A program to open a portable hard drive. Review of the best programs for checking your hard drive

Creating, deleting and formatting computer disk partitions is only part of the possibilities hard drive management applications. Today, they make it possible to securely perform operations that previously required data deletion or other mind-boggling combinations.

Many of the tasks performed through the Partition Manager can, in theory, be accomplished using Windows' built-in Disk Management tool. However, it is not as intuitive as the programs discussed here.

A good disk management application consists of several modules. They are used to create, delete and format partitions. Apart from these functions, they also have functions for copying and moving partitions, creating images and backups.

Additional modules support system migration, merging and splitting partitions. Various partition schemes, dynamic disks, RAID configurations, various file systems and boot records are supported.

Attention! Whenever you work with hard drive partitions, you need to plan carefully, back up your data, and make sure you select the correct hard drive or partition before pressing Enter.

Attention! All operations carried out on partitions are fraught with risks. The editors recommend extreme caution and are not responsible for possible loss of data or other damage incurred by readers.

EaseUS Partition Master Disk Management

One of the most popular programs for managing hard drive partitions in Windows. Ensures the allocation of new partitions without data loss.

Benefits of EaseUS Partition Master

• Easy conversion of partition type, primary to logical and vice versa
• Recovers deleted or non-existent partitions
• Supported hard drive capacity up to 8 TB

Flaws

• Inability to transfer data from HDD to SSD in the free version

License: freeware
Price: free

AOMEI Partition Assistant Disk Management

Also popular. Creates, divides, connects, copies hard drive partitions, changing their size, while saving files. System transfer is possible.

Benefits of AOMEI Partition Assistant

• Convenient wizards for every operation
• Supports all the most popular file systems
• Displays accurate information about supported media
• Allows you to create a bootable CD with the application

License: freeware
Price: free

Disk Management in GParted

A tool for managing computer hard drive partitions. Distributed as an ISO file. Install it on a flash drive or burn it to a CD and start your computer from it.

Benefits of GParted

• Does not require installation and does not take up disk space
• Attractive free offer for companies
• Wide range of partition management capabilities for almost any file system

Flaws

• Mastery takes time
• Only available via Live CD

License: freeware
Price: free

MiniTool Partition Wizard

Performs all operations with hard disk partitions and also hides it. Copying the contents of the disk and changing the file system.

Advantages of MiniTool Partition Wizard

• Lots of tools, including disk cleaning and checking
• Convenient visual wizard for each operation
• Allows you to convert NTFS to FAT32 without formatting, change the disk type from MBR to GPT

License: freeware
Price: free

Active@ Partition Manager

Performs operations on disk partitions. Formats the flash drive in FAT32 and NTFS. Fixes MBR disks. Converts MBR to GPT and vice versa.

Benefits of Active@ Partition Manager

• Disk Imaging Tool
• Convenient wizard for creating and changing partitions
• Built-in boot sector editor, allows you to manually make changes
• Shows S.M.A.R.T data. for hard drives

Flaws

• English only

License: freeware
Price: free

This article talks about how to create, change or delete hard disk partitions using Windows 7.
To work with hard drive partitions in Windows 7, there is a tool called “Disk Management”: Control Panel → System and Security → Administrative Tools → Computer Management → Disk Management OR “Start” → in the search bar enter: diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.

1. Creating a section
Right-click on a free space on the desired hard drive that is not occupied by other partitions → Create a simple volume... The “Simple Volume Creation Wizard” window will open, click the “Next” button. Then specify the size of the partition to be created, assign a drive letter, select the required file system and formatting options, once again make sure that you did everything correctly and click “Finish”
2. Compressing a Partition
Right-click on the desired section → Shrink Volume... A message window will appear asking for space for compression, wait until the end of the survey. Then in the window that appears, in the line “size of compressed space”, indicate the amount of free space and click “Compress”
3. Section expansion
Extend volume... The “Volume Expansion Wizard” window will appear, click the “Next” button. Then select the required free space from the list, click “Add”, then specify the amount of free space allocated to the partition, click the “Next” button, check the information and click “Finish”
4. Deleting a partition
Right-click on the desired section → Delete volume... Before continuing the operation, copy all the necessary files and folders to another drive, because... Once a volume is deleted, all data on it will be lost.
5. Changing the drive letter
Right-click on the desired section → Change drive letter or drive path... Click on the Change button, select the desired drive letter and click OK. Next, we will look in detail at ways to expand disks without harming the information stored on them.

