one or more partitions of partition of up to four, also learned that it is important to defragment the disk before using this tool, especially in creating of new partitions, we also exchanged a letter of a drive without losing data from disk, it can also be done with other units, example: You have the D: drive or create another partition to make it to drive F:. 

As a precaution it is always good to back up, but doing everything as explained here, not at risk of losing data. Anyway, if you can back up, do, because protection of files is never enough. 

Remembering is always good to use their own tools of the system, not to cause future problems.