How to Partition an SSD from BIOS [2024 Updated Guide]

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is the firmware that governs the flow of data between the Operating System and connected hardware, such as the hard drive, keyboard, mouse, and printer. Now, can you partition an SSD from BIOS? The answer is no, as BIOS does not support disk partitioning. However, don't fret. We'll introduce two viable and efficient methods to help you create partitions on your SSD without booting into the Windows operating system. Here's a comparison table of the two solutions for more information:

Keep reading to find out how to do this on a Windows computer.

Best Alternative - tools Partition Master

Although BIOS doesn't support disk partitioning, you can still create partitions on your SSD before without booting the Windows system - using Windows bootable media. Since Windows doesn't offer any built-in tool to create bootable media, we recommend using the tools Partition Master in this case. It is an efficient partition manager with the corresponding functionality for creating bootable media and partitioning hard drives.

Using its "Bootable Media" feature, you can easily create a Windows bootable media. After that, you can seamlessly partition your SSD with the "Create" function. Now, install the tool Partition Master and follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how to partition your SSD from BIOS: 1. Download and install Partition Master on your computer. 2. Restart your PC and enter BIOS by pressing the specific key (usually F2, F10, or Del, depending on your system) during startup. 3. In the BIOS menu, navigate to the Boot section and set your USB drive or CD/DVD (depending on the media you created) as the primary boot device. 4. Save the changes and exit BIOS, which will prompt your computer to boot from the Partition Master media. 5. The Partition Master tool will now launch. Select the SSD you want to partition and right-click on it. 6. From the context menu, choose "Create" or "New Partition." 7. Specify the size of the partition you wish to create and allocate accordingly. 8. Click "Apply" or "Execute" to start the partition process. Wait for it to complete. 9. Once done, restart your computer again and enter BIOS to reset the boot order, prioritizing your SSD over the bootable media. 10. Save the changes and exit BIOS. Your computer will now boot into the operating system installed on your newly partitioned SSD. Remember to exercise caution when manipulating partitions, as it may result in data loss. Backup important files before proceeding.

1. Create Bootable Media Tools

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of tools Partition Master, you should prepare a storage media, like a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc. Then, connect the drive to your computer properly.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and locate the “Bootable Media” feature on the left. Click on it.

Step 3. When the drive is available, you can choose either USB or CD/DVD. However, if you don't have a storage device at hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive and burn it to a storage medium later. After making your choice, click the "Create" button to start the process.

Review the Warning message and click "Yes".

Step 4. When the process is complete, a pop-up window will ask you if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB.

• Reboot Now: This means you wish to restart the current computer and enter the Bootable Media tool to manage your disk partitions without an operating system.
• Done: This indicates that you do not want to restart the current PC, but instead want to use the bootable USB drive on a different computer.

Important: To use the bootable disk on a new computer, you'll need to restart the target machine and press F2/F8/Del to enter BIOS, then set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Just be patient, the computer will automatically boot from the USB boot media and launch into the WinPE tool desktop.

2. Partition SSD from BIOS

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant to check for free space at the Partition Management section.

Here are the translations for the given language segments in English: 1.
• If your hard drive has unallocated space, skip to Step 3 to create a partition.
2.
• If the hard drive has no unallocated space, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2. Shrink a disk partition to make unallocated space.

Right click on the target drive partition with a lot of free space and select “Resize/Move”.

Drag either end of the partition to shrink it and free up unallocated space. You'll see the reduced size in the "Partition Size" section. Click "OK."

Click "Execute xx Task" and then "Apply" to save all the changes.

Return to Partition Manager, where you should see unallocated space on the same disk, and proceed to the next step to create a new partition on your hard drive.

Step 3. Create a new partition with the unallocated space on the target hard drive.

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

In Advanced Settings, customize the partition size, partition drive letter, partition label, file system (NTFS, FAT32, EXT2/3/4, exFAT), and more. Click "OK".

Lastly, click “Execute * Task” and “Apply” to finish creating a partition with the unallocated space on your disk. Repeat these steps to partition a hard drive and create multiple partitions.

Create Partition Step 3

Other Advantages of Partition Master Tools

Aside from creating a WinPE bootable media and partitioning your SSD, Partition Master tools enable you to perform various disk and partition operations without the risk of data loss:

• New Disk Guide: Partition a new SSD with a single click.
• Resize Partition on SSD by utilizing unallocated space without data loss.
• Remove Partitions from SSD in Windows 10/11
• Effortlessly merge Partitions on SSD in just three steps.

If you're attracted to these features, download the tool and give it a try today!

How to Partition an SSD from BIOS

The second method is to download the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows media (DVD/CD/USB) and then use command lines to partition your SSD. This might be a bit challenging if you're not an experienced user. Follow the steps outlined below to create a bootable USB in Windows 10 using the Windows Media Creation Tool:

1. Create Bootable Media

Step 1. Download and run the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.

Step 2. Select "Create installation media" and hit "Next." In the next window, choose "USB flash drive" as the medium. Click "Next."