In order to divide the hard drive into partitions, you need to go to the "Start" menu → right-click on "Computer" and click on "Manage".

In the window that appears, go to the "Disk Management" section.

Select the hard drive and partition that needs to be divided and right-click on it.

In the drop-down menu, you need to select "Shrink Volume" and then select the size to which you want to shrink the existing partition. The space freed up after compression will be the new hard drive partition.

To create a new partition, you need to right-click on the free space and select “create volume”. Then specify the size of the new partition and wait for the operation to complete. Sooner or later, any computer user faces such a problem as lack of free space on the system partition of the hard drive. This is where the question arises: How to expand drive C?

First we need to go to the "Computer Management" tab (see above).
When this tab opens, you will see in the window all the media that are currently connected to the computer. Each hard drive can be divided into several logical ones. The very first one will be "Disk 0". On the right you will see the space reserved by the system and the logical partitions (C, D, E, F, etc.). If you have only one drive C and it is full, then you can try “Shrink volume” (see above). If you have several logical partitions, then move on.

The principle of disk division.

Possible difficulties.

Windows 8 provides the same tools for increasing space. Therefore, this method is also applicable on this operating system.

Partitioning a hard drive in the Windows 7 operating system is a very simple thing. You can see this for yourself if you partition and create a new partition according to the described algorithm.

*MBR (Master Boot Record) master boot record in a PC - a table in the first sector of the boot disk that stores data about the physical and logical organization of the disk. If this record is corrupted, loading the OS becomes impossible.

That's all. Thank you for reading the article. I hope it was useful to you.

The performance and ease of use of the system depend on the condition of the hard drive. Cluttered media reduces performance, slows down the system and is more susceptible to errors and failures. Adequate disk management and the use of custom partitions improve its performance, increase comfort and have a positive impact on the security of data and equipment. There are many tools and programs for working with a hard drive. Some of them differ only in graphical interface and price.

Selecting a program for working with hard disk partitions.

GParted is an advanced program for working with hard disk partitions that does not interfere with the operating system. After downloading, the program is offered as an ISO disk image, which must be burned to a CD/DVD. After recording, restart your computer and select to run from CD/DVD. The program allows you to create, delete and resize an existing partition. A big advantage of the program is the ability to change the size of the partition on which the system is installed. The program supports most known file types, including fat16, fat32, ntfs, ext2, ext3 and ext4. Before any operations on partitions, it is recommended to first defragment them and back up the most important files. Resizing partitions can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

How to use the program:

1. Back up your important files!
2. Download the GParted program and burn it to disk.
3. Insert the disc into the drive and restart your computer.
4. When the motherboard manufacturer splash screen appears, press the F8 key (sometimes it can be the F9, F10, F11, F12 key, depending on the manufacturer) and select boot from CD/DVD.
5. Once downloaded, select GParted Live from the list.
6. Click "Don't touch keymap".
7. Select a language (Russian – 24).
8. “Which mode do you prefer?” – 0 and confirm with ENTER.
9. A search will begin for all available hard drives and partitions that have already been created on them. This may take a few minutes.

1. If you need to repartition the disk, first delete any previously created partitions. To do this, delete them one by one (the “Delete” trash can icon). If you don't have any sections yet, skip this step.
2. In the list of partitions, click on the space with unallocated space. Then click on the white sheet icon (“New”).
3. In the window that opens, you need to set the parameters for the new partition: size, partition type (primary, extended or logical) and its file system, partition name. Then confirm adding the section with the “Add” button.
4. After creating the section, confirm the actions by selecting the green “tick” icon. The program will begin creating partitions. This may take a few minutes.
5. The next step is to close the main window and double click on the “Exit” icon.
6. Restart your computer.

