Vista permits to create, edit and manage partitions on PC. This is aspect that was not there in earlier Windows OS, as well as Windows XP. Earlier OS needed that you buy third-party partitioning software. With ability to partition integral to Vista, you can even create recovery partition. This gives safety for restore point in case viruses or worms find their way onto PC and cause permanent damage.

Create and Format a Partition

1 Ensure you have sufficient unutilized space on hard disk to hold recovery data. Click "Start", "Control Panel," "System and Maintenance," "Administrative Tools," then double-click "Computer Management." Go to "Navigation" tab and click "Disk Management." In "New Simple Volume" wizard, click "Next," then type size of partition; click "Next." Select partition settings, click "Next," then "Finish." From here, you able to load recovery data on that partition.

Format an Existing Partition

2. If you have partition you want to reformat to grasp recovery data, click "Start", "Control Panel," "System and Maintenance," "Administrative Tools," then double-click "Computer Management." Go to "Navigation" tab and click "Disk Management." Right-click partition you want to format, then click "Format." Click "OK" in next two places that appear to format partition. After partition is formatted, load recovery files to partition.

Additional Tips

3. You should be logged in as administrator to utilize Vista partition tools. Delete or utilize current partition if you do not have sufficient room on hard disk. If you already have partition you want to reformat to hold recovery data, be alert that formatting partition will wash out any existing data on partition. It's also not probable to format partition you are now using, or one that holds original version of OS. A "quick format" is method to format partition to make new file tab without wiping out data.