The newly created hard drive partition will mention the drive letter, the size in MB and the volume name. You can now open File Explorer and check the newly created partition. Since the hard drive is formatted, you can store files and data in this new partition. What to do if data loss after Partition a Hard Drive in Windows? Windows will automatically assign the first drive letter available, skipping A and B. Drive letter C — i.e., the C drive — is the main hard disk partition that stores the operating system.
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A lot of people would want to learn how to partition a hard drive on their Mac computers or Windows PCs. However, how about the opposite? Some people might also wish to know how to unpartition a hard drive on Mac or Windows.
In this article, we will be focusing on how to remove partitions on your drive on Mac computers. Before we start into the entire guide, you have to take note that manipulating any drive, including that of unpartitioning them, is a type of process that involves removing data included on the drive.
Thus, it is best for you to check out what you’re doing on each step of this guide. Ensure that important data are backed up before you remove the partitions on your drive on Mac. In this way, you don’t lose important data such as work documents and other sensitive information.
Article GuidePart 1. Steps on How to Unpartition A Hard Drive on MacPart 2. To Wrap It All Up
Select the Mac partition we created in Windows 10, click Erase on the menu bar, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the Format list box, then click Erase. You can then configure your Mac Backup. Just like Windows, it also provides a seamless solution to partition hard drive on Mac or un-partition it as well. Mac has a dedicated Disk Utility feature that allows us to manage the hard disk (Macintosh HD) pretty easily. In this post, we will cover the same and teach you how to partition a hard drive on Mac like a pro! Creating hard drive partitions is important to make the hard drive usage. You need to make hard drive partitions of the right size as per your requirements. Make sure you defragment the hard drive partitions regularly so that will store data in contiguous clusters and improve Windows performance.
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Part 1. Steps on How to Unpartition A Hard Drive on Mac
Below are the steps you should follow in order to remove partitions on your disk drive on Mac. We will be using the Disk Utility tool for this guide.
Step 1. Open Disk Utility
You can launch Disk Utility on your Mac computer by visiting /Application/Utilities. Or, you can also use the Spotlight in order to do so. Once it is opened, you can go to the left sidebar in order to view all connected drives including their subpartitions. The major pane located at the right side shows a variety of info regarding the drive you have currently selected.
Step 2. Locate the Disk You Wish to Edit
In order to find the drive you want to edit, you must look in the sidebar located on the left-hand side. If your drive is not located there, make sure it is working properly. Also, ensure that it is connected to a particular power source.
Also, you have to make sure that the drive is actually plugged into a port that is compatible. If you can, you can disconnect the drive and then reconnect it when necessary. If a particular drive doesn’t appear within the sidebar of Disk Utility, the tool won’t be able to edit it. If the drive you wish to edit is colored grey, you should select this drive and then press the button for “Mount”. The said button is located within the top bar.
Step 3. Select the Disk You Wish to Format
Now, select the particular disk you wish to format within the tool’s sidebar. Do not select any of its sub partitions. Ensure that the information regarding the drive is shown in the pane on the right side. Any particular change you make within the main pane will then be applied to the selected disk within the sidebar. Thus, ensure that you have selected the right disk before you start the next steps.
Step 4. Press The “Partition” Button
The “Partition” button is located within the top menu bar. Now, a lot of options will be displayed. It will also display your drive’s current partition map. The partitions of the selected disk will be shown in the form of a pie chart. It goes within that of a clockwise position with regards to physical position within the disk.
Step 5. Remove A Partition
In order to remove a particular partition, you have to select it first. You can do this by pressing its part within the pie chart. Then, press the minus (-) icon that will appear under the pie. You can remove multiple partitions simultaneously if you wish. Now, you’re one step closer to finishing the process on how to unpartition a hard drive (Mac).
It is important to remember that you can remove a lot of partitions if you wish. However, there are some rules for doing this process. For instance, the first partition within a particular disk always “cannot” be removed. This first partition can only be reformatted or resized.
In addition, the first and foremost partition cannot be removed or deleted as well. This is because it has the Partition Scheme. However, it must be noted that this first partition won’t be visible or editable using Disk Utility. Thus, you need not worry about deleting this partition.
If you wish to change the very first disk partition, it is necessary for you to reformat the entire disk to that of a new Partition Scheme. This will delete all partitions contained within the reformatted disk. When you delete a partition located at the end part of the disk, it will usually cause the partition found before it to automatically grow in order to fit the deleted partition’s previous space.
This is true, unless, you have added an alternative partition to be located in the previously-deleted one. Obviously, partitions that have been removed or even reformatted will lose all the data contained within it.
Step 6. Press the Apply Button
When you have finished removing all the partitions that you like, then you can simply press the “Apply” icon in order to save your changes. A confirmation window will be displayed. This will show you the removals, resizes, and additions you have done to your disk.
Make sure that you have read the confirmation window carefully. In this way, you can make sure you’re not deleting another partition by mistake. After this, press the Partition button again in order to confirm that you want to make the changes.
Step 7. Finish Every Single Thing Up
Now, you have finished the process on how to unpartition a hard drive (Mac). You should unmount and then remount the drive in order for the new partitions to appear. Adding and removing partitions can actually be tricky. This is true if you’re working with a different format of files and logical volumes.
Part 2. To Wrap It All Up
In this article, we’ve taught you how to unpartition a hard drive (Mac). Removing partitions on your Mac can be very easy especially if you’ve followed our guide above. The steps are very clear and easy to understand.
How about you? Do you use a tool other than the Disk Utility to unpartition a hard drive on Mac? If so, what tool do you use and how do you do it? We’d love to hear your thoughts below. Simply type into our comments section to be heard.