After the reboot, the new disk partitions will be ready for use.

One of the most convenient programs for working with disks, EaseUS Partition Master, supports RAID devices. The application is equipped with a Wipe module, thanks to which the user can permanently erase files so that their recovery is impossible (especially useful before selling a hard drive). Each operation requires additional confirmation and comes first in the queue, so the risk of error is minimal. Let's see how to use this program to organize a disk that contains too many or too few partitions:

1. Download the program and run the installation.

IMPORTANT. During installation, do not download additional tools.

1. Once the application is installed, launch partition management to proceed to management.
2. Select the drive you want to format, right-click on it and select the “Erase data” option.
3. Set the number of times to repeat disk cleaning to 1, and click OK.

IMPORTANT. Formatting the drive means that all data will be deleted permanently.

1. The task will be added to the list of pending operations in the window on the left.
2. Next, select the “Create partition” option.
3. Then you need to set up a new partition, select its size, enter a name and select a letter. After entering all the data, click "OK".

You can create multiple partitions on a disk, but remember that if you create a partition on a USB drive, Windows will only be able to read the primary partition.

1. To complete all tasks in the Pending Operations list, simply click Apply Changes.

How to create a new partition:

1. Select the system partition.
2. The Actions panel displays the available functions.
3. If you are using a hard drive, we recommend defragmenting the partition first. Select Defragment, then click OK.
4. After defragmentation, select Resize/Move Partition.

In the next window, use the pointer to drag the borders to the left - this will reduce the size of the system disk.

1. If you are performing SSD partitioning operations, check the "Optimize SSD" checkbox.
2. Click "OK" to confirm the operation.
3. In the Apply Changes window, click Yes. A message appears asking you to restart your computer. Click Yes. The disk will be partitioned and the computer will reboot.
4. Launch EaseUS again. Click on the free space and in the Actions panel, select Create Partitions.
5. If it is an SSD, then check the "Optimize SSD" checkbox. Click OK. The unallocated space will be formatted as a new disk.

Merging sections:

1. In EASEUS Partition Master, select the partition on drive C. In the Actions panel, select Merge Partitions.
2. Select the second section, it should be the adjacent section. Select the target drive from the list. Files from the second partition will be placed in a separate folder. Click OK, then Yes. Sections will be merged.

The program also has a diagnostic module that allows you to search for damaged sectors and manage the structure of the hard drive. An important feature is the pre-splitting before approving changes, which gives the user full control over the planned actions. The rest of the programs in the review work on the same principles as those described above.

One of the best programs for working with a hard drive, supporting hard drives with a capacity of more than 2 TB. Each partition can be archived as a backup, allowing you to restore data after a possible failure. The user can also change the file system from FAT to NTFS, and after each change in the size of the NFTS partition, there is no need to reboot the system. The application is equipped with interesting modules, including a disk map, which shows a graphical view of the partitions on the disk, Disk Surface Test, which offers basic disk diagnostics, and the Partition Surfece Test, which analyzes a specific partition.

Free utility for Windows 7 and later Microsoft operating systems. Created on the Visual Operating System (ViOpSys) environment and runs from a boot CD/DVD when the system starts. Allows you to create new sections, divide, move and delete existing ones and copy their contents. In addition, the user has modules for defragmenting and formatting partitions. The program has low system requirements, so it can be used on older hardware (Pentium-class x86 processor, 32 MB of RAM or 16 MB in text mode).

A powerful and functional disk and partition management tool, equipped with diagnostic and repair modules for working in Windows 10 and earlier versions. In addition to the basic functions of creating, copying and deleting partitions, you can back up and restore data lost due to, for example, a hard drive failure. The application is equipped with a “tomofinder” that allows you to find and restore deleted data. The program supports the most popular file systems, such as FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2 and EXT3, as well as media with DE, SCSI, SATA interfaces. Allows you to manage virtual storage media and RAID. The built-in diagnostic module allows you to analyze the state of the disk, find and correct any errors (including restoring a damaged MBR).

