How to Create a New Pool and Storage Space in Windows 10


Storage Spaces helps protect your data from drive failures and extend storage over time as you add drives to your PC. You can use Storage Spaces to group two or more drives together in a storage pool and then use capacity from that pool to create virtual drives called storage spaces. These storage spaces typically store two copies of your data so if one of your drives fails, you still have an intact copy of your data. If you run low on capacity, just add more drives to the storage pool.

You can create a simple, mirror (two-way or three-way), or parity storage space:

• Simple spaces are designed for increased performance, but don't protect your files from drive failure. They're best for temporary data (such as video rendering files), image editor scratch files, and intermediary compiler object files. Simple spaces require at least two drives to be useful.
• Mirror spaces are designed for increased performance and protect your files from drive failure by keeping multiple copies. Two-way mirror spaces make two copies of your files and can tolerate one drive failure, while three-way mirror spaces can tolerate two drive failures. Mirror spaces are good for storing a broad range of data, from a general-purpose file share to a VHD library. When a mirror space is formatted with the Resilient File System (ReFS), Windows will automatically maintain your data integrity, which makes your files even more resilient to drive failure. Two-way mirror spaces require at least two drives, and three-way mirror spaces require at least five drives.
• Parity spaces are designed for storage efficiency and protect your files from drive failure by keeping multiple copies. Parity spaces are best for archival data and streaming media, like music and videos. This storage layout requires at least three drives to protect you from a single drive failure and at least seven drives to protect you from two drive failures.

See also:

• Storage Spaces in Windows 10 | Microsoft Support
• Storage Spaces overview | Microsoft Docs

This tutorial will show you how to use Storage Spaces to create a new pool and storage space in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to create a new pool and storage space.

Issue with some Storage Spaces configurations after updating to Windows 10, version 2004 and Windows Server, version 2004 | Microsoft Support

Workaround and recovery steps for issue with some Parity Storage Spaces after updating to Windows 10, version 2004 and Windows Server, version 2004 | Microsoft Support

Contents

• Option One: Create a New Pool and Storage Space in Settings
• Option Two: Create a New Pool and Storage Space in Control Panel

OPTION ONE

Create a New Pool and Storage Space in Settings

This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 21296.

1 Add or connect the drives that you want to group together with Storage Spaces.

These drives can be internal or external hard drives, or solid state drives. You can use a variety of types of drives with Storage Spaces, including USB, SATA, and SAS drives.

The number of required drives will depend on if you want to create a simple, mirror (two-way or three-way), or parity storage space. See info at the top of this tutorial for how many drives will be required.

2 Open Settings, click/tap on the System icon.

3 Click/tap on Storage on the left side, and click/tap on the Manage Storage Spaces link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

4 Depending on if you already have a storage pool or not, click/tap on either the Create a storage pool and Storage Space link OR Create new storage pool button. (see screenshot below)

5 Perform the following actions to create a new storage pool: (see screenshot below)

A) Type a name you want to use for this storage pool.

B) Select (check) the available disk(s) you want to add to this storage pool.

C) Click/tap on Create when ready.

6 Perform the following actions to create a Storage Space for the storage pool: (see screenshot below)

A) Type a name you want to use for this Storage Space.

B) Select and enter a maximum pool usage size (ex: "1.36 TB") you want to use from the available Pool capacity.

C) Select a Simple, Two-way mirror, Three-way mirror, Parity, or Dual parity resiliency type you want to use for this storage space.

D) Click/tap on Create when ready.

7 Perform the following actions to create a volume for the storage pool: (see screenshots below)

A) Type a name you want to use for this volume.

This name is what you will see in This PC.

B) Select an available drive letter (ex: "F") you want assigned to this volume.

C) Select a file system (ex: "NTFS") you want for this storage space.

The ReFS file system will only be available to select if enabled.

You can click/tap on the Advanced link for more options if wanted.

D) Click/tap on Format when ready.

8 You can now close Settings if you like.

9 This storage space (virtual drive) will now show up as a drive (ex: "F") in This PC for users to use like any other drive on the PC. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

Create a New Pool and Storage Space in Control Panel

1 Add or connect the disk(s) that you want to create a new pool and storage space with.

These disk drives can be internal or external hard drives, or solid state drives. You can use a variety of types of drives with Storage Spaces, including USB, SATA, and SAS drives.

The number of required drives will depend on if you want to create a simple, mirror (two-way or three-way), or parity storage space. See info at the top of this tutorial for how many drives will be required.

2 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Storage Spaces icon. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on the Create a new pool and storage space link. (see screenshots below)

4 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.

5 Select (check) the available disk(s) you want to add to the new storage space to create a storage pool, and then select Create pool. (see screenshot below)

Windows will permanently delete all partitions and files on selected formatted drives (disks).

Be sure to back up anything you do not want to lose to another disk first.

6 Enter a name (ex: "Storage space") you want for this storage space. (see screenshot below step 10)

7 Select a drive letter (ex: "E") you want for this storage space. (see screenshot below step 10)

8 Select a file system you want for this storage space. (see screenshot below step 10)

REFS will only be available if previously enabled.

Enable or Disable ReFS File System in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 - Windows 10 Hardware Drivers Tutorials

9 Select a Simple, Two-way mirror, Three-way mirror, or Parity resiliency type you want for this storage space. (see screenshot below step 10)

10 Enter the maximum size you want this storage space can reach, and click/tap on Create storage space. (see screenshot below)

11 The new storage pool and storage space will now be created. (see screenshot below)

The physical drives are the disks you selected in step 5 above.

12 This storage space (virtual drive) will now show up as a drive (ex: "E") in This PC for users to use like any other drive on the PC. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

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