How Many Disk Partitions Should We have For Windows 10

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Last updated on December 13th, at 06:44 pm

How many disk partitions should we have for Windows 10 PC?  There is no fixed number. It all depends on your need. Read on how I would partition a 1 TB hard disk

However before we proceed to partition our hard disk, see our detailed post on the advantages and disadvantages of Hard Disk partitioning.

What is Disk partitioning all about

As you know now, that disk partitioning is an act of dividing the hard disk into multiple logical storage units which are referred to as Partitions. It’s like treating a single hard disk as if it were multiple disks.

Now you may ask how many partitions do I need? that’s a good question. Before you proceed to cut your hard disk into slices (Partitions). Think clearly what are your needs.

What are the type of files you normally use most and save? This is important to analyze before you proceed to actually partition the hard disk. This will help you to decide how many disk partitions you will need. More on that..read on….

If your hard disk is 1TB ( that’s 1000 GB) in size (that’s a lot of space unless you are a gamer). Write down on a piece of paper the number of Disk Partitions you will require.

What size each partition should be. The number and size of Disk partitions will vary from individual to individual.

If I am to partition my 1TB hard disk I would do it this way. (This is just a guide, as to how many disk partitions we may need, normally). You may change the partition size or even reduce the number of partitions.

A sample guide on how many disk partitions you may need

1::: Primary partition for the Operating system to install = Size 150GB. I feel that’s sufficient for the OS and program files I might install. ( you may increase if you are going to install games)
2:::  After creating this partition, I would create an extended partition for the remaining space.
3:::  Once done, within this extended partition, I would start making the logical partitions as per my needs as follows

Logical partitions
1::: I would allocate about 50GB for my Documents
2::: Then I would allocate 100 GB for Pictures
3::: Then another 100 GB for my collections of MP3 music files.
4::: Then another 250 GB for my Movie collection

5::: Then another 200 GB for my software back up, ISO image files for Games, Device drivers etc. Since you never know when you need that software to re-install.

Back up all your system drivers, Motherboard drivers (don’t rely on your optical disks ) so it’s a good idea to back up your drivers that come with your new PC to be copied and kept in folders inside your backup partition.

6. I usually create an extra partition of 50 GB or so and name it TRIAL or EXTRA. This is where I keep my miscellaneous items like some downloaded pictures or PSD files that I work on and when done I delete the files. Just like an extra huge dust bin or a temporary transit point. This is optional.

That takes up about 900GB of my space 1 TB hard disk. The remaining space will be taken up the file allocation table.

NOTE: Since the vendor’s and operating system’s capacity calculating methods are quite different (1000GB=1TB for vendors while 1024GB=1TB for computer OS), the 1TB might be equal to about 900GB in Windows operating system.

Well, this is just an example of how many disk partitions we may require. You can have your own way of allocating and naming the partitions or even create some more extra partitions.

Advantage of Hard disk Partitions

Remember each partition is separate and isolated from the main OS partition. So your files are safe in their own partition.

Should anything go wrong with your primary partition like system crash, virus infection, or doesn’t boot, and you need to format and reinstall windows fresh.

You can do so without losing any files, music, videos, backups, they will remain unharmed within their partition.

Over and above with a dedicated partition for the operating system and programs, you can create an exact image of the entire partition and restore it back. as it was when backed up in the event of a disaster like a system crash, virus infection.

After installing Windows, you can proceed to partition the disk from the windows built-in disk management tool. But if you need more precise control and more options, you may try this best free disk partitioning tool.

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