Create Two Partitions Without Erasing Data

You can create two partitions from one existing drive without erasing data if the disk has enough free space and the file system is healthy. Shrink the current partition first, then create a new partition from the unallocated space.

Before You Start

• Back up important files before resizing.
• Check the existing partition has enough free space.
• Do not shrink EFI, MSR, Recovery, or other small system partitions.
• Close programs using files on the target drive.

Windows Method: Shrink the Volume and Create a New One

1. Right-click Start and open Disk Management.
2. Right-click the partition you want to split and choose Shrink Volume.
3. Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB.
4. Right-click the new unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume.
5. Set size, drive letter, and NTFS, then finish the wizard.

Use Qiling Disk Master to Split the Drive Visually

• Free Download

Step 1. Select the existing data partition you want to split. Confirm it by drive letter, capacity, and used space.

Step 2. Choose Resize/Move and shrink the partition to create unallocated space. Leave enough free space in the original partition.

Step 3. Preview the shrink operation and click Proceed. Wait until the resize finishes.

Step 4. Select the new unallocated space and choose Create.

Step 5. Set the new partition size, drive letter, label, and file system, then click Proceed.

Conclusion

Splitting a drive does not have to erase data, but resizing still changes the partition table. Back up first, shrink only a healthy partition, and create the new partition from the released space.

Related Articles

• Windows Partition Management Tutorials
• Windows Data Recovery Tutorials

Is this information helpful?   Yes   No

This information is not relevant.

This information is not easy to understand.

This information is not deep enough.

What can we do to improve this information? (Optional)

Refresh Please enter the verification code!