However, many computer hard drives also contain what's called a recovery partition. On a new computer, for example, the onboard hard drive will already be partitioned with one main volume ( usually called C: on a PC). Most data storage devices are already partitioned when you buy them. Moreover, even an empty hard drive needs to have at least one partition to create the logical 'container' needed for storing files. It creates logical sections within the drive that can be accessed separately on your machine. The verb 'partition' simply means ' to divide into parts,' and that's exactly what partitioning a drive does. Up ahead, we'll show you how to partition a USB drive on both PC and Mac, and we'll talk about a few things you should know before you get started. Sometimes, when you're organizing or reformatting your digital storage, it might be necessary to reset or change the partitions on a USB drive. Almost everyone uses partitioned drives every day, and most of us don't think twice about it! These digital divisions separate hard drives into separate logical volumes, and they're an important part of the basic structure of how hard drives store information. (For those of you still searching, it looks like a hard drive with a stethoscope on it.) Open it up, and you'll be treated to a brand-spankin' new window on your screen.Partitions are an essential part of any kind of digital hard drive storage. In case you have never used this app before, just go into your Mac's Applications, click on the Utilities folder, and find the Disk Utility application. With that being said, make sure that the external hard drive is at least plugged in for this to work (the reason I say this is the same reason that costume companies write 'cape does not enable wearer to fly' on their superhero outfits). If you already have thrown some stuff in there (like I did when I was first trying this out), go ahead and copy them over to your computer. In order to prep things for your partition, it would be best to use an external hard drive that you absolutely do not have any important files on whatsoever.

However, let's take a look at how to do so.

Furthermore, your hard drive may already come with onboard software that does it for you (but honestly, I really don't like using those included apps at all). Granted, it's possible you may already know how to partition an external hard drive DIY-style.

Repartition external hard drive mac