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Free DownloadJust like most storage mediums, partitioning a flash drive is also possible. There may be a number of reasons why you would want to partition a flash drive. If you have never partitioned a flash drive before, then don't worry; this article will help you. Read on to find how to partition a flash drive..
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- Partition with an USB Flash Drive Partition Tool
- Bonus Tip 1. Best Way to Recover Files from Flash Drive after Partition or Format
1How to Partition Flash Drive on Windows10/8.1/8/7?
Although it is possible to create multiple partitions on a flash drive via third-party tools, Windows will only read and show the first/primary partition. If you want the Windows to read a certain partition of the flash drive, then you will need a third-party tool to set that partition as primary.
Backup Your Data
Partitioning a flash drive will erase all data stored on it. That's why it is highly recommended that you back up all the important data before proceeding. The backup process is quite easy as all you need to do is connect the flash drive to your computer and copy the desired data to a location of your choice. Follow these instructions:
- 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer. Then open This PC on your Windows and find your flash drive.
- 2. Double-click on it to see its contents. Select the files that you want to back up and right-click on them and click Copy.
- 3. After that, navigate to the folder on your computer's hard drive where you want to store those files, right-click and select the Paste option. The transfer process will begin and your selected files will be copied to that folder.
Now that you have backed up your data, you can proceed to partition your flash drive. Following are some methods to do this:
1Partition a Flash Drive Using Diskpart
You can easily partition a flash drive via the Diskpart utility of Windows. The utility is run through Command Prompt. Follow these instructions:
Step 1. Press Windows and R key on your keyboard at the same time and type 'diskpart' in the Run pop-up window and then press Enter to launch it. A command prompt window will open.
Partition External Hard Drive Mac
Step 2. On that window, input 'list disk' to see which number your connected flash drive has.
Step 3. Next, input 'select disk X (X here is the number for your flash drive). It will be selected.
Step 4. Now input 'clean' and press enter to clean the device.
Step 5. Now enter 'list part' and then input 'create partition primary'. After that, input 'list part' and then input 'select partition 1'. Set this partition as active by inputting 'active'.
Step 6. Next, input 'format fs=fat32' to format the partition. After that, your newly created flash drive partition will be ready to use.
2Partition a Flash Drive with an USB Flash Drive Partition Tool
If the method to partition a flash drive via diskpart seems complicated, then there is another easier way to partition a flash drive. You can partition the USB flash drive via a flash drive partition tool called Bootit. Follow these instructions to partition a flash drive via Bootit:
Fist, you should install and launch Bootit software on your computer.
Step 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer and make sure it is detected by the operating system.
Step 2. Now open Disk Management on your computer. You can launch it from the Start Menu.
Step 3. Now select the current partition shown on the flash drive and delete it via the software.
Step 4. After that, right-click on the unallocated space of flash drive and click on New Simple Volume to create a partition. You can specify the size, label, etc. for the new partition according to your preferences.
Step 5. You can create multiple partitions on your flash drive by repeating the above step.
2How to Partition a Flash Drive on Mac?
If you want to partition your flash drive on your Mac, then you will be glad to know that it is possible. On Mac, you can do this via Disk Utility.
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Steps to Partition Flash Drive on Mac
Follow these instructions to partition flash drive on Mac:
Step 1. On your Mac, open Disk Utility. And connect your flash drive to your Mac.
Step 2. Once the Disk Utility is opened, select your flash drive from the sidebar and click the Erase button.
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Step 3. On the newly opened window, select OS X Extended (Journaled) from the Format menu.
Step 4. Make sure to click on Scheme > GUID Partition Map. Next, format the drive via the Erase option.
Step 5. After formatting, click the Partition button and then use the '+' button to create and add additional partitions. Add as many partitions as you like.
Step 6. After setting the sizes, labels, etc. to partitions, click Apply to confirm your action. Partitions will be created.
Bonus Tip 1. Best Way to Recover Files from Flash Drive after Partition or Format
It's wise to backup the data on your flash drive before partitioning or formatting it. So, what to do if you forgot this or some important files were left when made a backup? Don't worry, a powerful data recovery tool can help you find them back!
iMyFone AnyRecover is one of such popular data recovery tools. It can help you find all your lost files no matter how you lost them. Files recovery at a formatted or partitioned USB flash drive is easy as 1-2-3 with AnyRecover.
Key Features- Recover lost files from different data loss scenarios, including formatted data recovery, deleted files recovery, formatted device recovery, etc.
- Recover over 1000 type of files, including photos, videos, audios, emails, documents, archives and more.
- Recover files from various storage mediums, such as USB flash drive, hard drive, SD card, digital camera, computer, etc.
- Differing from other recovery tools, AnyRecover is 100% safe to use, it won't do any damage to your existing data.
- One of the most reliable data recovery software with high data recovery rate - Up to 98%.
Steps to Recover Files from Flash Drive after Partition or Format
Step 1. Open AnyRecover on your computer, then connect your Flash Drive to your computer, select it.
Step 2. After selecting the location, hit “Start” button to start the process.
Step 3. After scanning, preview and select the files, then click on Recover button to get the lost files back.
Bonus Tip 2. Best USB Flash Drive for Windows & Mac
Partition Windows On Mac
Among many quality flash drives, SanDisk Extreme PRO 128 GB Drive is considered the most popular USB flash drive for Windows and Mac. Following are the top features of this USB flash drive:
Partition Mac External Drive
- Blistering speeds: 380 MB/s write, 420 MB/s read.
- Durable, sleek, and eye-catching aluminum casing design.
- AES, 128-bit file encryption for excellent security for sensitive files.
- USB 3.0 as well as backward compatibility with USB 2.0.
- Lifetime warranty.