How to Partition External Hard Drive without Losing Data?
Geeks - Partitioning an external hard drive allows you to divide the drive into separate sections, or partitions, that can be used to store different types of files or to organize your files in a specific way. While partitioning an external hard drive can be a useful way to manage your data, it's important to be careful and make sure you don't lose any of your important files in the process. Here's how to partition an external hard drive without losing data:
Back up your data: Before you start partitioning your external hard drive, it's crucial to make sure you have a backup of all your important files. This way, if something goes wrong during the partitioning process, you won't lose any of your data.
Connect the external hard drive to your computer: Plug the external hard drive into your computer using a USB cable. Make sure the drive is recognized by your computer and is showing up as a connected device.
Open the Disk Management tool: In Windows, you can access the Disk Management tool by pressing the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue, then typing "diskmgmt.msc" and hitting Enter. In macOS, you can access the Disk Utility by searching for it in the Applications folder or by pressing Command + Space to open the Spotlight search, then typing "Disk Utility" and hitting Enter.
Select the external hard drive: In the Disk Management or Disk Utility tool, find the external hard drive and select it.
Create a new partition: To create a new partition on the external hard drive, you'll need to shrink the existing partition to create some free space. In the Disk Management or Disk Utility tool, select the existing partition and choose the option to shrink it. Specify the amount of space you want to allocate to the new partition, then click "Shrink" or "Resize." This will create a new, unallocated space on the external hard drive that you can use to create a new partition.
Format the new partition: With the new, unallocated space created, you can now create a new partition on the external hard drive. In the Disk Management or Disk Utility tool, select the unallocated space and choose the option to create a new partition. Specify the size and type of the partition, then click "Create" or "Apply." The new partition will be created and you can start using it to store your files.
It's important to note that partitioning an external hard drive can be a somewhat advanced task, and it's possible to accidentally lose data if you're not careful. Make sure you follow the steps above carefully, and consider seeking the assistance of a professional if you're not comfortable partitioning the drive on your own.
