3 Easy Ways on How To View Partitions (2022)
When you install Windows on a new hard drive, the installer sees the disk as a large, unallocated space. To make the operating system understand which part of the hard drive it can access, you need to create a partition. This is essentially a section of the hard drive set aside for the operating system. Once you've created a partition, you can format it with a specific filesystem, which turns it into a volume that the operating system can use.
To utilize each partition fully, you need to understand how to view them. This can be done through Windows Explorer, Disk Management, or a third-party partition tool.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| 1. Check/View Partitions via Windows Explorer | Step 1: To access Windows Explorer, press the Windows key + E keys simultaneously on your keyboard. This will open the File Explorer window, allowing you to navigate through your computer's files and folders.Full steps |
| 2. View Disk Partitions with Windows Disk Management | Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, then type "diskmgmt.msc" and press Enter to open the Disk Management utility.Full steps |
| 3. You can view, unhide, or recover partitions on a hard drive using specialized software. This can be done to access data on a previously hidden or deleted partition, or to recover a partition that has been accidentally deleted. | Step 1. Open Qiling Partition Master and click "Partition Recovery"...Full steps |
Top 8 Best Free Windows 10/8/7 Disk Management Tools
Here are the 8 best free partition manager software and tools you can use in Windows to shrink, expand, combine, and split partitions for free.
The General Way to Check/View Partitions is via Windows Explorer
When you buy a new business computer, you might see drive letters like C, D, and E in Windows Explorer, which can refer to physical hard drives or partitions, often created to run different operating systems, and can be viewed by accessing the window Explorer.
Let's have a look at the steps on how to check partitions via Windows explorer.
Step 1: First navigate to Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows + E keys.
Step 2: To view the partition size of each hard drive, you can use a tool like Disk Management or Disk Utility. This will display the total size of each drive, allowing you to see the partition size of each hard drive.
- What you can see: One can see only partitions and partition size.
- What you cannot see: Users are not able to view all available disks.
Another Free Way to View Disk Partitions Is with Windows Disk Management
To view partitions, you can use the disk management method. To do this, you can scroll below to see all the steps. This method allows you to view internal or external hard drives and is a useful tool for managing your computer's storage.
Step 1: To open the Windows Disk Management tool, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, then type "diskmgmt.msc" and press Enter.
Step 2: Once the disk management opens, you can view all the hard drive/external drive partitions, as shown in the image below.
- What you can see: Using disk management allows users to view all disks and partitions, including their file system, type, status, and identify any showing as RAW or unallocated.
- What you cannot see: The command `find` with the option `-print0` will not list hidden, lost, and deleted files.
A Comprehensive Way to View, Unhide, or Recover Partitions on A Hard Drive
To view all types of partitions, including lost, hidden, or deleted ones, you can use a third-party partition manager. This tool can help you view all partitions on any type of hard drive, and one recommended option is Qiling Partition Magic. This tool has the functionality to view all types of partitions, making it a useful tool for those who want to see all partitions on their hard drive.
Qiling Partition Master is a powerful and comprehensive partition viewer/checker that provides detailed information about all partitions on a computer, including their size, type, file system, and more. It can display the entire partition table, including all existing partitions, and allows users to view and manage their partitions with ease.
- Examine the whole hard disk size.
- Examine all types of partitions across different states, including recovery partitions, OEM partitions, system reserved partitions, RAW partitions, and unallocated partitions, among others.
- Using the Unhide functionality, you may view a hidden partition.
- Partition Recovery can be used to recover a missing or deleted partition.
How to View Hidden, Lost or Deleted Partitions with Qiling Partition Master
Step 1. To recover a lost partition using Open Qiling Partition Master, start by opening the software and selecting the disk where the lost partition was previously located. Next, click on the "Partition Recovery" option from the "Disk Management" tab, and then choose the desired disk to begin the recovery process.
Step 2. A quick scan will start immediately, and you can pause the scanning process at any time by clicking "Proceed" when the lost partition shows up, allowing you to start your data recovery.
You can double click on the partition you're looking for to preview its content.
Step 3. Once the lost partition and data have been located, click "Recover" to restore the lost partition, which should then reappear in your drive.
Conclusion
If you want to view, unhide, or recover a partition on a hard drive without data loss, we recommend using Qiling Partition Master. This tool is highly suitable for users who enjoy tinkering with their computer.
Related Articles
- How to Restore USB Drive/Flash Drive/Pen Drive Back to Full Capacity
- Partition Clone Guide | Clone EXT4/EXT3/EXT2 Partitions in Windows 10
- Sleep vs Hibernate on Windows 10/8/8.1/7 (Complete Guide)
- How to Format SSD to FAT32 in Windows 10/8/7