Select the USB flash drive you want to make bootable, as shown in the following screenshot:

2. Set the Bootable Media as the First Boot Device

Step 1. Insert the bootable USB into your computer. Restart the PC and press the F2/F8/Delete key to enter BIOS settings.

Step 2. Navigate to "Change Boot Order" and set the bootable USB as the boot device. Hit "F10" to save the change.

Change Boot Order Click to enlarge

Step 3. After launching Windows Setup, you can select the appropriate language under "Language to install."

Step 4. Next, click on "Repair your computer" at the bottom, and then select "Command Prompt" from the "Troubleshoot" option.

Repair your computer and select Troubleshoot.

If the methods on this page work for you, feel free to share it on your social media to help others in need:

3. Partition SSD using Diskpart

Step 1. Type diskpart to open the Command Prompt, then input the commands below and press "Enter" after each one:

Translate these commands into English:
• list disk
• select disk
• list volume
• select volume
• shrink desired=2048 (Replace the number with the size you want to shrink.)
• create partition primary size=2048 (You can replace 'primary' and the number with the partition type and size you desire.)
• assign letter P (Replace 'P' with the new partition's desired drive letter.)

Step 2. Type exit to close Diskpart, and then restart your computer.

Conclusion

In summary, this article focuses on how to partition an SSD from BIOS. While users cannot directly create partitions on the SSD through BIOS settings, they can achieve this by using a Windows bootable media. Consequently, we have presented two proven methods for creating a bootable media and partitioning the SSD, utilizing tools such as Partition Master and the built-in Windows utilities.

tools Partition Master is a fantastic software with a user-friendly interface and reliable solutions for partitioning SSD and managing disk partitions. We've compiled several articles below to provide you with more information on what else you can do with this powerful partition manager:

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Partition SSD from BIOS

Still have questions on how to partition an SSD from BIOS? This section covers what you might be looking for. Below are frequently asked questions with their respective answers: 1. **Q:** Can I partition an SSD in BIOS? **A:** No, you cannot directly partition an SSD through the BIOS. BIOS is a basic input/output system that doesn't provide disk management utilities. You need to boot into your operating system's disk management tool or use a third-party software to create partitions. 2. **Q:** How do I partition an SSD before installing Windows? **A:** To partition an SSD before installing Windows: - Insert the Windows installation media and boot from it. - Choose "Install Now." - Select your preferred language and settings, then click "Next." - On the "Which type of installation do you want?" screen, choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." - In the next screen, select the SSD and click "New" to create a new partition. - Adjust the size as needed and proceed with the installation. 3. **Q:** How do I partition an SSD in Windows 10? **A:** In Windows 10: - Press `Win + X` and choose "Disk Management." - Right-click the unallocated space on your SSD and select "New Simple Volume." - Follow the wizard to set the partition size and drive letter, then format the new volume. 4. **Q:** What is the recommended partition size for an SSD? **A:** There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Generally, creating one large primary partition for the operating system and applications is advisable, leaving some unallocated space for future needs. For data storage, consider creating a separate partition if desired. 5. **Q:** Should I format the SSD before partitioning? **A:** It's not necessary to format the SSD before partitioning during the installation process. Formatting will occur during the partition creation. However, if the SSD has existing partitions, you may need to delete them first, which will format the drive. 6. **Q:** Can I shrink an existing partition to create space for a new one on my SSD? **A:** Yes, in Disk Management, right-click the partition you want to shrink and choose "Shrink Volume." After the process, you'll have unallocated space to create a new partition. 7. **Q:** Are there any specific tools for partitioning SSDs? **A:** Yes, third-party tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard, tools Partition Master, and AOMEI Partition Assistant offer more advanced features for managing SSD partitions compared to the built-in Windows tool. If you have further queries, feel free to ask!

**1. How can I view my SSD in BIOS?**

To check if your SSDs are recognized in BIOS, follow these steps to examine the boot order:

Step 1. Boot the computer and press the F1, F2, F10, F11, or F12 keys to open BIOS settings.

Step 2. Use the right arrow key to switch to "Startup," and then press "Enter" under "Boot."

Step 3. In this window, you can see the devices that can boot, and your SSD should be shown here.

2. How can I partition my SSD?

If you have a new SSD and wish to divide it into partitions, you can utilize the tool Partition Master. This software can partition a new SSD in just three simple steps. It offers a "New Disk Guide" feature that allows you to create multiple partitions at once. Here are the detailed steps:

1. Download and run the tool Partition Master; the new SSD will be detected, and the New Disk Wizard window will appear. 2. Choose "Partition this disk," set the partition number, and adjust the partition size and other attributes. Click "Proceed" to continue. 3. Select "Execute 1 Task" and then click "Apply."

3. How can I partition my SSD using CMD?

You can create partitions on your SSD using command lines. Here, we'll use a logical partition as an example:

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing "Windows + X,"

Step 2. Enter each of the following command lines individually:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk N (Replace N with the number of your SSD)
• create partition logical size=1024 (adjust the number according to the size you need)
• create partition logical

Step 3. Type exit to close Diskpart when the process is finished.