A program designed to create copies of Windows system partitions. Allows you to quickly clone a partition to a new drive, so you can work on new media without having to go through the operating system installation process. When moving a partition, you can change its size or leave it at its original size. The program supports files in FAT and NTFS, IDE, SATA, SCSII, USB and FIREWIRE interfaces.

An application designed to manage USB storage devices (cards, pendrives, external drives), supporting FAT16, FAT 32 and NTFS file systems. Allows you to create, copy and delete partitions, format memory and create bootable media, for example, with an operating system or another program. The program is equipped with a diagnostic module that checks the performance of the hard drive and the size of the media.

Allows you to analyze disk resources, provides detailed data about files and displays them in graphical form. For example, their size and location. The user can determine what data will be displayed and in what form. The application generates reports from collected data in HTML, ASCII and XML formats.

Conclusion

Thus, we introduced you to the best programs for working with hard drive partitions. You just need to try them and decide which one suits you best. And if after reading this article you still have questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.

Problems with hard drives are very common, and many users do not know what to do in such situations. And each hard drive repair program is designed to perform certain actions depending on the type of failure. Next, it is suggested that you become familiar with some types of failures and software tools that allow you to eliminate them.

Checking and repairing your hard drive: Windows programs and tools

Before using such a tool, you need to find out the nature of the failure. Among the main types are the following:

• violation of the file system structure;
• damage to the hard drive surface;
• software errors;
• loss of information due to failures or formatting.

Don't underestimate the tools available in Windows operating systems. The program for repairing a Windows 7 hard drive or any other system is called ScanDisk and in the simplest case is called from the section properties menu, where the scan button is used on the service tab.

In this case, you need to specify automatic correction of bad sectors, and if desired, you can also use surface checking.

However, using a similar applet (chkdsk), called from the command line (cmd), launched with administrator rights in the Run console, looks much preferable. For this tool you need to enter additional attributes. Among the most frequently used are the checks with space-separated combinations /f /r and /x /f /r. If system components are damaged, you can use the sfc /scannow command.

The best applications for hard drive treatment and data recovery

In order not to deal with the procedures described above, many users also use third-party utilities, among which the following can be highlighted:

• HDD Regenerator.
• Victoria.
• R. Saver.
• Acronis Recovery Expert.
• Hetman Partition Recovery, etc.

Let us immediately note that applications like Recuva, designed to recover deleted files or missing information from damaged HDDs, will not be considered only because of their absolute ineffectiveness.

HDD Regenerator

HDD Regenerator is a relatively recently developed program for diagnosing and repairing a hard drive, designed not to restore lost information, but to search for problems associated with physical damage to hard drives or software failures.

According to its creators, the work is based on the principle of reversing the magnetization of the HDD surface, which makes it possible to completely restore the performance of the hard drive. It works in DOS mode, which causes users some problems with use, however, in some cases it shows good results when no other tool helps.

Victoria

The Viktoria hard drive repair program from Belarusian developers, according to most professionals, is the best in its field and allows you to eliminate many software problems associated with the file system, bad sectors, etc.

It can be launched in two versions: in DOS mode emulation and as a standard Windows application. However, as noted, it is better to use the first method, since checking in this mode is more effective, not to mention eliminating failures and errors (similar to the difference in launching a standard Windows tool).

R.Saver

The R.Saver hard drive repair program is designed to recover deleted or lost information. Its use is justified because the utility is able to find files, which may include important system components, even after formatting the disk or logical partition, completely reconstructing the file system.

Scanning, however, takes quite a lot of time, but the application finds files that the user may not even be aware of. And in most cases, the use of this program is the best option even for removable USB HDDs, flash drives and memory cards of any standard.

Acronis Recovery Expert

This program for repairing a hard drive is mainly used when the structure of the file system is damaged and even allows you to create bootable media for those cases when starting the OS from the hard drive becomes impossible.

