How do I place a partition on inner/outer edge of the HDD?

TheOwner · 03 Dec 2022

Hello,
to this date I used O&O Defrag for split drive into zones for my mechanical HDD with only single partition. On outer edge I had games and other files where speed matter and on inner edge backups etc.

This is not ideal, because after backup or some game updates disc has to be defragmented which move files into correct zone. And backups are really big and that is very time consuming and it of course shortens HDD life.

It is possible do this without 3rd party software during partition creation? I would create 2 parrtitons, one on outer and one od inner edge of disc. But how can I set, where that partiton will be physicaly located? It is possible?

Thank you.

dalchina · 03 Dec 2022

You can use a 3rd party partition manager (free) e.g. Minitool Partition Wizard.

Before you apply your new configuration it is shown graphically- in some operations you simply drag or move partitions as illustrated graphically by the p. manager, so you see what it looks like before you click 'Apply'.

There are Youtube videos of using these tools if needed. Also that one includes its own videos in some cases.

NavyLCDR · 03 Dec 2022

If speed is that important to you, replace the HDD with an SSD and you don't have to fiddle with it anymore.

Samuria · 03 Dec 2022

Its in the parition table you can change that Hard Drive Partition. Partition Table - NTFS.com

Berton · 03 Dec 2022

To add, sometimes it helps not to use the defragging in File Explorer's Tools but a third-party solution such as Defraggler by Piriform or maybe one of the utilities in MajorGeeks.Com - MajorGeeks, also before working with partitions to consolidate pieces of a file contiguous to each other. Over the years I've found third-party defragging more efficient/complete than what Windows has, helps speed up finding the file to work with.

cereberus · 03 Dec 2022

NavyLCDR said:

If speed is that important to you, replace the HDD with an SSD and you don't have to fiddle with it anymore.

Yep - none of my devices use HDDs anymore.

The only reason I keep my old HDDs is for long term backups but putting them in a usb caddy.

TheOwner · 03 Dec 2022

Thank you guys for answers. Unfortunately no one was able answer my question if is possible do this without 3rd party software.

As I noticed when I create partition, I select its size and when I create another one, it is probably created after that first one.

Command "list partition" in diskpart shows me "offset" where each partition begins. So if I create 2 partitions, the first one will always be on outer edge of the disc? Do I understand this correct?

BTW I have SSD for system, and HDD I use for data. Outer edge of that disc I use for games, pagefile and browser cache files which prevent my SDD from wearing out. My PC is too old where upgrade is nonsense.

Berton · 03 Dec 2022

TheOwner said:

My PC is too old where upgrade is nonsense.

Maybe, maybe not. This is from TigerDirectB2B, quite a reasonable cost for data storage.

Attachment 380471

NavyLCDR · 04 Dec 2022

Berton said:

Maybe, maybe not. This is from TigerDirectB2B, quite a reasonable cost for data storage.

Attachment 380471

Why not just spend $6 more for an SSD?

How do I place a partition on inner/outer edge of the HDD?-capture2.jpg

Then you don't have to be concerned about where on the disk the partition is created, nor defragging. And it's a lot faster than the fastest HDD.

idgat · 04 Dec 2022

TheOwner said:

Thank you guys for answers. Unfortunately no one was able answer my question if is possible do this without 3rd party software.

Yes, Windows Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management but it's a proper PITA because it measures in bytes. E.g. if you want a 20GB partition, you have to work out the exact number of bytes (and that's not just a nice round 20,000,000 bytes ....)

Why the aversion to 3rd party option ? Nice rounded calculations and such much easier (and meaningful) GUI than Disk Manager.

EDIT : Lotsa free options ...
AOMEI Partition Assistant
Disk Genius
Mini Partition Wizard (pretty similar to AOMEI above)
EaseUS Partition Master