Most Windows Desktop and Notebook PCs come with one visible partition on which the Operating System is installed, usually the C Drive. When I get a new PC one of the first things I do is to create a second partition which becomes my D Drive. This D drive is used to store data along with the “My Documents” directory which has been redirected from the C Drive. This makes backing up the PC easier in my opinion, as the C drive just contains programs and Windows files, and the D drive contains the things I would like to backup on a regular basis.

The reason I used the term “visible partition” above is because many PCs have hidden partitions. The Dell PC I recently received has two hidden partitions: a diagnostic partition at the beginning of the disk, and a larger partition containing an image the shipped Operating System - basically a backup of the PC as you get it – at the end of the disk. These partitions, especially the diagnostic partition, can create problems when you want to add an extra partition. Also, since there is a limitation of four primary partitions on one physical hard drive, you cannot add more than one partition without deleting one or both of these hidden partitions. To delete hidden partitions and create new ones, you need specialized software like Acronis Disk Director Suite 10. Backup software like Acronis True Image 11 Home compliment’s Disk Directory nicely, allowing you to backup partitions and drives.