At the same time, the application supports a huge number of file systems and large hard drives.

Hetman Partition Recovery

Although this utility is positioned as a means of recovering information if it is lost after formatting or in the event of software failures, it can nevertheless be used to find problems with the HDD.

The main advantage of the application is that it can be launched either manually or using a special “Wizard”, which makes it possible to automate the processes of analysis (scanning) and data recovery.

Results

These are not all programs capable of servicing hard drives, but only a few of the most popular ones. But even a brief acquaintance with them allows any user to understand the principles of their functioning and areas of application. If we recommend a universal solution, at the first stage of repair you need to use system tools (if possible), HDD Regenerator or Viktoria, and for subsequent information recovery - R.Saver or other software products.

Programs for hard drives in Russian are collected in this section. All programs can be downloaded for free with activation keys.

Very often, a new computer comes with ready-made, partitioned hard drives. The program developers offer users the ideal manager for hard drive partitions. Partition Wizard is a manager that is designed to work with hard drive partitions. Using the program, users will be able to resize a partition, create a new one on the hard drive, format it, and delete existing ones. Download for free MiniTool Partition Wizard 11.0.1 in Russian Password for all archives: 1progs Video on installing and activating the program On…

Hard Disk Sentinel is software that is designed to monitor and test your hard drive. The main purpose of this program is to diagnose, find and fix various problems on the disk. Users have the opportunity to view reports on the current status of the hard drive, its condition, temperature and other characteristics. The Russian version of Hard Disk Sentinel allows you to use the functionality of the program without restrictions. On our website, Internet users can download Hard Disk Sentinel activation keys absolutely free of charge. After…

Many users often encounter the problem of a so-called “braking” computer. Not everyone can diagnose problems on their own, and spending money on service centers every time is, to put it mildly, expensive. To avoid advanced cases, sometimes it’s enough just to optimize your computer. You can optimize your computer absolutely safely at home using the simple and convenient Advanced SystemCare program. One of the advantages is that the basic version of this program is free. The license key will allow...

PC users constantly experience problems with their hard drive. Over a certain period, the system response to a file request becomes greater, which subsequently leads to slow operation of the OS. In order to correct this situation, it is necessary to defragment the disk. IObit Smart Defrag is an easy-to-use program that is designed to defragment your disk. This application perfectly prevents slowdowns, freezes, and operating system crashes. After users install the program, it will start working in...

PC users know that the defragmentation process is important for regular hard drives because it reduces unnecessary movements and increases data read speed. Developers from different companies are coming up with effective tools for sorting and defragmenting files on disk. Auslogics Disk Defrag is a useful program that improves the speed characteristics and also increases the stability of Windows. This software product is superior to most existing analogs due to its speed and quality of defragmentation. Download AusLogics Disk for free...

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful program that is designed to completely manage your hard drive partitions. The following functions are available to users: hide, format, copy, align, create, activate, erase. The program has several built-in wizards. They allow you to increase the size of partitions, move the OS to a new disk, copy disks, create bootable disks, and much more. Users of this application can divide sections into several parts, combine them into one, and so on. Download AOMEI Partition Assistant for free…

HDClone is a functional utility that is needed to copy information from one disk (meaning hard disk) to another. On this page you can download this program for free in a couple of clicks. Download for free HDClone 8.0.8 in Russian Free + Basic Edition Download for free HDClone Professional Edition 9.0.3 ISO Password for all archives: 1progs Application: copies information sector by sector (thus, we get an exact copy of the hard drive); is creating...

TestDisk is a functional program from the author Christophe Grenier, which is a multifunctional tool for resuscitating parts of a hard drive. An addition is another Photorec application, which revives lost or damaged information from HDD departments and works with digital cameras. The program: includes the option of completely deleting and duplicating files; resuscitates data after virus attacks; interacts with a wide variety of file types; enriched with MBR rewrite function. Download TestDisk 7.1 Russian version for free Password to all archives:…