How to Install Windows 10 on a Partitioned SSD: A Complete Guide

Updated By

Linda 

Written By

Tracy King 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Properly partitioning storage space for a Windows 10 installation on an SSD will optimize its usage and ensure the best performance of Windows 10 on the SSD. Before beginning the Windows 10 installation process, you need to prepare and configure your SSD correctly. This guide will outline the steps to take in order to prepare and partition your SSD before installing Windows 10, with assistance from the tool.

Fix: Prepare the SSD for partitioning

Here's what you need to do to partition an SSD for Windows 10 installation:

Install the SSD correctly into the target computer

Initialize the SSD as GPT or MBR according to your computer's BIOS firmware: Initialize SSD.

• Choose the NTFS file system to format the partition for a smooth Windows 10 installation.

Before proceeding, make sure your computer meets the system requirements for Windows 10. Check that your hardware is compatible and that all requirements are met. Once you've confirmed this, follow the steps above to prepare your SSD for installation.

Part 1: Two Ways to Install Windows 10 on a Partition SSD

Having enough space to accommodate it is necessary for a seamless installation of Windows 10. Ensuring your SSD is properly partitioned will guarantee the operating system an optimized environment to run in.

For a quick and hassle-free partitioning experience, readers can choose either of the two effective methods below.

Guide 1: Initialize and Partition SSD with Free Partition Manager

Partition Master Free offers a user-friendly solution for Windows beginners. Its "Initialize Disk" feature simplifies the process, making it easily accessible to users of different technical levels.

We recommend that you quickly and effectively partition your SSD according to this guide to prepare for a smooth installation of Windows 10.

#1. Initialize the SSD

Step 1: Launch Partition Master and enter the "Partition Management" interface.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk - HDD or SSD, and choose "Initialize as MBR" or "Initialize as GPT". Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize as MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize as GPT;

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2. Partition a New SSD for Windows 10

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and check the available space on the disk in the "Partition Management" area.

If you have unallocated space on your hard drive, skip to Step 3 to create the partition.

Step 2: Shrink the disk partition to create unallocated space.

Right-click on the target disk partition with plenty of free space, and then choose "Resize/Move."

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Drag the partition to the right or left to shrink it, creating enough unallocated space. You can see the amount of space reduced visually in the "Partition Size" area. Click "OK".

Click “Perform XX Task” and then “Apply” to save all changes.

Back in the Disk Management tool, you should see the unallocated space on the same drive, and you can proceed to create a new partition on your hard drive.

Step 3: Create a new partition on the target drive using the unallocated space.

Right-click the unallocated space, and then select "New."

Create Partition Step 1

Customize the partition size, drive letter, volume label, file system (NTFS, FAT32, EXT2/3/4, exFAT), etc. in the "Advanced Options." Click "OK."

Finally, click “Execute tasks” and “Apply” to create the partition using the unallocated space on your disk. Repeat these steps to partition hard drive and create more partitions.

Step 3 to Create Partition:

Guide 2: Initialize and Create SSD Partitions Using Disk Management

For those who prefer using built-in Windows tools, Disk Management offers a direct way to initialize and create partitions on an SSD. Follow this step-by-step guide to manage your SSD partitions effectively.

Step 1: Initialize the SSD

If the SSD is not initialized, right-click on it and select "Initialize Disk." After deciding whether to use GPT or MBR format for the partition, proceed with the initialization process.

- Right-click the "Start" button and select "Disk Management." - Locate your SSD in Windows. If the disk needs to be initialized, follow the on-screen instructions. - If the SSD is not initialized, right-click it and choose "Initialize Disk." Then confirm the operation after deciding whether to use GPT or MBR partitioning.

Step 2: Create partitions on the SSD.

Please follow these steps to create partitions on the SSD:

1. Right-click on the unallocated space on the initialized SSD and select "New Simple Volume." 2. Follow the "New Simple Volume Wizard," specifying the partition size and assigning a drive letter. 3. Choose a file system (NTFS is recommended) and perform a quick format.

When you have completed the wizard, your partition will be ready for use.

By following these simple steps, users can easily initialize and create partitions on an SSD via Disk Management, providing a ready storage environment for a successful Windows 10 installation.

