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I have just gotten Surface Pro with 512GB internal SSD drive and want to reduce the partition to create a data partition.

I tried using the utility which comes with the OS(Disk management) but it allows shrinking it no less than about 260GB. Next I tried a third party utility(Partition Master) which I have used and familiar with but ended up with messed up partition.

I restored the original condition using the recovery drive. My present thinking is to install W10 and in the process set the partition for the size I want. Is there any other idea? Any suggestion?

Shrinking is difficult/impossible beyond a certain point because Windows places files halfway into any partition you install it on. Best bet, if you have the time/motivation, is to reinstall W10 as you plan.

I believe there are tools to do this beyond the 50% reduction you've noted, but I don't have any recent experience with them.

Waco wrote:

Shrinking is difficult/impossible beyond a certain point because Windows places files halfway into any partition you install it on. Best bet, if you have the time/motivation, is to reinstall W10 as you plan.

I believe there are tools to do this beyond the 50% reduction you've noted, but I don't have any recent experience with them.

Thanks Waco for the reply.
Is there anyone who did what I want to do using any third party utility?

churin wrote:

Is there anyone who did what I want to do using any third party utility?

Have you tried Minitool Partition Wizard? The free version is surprisingly powerful.

ludi wrote:

churin wrote:

Is there anyone who did what I want to do using any third party utility?

Have you tried Minitool Partition Wizard? The free version is surprisingly powerful.

I tried that utility but RESIZE/MOVE was not enabled(greyed) and could not resize the partition. Did you use the MiniTool Partition Wizard on Surface Pro?

churin wrote:

ludi wrote:

churin wrote:

Is there anyone who did what I want to do using any third party utility?

Have you tried Minitool Partition Wizard? The free version is surprisingly powerful.

I tried but RESIZE/MOVE was not enabled(greyed) and could not resize the partition. Did you use the MiniTool on Surface Pro?

No, I don't have a Surface anything. PW has worked well on other systems for me, so I figured it was worth a shot.

Waco wrote:

Shrinking is difficult/impossible beyond a certain point because Windows places files halfway into any partition you install it on.

Serious question: why? I can't think of any reason that would be beneficial.

Redocbew wrote:

Serious question: why? I can't think of any reason that would be beneficial.

MFT = master file table

File table = lots of accesses

lot of accesses = middle of disk is optimum for head movement (on average) (for spinning disks).

EDIT: then again, I always thought the MFT was at the beginning of the disk? I guess I have no idea.

Glorious wrote:

Redocbew wrote:

Serious question: why? I can't think of any reason that would be beneficial.

MFT = master file table

File table = lots of accesses

lot of accesses = middle of disk is optimum for head movement (on average) (for spinning disks).

EDIT: then again, I always thought the MFT was at the beginning of the disk? I guess I have no idea.

The primary is at the beginning, the secondary is in the middle for quicker access IIRC. Even with SSDs, the second copy is retained for redundancy.