Whether you're installing Windows on a brand new hard disk or simply adding a new disk to an existing system, it's a good idea to consider how you want to use the new storage space before you begin creating volumes. If your goal is to set up a large space for backup or media storage, for example, you might want to devote the entire disk to a single volume.

On the other hand, if your plan is to establish two or more separate volumes-perhaps one for each family member on a shared home computer, for example-decide how many gigabytes you want to assign to each partition. You can change your mind later, but it's easiest to adjust the number of volumes on a disk and their relative sizes before you've put a lot of data on the platter.

• Installing Windows on a New Disk
• Adding a New Disk to an Existing Windows Installation
• Specifying Volume Capacity
• Assigning a Drive Letter
• Formatting the New Volume