Part 2: Installing Windows 10 on the SSD

The next crucial step is to install Windows 10 on the correctly partitioned SSD. Here's a concise guide outlining the entire process for a successful installation: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Before any system installation, ensure you back up all your essential files and data in case of unforeseen circumstances. 2. **Prepare the Windows 10 Installation Media**: Download the Windows 10 ISO image from the official Microsoft website and use the Media Creation Tool to burn it to a DVD or create a USB bootable drive. 3. **Set BIOS to Boot from USB or DVD**: Restart your computer and enter BIOS settings (usually by pressing F2, F10, Delete, etc.) and change the boot order to prioritize booting from USB or DVD. 4. **Boot the Installer**: Insert the Windows 10 installation media and restart your computer. It should automatically boot from the installation media and display the Windows setup interface. 5. **Select Installation Language and Region**: Choose your preferred language, time, and currency format, then click "Next." 6. **Accept License Terms**: Read and accept the license terms, then click "Next." 7. **Choose Installation Type**: On the "What type of installation do you want?" page, select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." 8. **Select Partition**: On the "Where do you want to install Windows?" page, you'll see your newly created SSD partition. Choose the appropriate partition (usually unallocated space), then click "New" to create additional partitions if needed. Finally, select the primary partition (usually "Drive 0 Partition 1") and click "Next." 9. **Installation Process**: The system will begin installing Windows 10, which might take some time. During this process, your computer may restart several times. 10. **Set Up Windows**: After installation, you'll be guided through basic Windows 10 setup, such as entering the product key, creating a user account, network settings, etc. 11. **Update and Recovery**: Upon first boot, make sure to update the operating system to the latest version and install necessary drivers. Also, create a system restore point for future recovery if issues arise. 12. **Migrate Data and Apps**: Lastly, transfer your backed-up data and applications to the new Windows 10 system. By following these steps, you should successfully install Windows 10 on your new SSD.

The complete steps to install Windows 10 on an SSD with UTF-8 encoding:

Note: The following steps assume that you have already created a Windows 10 installation USB or DVD.

Insert the Windows 10 installation USB or DVD, then restart your computer. Access the BIOS or UEFI settings and set the installation media as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit.

On the Windows setup screen, select your language, keyboard layout, and time. Then click "Install Now" to begin the installation process. Enter your Windows 10 product key and read and accept the license terms. Choose the SSD partition for installing Windows 10. Click "Next" to start the installation. Let the installation complete; your computer will automatically restart. Follow the on-screen instructions to personalize your settings. Sign in or create a Microsoft account.

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Congratulations! You've successfully installed Windows 10 on an SSD partition. Now, your Windows 10 equipped with an SSD is ready to offer faster speed and higher efficiency.

Conclusions

In summary, properly configuring and partitioning your SSD is essential for a smooth Windows 10 installation. This guide offers two user-friendly methods to cater to different needs. Users can efficiently prepare their SSD with a free partition manager or Windows' built-in Disk Management tool. Installing Windows 10 on an well-organized partition ensures optimal performance and speed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some common questions about how to partition an SSD for Windows 10.

1. How to partition a 512GB SSD for Windows 10?

Here are the steps to partition a 512GB SSD on Windows 10: 1. **启动磁盘管理**: - 右键点击“开始”按钮或按`Win + X`，然后选择“磁盘管理”。 2. **检查当前磁盘布局**: - 在磁盘管理窗口中，你会看到所有连接的存储设备。找到你的512GB SSD，它通常会显示为“磁盘 0”或类似名称。 3. **初始化磁盘**（如果尚未完成）: - 如果新SSD未被初始化，右键点击该磁盘，然后选择“初始化磁盘”。选择合适的分区样式（MBR 或 GPT），然后点击“确定”。 4. **创建新简单卷**: - 右键点击已初始化的磁盘空间，选择“新建简单卷”。 5. **设置分区大小**: - 在新建简单卷向导中，你可以选择分区大小。对于512GB SSD，你可能希望全部使用。默认情况下，它可能已经选中了所有可用空间，但你可以根据需求调整。 6. **分配驱动器号**: - 接下来，为新分区分配一个驱动器号（如 C:、D: 等）。 7. **选择文件系统和分区格式化选项**: - 选择合适的文件系统，例如 NTFS。保持默认的扇区大小，并确保勾选“执行快速格式化”。 8. **完成分区过程**: - 点击“下一步”，然后“完成”以创建并格式化分区。系统将自动完成这个过程。 9. **确认分区**: - 完成后，新分区应在磁盘管理窗口中显示，并在文件资源管理器中可访问。 请注意，根据你的具体需求，你可能需要创建多个分区或调整上述步骤。在进行任何更改之前，确保备份重要数据以防意外丢失。

Access Disk Management. Locate and initialize the 512GB SSD. Create a new partition in the unallocated space. Specify the size, assign a drive letter, and choose the NTFS file system. Complete the optimized Windows 10 installation process.

Yes, it is recommended to format the SSD when installing Windows 10. This will prepare the SSD with the necessary file system (NTFS), ensure optimal performance and compatibility, and streamline the installation process for Windows 10.

How do I partition an SSD into two parts?

Please follow these steps to partition your SSD into two sections:

1. Open Disk Management.
2. Right-click an existing SSD partition and select Compress Volume.
3. Enter the amount of space you want for your new partition, then click Compress.
4. Right-click the new free space and select New Simple Volume.
5. Follow the wizard to set the size of your new partition, assign a drive letter, and choose a file system.
6. If you have more unallocated space, repeat this process and complete the wizard to create all partitions.

Follow these steps, and you'll easily be able to partition your SSD into two sections using Disk Management.