How to create a D: step-by-step instruction, effective ways and recommendations

Many users who have a hard drive with only one system partition "C" at their disposal often ask themselves how to make a drive "D", which could act as a virtual partition or an emulator for the drive of optical media. Here you should take into account some of the nuances, without which these procedures may fail unsuccessfully.

How to create a "D" disk: basic directions and techniques

First, you need to decide what exactly the user wants to create. Depending on this, the proposed solutions will be applied. For example, there is an option to create a virtual drive, and you can use the method of creating a virtual partition, either stationary or disconnected.

And if before all these operations required special programs, then with the advent of Windows 7 and modifications above, the problem has disappeared, because you can use the built-in tools.

Mount virtual drive

First, a few words about how to create a "D" disk on Windows 7, 8 and 10, which would perform the role of an optical subordinate. Naturally, it's easiest to install programs like Nero Burning ROM, UltraISO or Daemon Tools.

In any such application there is a special section for creating an emulator. In UltraISO, the mount command to the virtual drive is responsible for this, in the Daemon Tools it is the Virtual CD / DVD-ROM partition. But in all cases you will need a previously created (recorded) disk image.

In Windows 10, this procedure is simplified to the limit. When the user double-clicks the image file, the virtual drive is created immediately, and completely - in automatic mode, after which the system reports that a new device has been found. It works without installing the drivers in the same way as if the corresponding drive was inserted into the "iron" drive.

Creating a "D" disk (new) using Windows: where to start?

The previous procedure is quite simple, so there is no point in dwelling on its technology. In this case, we are more interested in the question of how to create partitions of a hard disk.

The most primitive solution is to partition the hard drive into several partitions at the system installation stage. But there are situations when you need to break the disk with the information already on it and the installed programs, and even so that after that everything worked and the data was not lost. The advantages of the virtual partition are obvious, because even if you reinstall Windows or format the system partition, the data on it is not affected. But first things first.

So, how to create a "D" disk on Windows 7 and higher? To do this, you use computer management, where you select the same partition for disks. You can call up the corresponding menu by right clicking on the computer icon or from the Control Panel.

Here, on the main panel, you need to use the action menu, where the command to create a virtual disk is selected. In the settings window that appears, specify the hard disk partition on which the image of the future virtual partition will be stored. In this case there is no choice, there is only one disk. Specify it.

Then enter the desired size and the preferred format (dynamically expandable or fixed). It is better to use a fixed type, because due to the excess of the amount of used disk space, its shortage will be compensated for by the system partition, which can sometimes lead to problems in the operability of the entire system (it is considered that for the normal functioning of Windows on the "C" disk there must be a minimum of 10 % Free space, compared to the full volume of the partition). After entering all necessary parameters, confirm them by clicking the "OK" button, after which the creation of a new partition will start automatically.

Initializing a new partition

But this was only the first step. In solving the problem of how to create an additional local disk, it should be noted that even after the completion of the "Wizard" creating a virtual partition, it will not work just like this. Initialization is necessary. This is done so that the so-called "Local Disk Manager" can access the control and management of the new partition.

To do this, use the right click on the newly created section and select the appropriate line with the command in the menu. In the parameters window only the disk number will be visible, not the letter, as many users assume. This is normal. Leave the values unchanged and activate the process start.

Creating a volume

Now, in solving the problem of how to create a disk "D", a crucial moment comes. A virtual disk is sort of created, but in fact it is not yet ready for use.

Again, use the right-click menu on the partition and select the command to create a simple volume, after which the "Wizards" window will appear. Basically, you can simply follow the directions by clicking the continuation buttons. In the window for specifying the size, you can also leave everything unchanged (you can reduce the volume of the created volume if the partition is planned to be subdivided in the future).

Next, you will be prompted to enter a section letter. As already clear, choose "D". But here it is important to remember that if the optical drive is initialized under the same letter, you will either have to change the letter of the virtual partition, or change the drive letter (the command is available from the right-click menu on the disk).

Formatting

Finally, it only remains to select the type of file system. As a rule, NTFS is suggested, which can also be left unchanged. After that, the formatting process will start, after which the new section will become fully functional. If you want to make the partition bootable, in the action menu, select the virtual disk attachment command and specify the path to the saved image that was defined in the actions described above.

Specialized programs

Of course, not all users will want to decide how to create a "D" disk, solely with the built-in tools of Windows operating systems. The majority prefers to use special utilities that make it possible to partition the hard drive into partitions using a simpler method.

Among all software packages of this type, the most popular and popular are Acronis Disk Director, Partition Magic, Paragon Partition Manager and the like. Sometimes applications that are virtual machines (VirtualBox, WMWare, Microsoft Virtual PC, etc.) can be useful. But it's much more difficult to work with an unprepared user, because such packages are not limited to creating a virtual hard disk, but recreate a full-fledged computer configuration.

Preference questions

But, as you can already understand, the problem of how to create a "D" disk in a system with only one system partition is solved quite simply. By and large, you can give preference to highly targeted software products, because in them all processes are facilitated by full or partial automation, and the proposed settings can in most cases be left unchanged. As for the tools of Windows-systems, although they look somewhat cumbersome, nevertheless, in the absence of special software can also be used. That's only available in the seventh version and above. For other modifications, you will have to install applications to partition the hard disk into partitions in addition.