Microsoft DOS diskpart command

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About diskpart
Availability
Syntax
Examples

About diskpart

The diskpart command is a recovery console command that enables a user to delete and create partitions on their computer.

Availability

The diskpart command is a recovery console and external command that is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.

Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8

Syntax

Windows Vista and 7 diskpart command syntax
Recovery Console diskpart command syntax

Windows Vista and 7 diskpart command syntax

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: COMPUTERHOPE

Microsoft DiskPart syntax:
diskpart [/s <script>] [/?]

/s <script>	Use a DiskPart script.
/?	Show this help screen.

Typing diskpart from an elevated command prompt will enter the "DISKPART>" prompt. From this prompt, the below commands are available. These commands are also available from a DiskPart script.

ACTIVE	Mark the selected partition as active.
ADD	Add a mirror to a simple volume.
ASSIGN	Assign a drive letter or mount point to the selected volume.
ATTRIBUTES	Manipulate volume or disk attributes.
ATTACH	Attaches a virtual disk file.
AUTOMOUNT	Enable and disable automatic mounting of basic volumes.
BREAK	Break a mirror set.
CLEAN	Clear the configuration information, or all information, off the disk.
COMPACT	Attempts to reduce the physical size of the file.
CONVERT	Convert between different disk formats.
CREATE	Create a volume, partition, or virtual disk.
DELETE	Delete an object.
DETAIL	Provide details about an object.
DETACH	Detaches a virtual disk file.
EXIT	Exit DiskPart.
EXTEND	Extend a volume.
EXPAND	Expands the maximum size available on a virtual disk.
FILESYSTEMS	Display current and supported file systems on the volume.
FORMAT	Format the volume or partition.
GPT	Assign attributes to the selected GPT partition.
HELP	Display a list of commands.
IMPORT	Import a disk group.
INACTIVE	Mark the selected partition as inactive.
LIST	Display a list of objects.
MERGE	Merges a child disk with its parents.
ONLINE	Online an object that is currently marked as offline.
OFFLINE	Offline an object that is currently marked as online.
RECOVER	Refreshes the state of all disks in the selected pack. Attempts recovery on disks in the invalid pack, and resynchronizes mirrored volumes and RAID5 volumes that have stale plex or parity data.
REM	Does nothing. This is used to comment scripts.
REMOVE	Remove a drive letter or mount point assignment.
REPAIR	Repair a RAID-5 volume with a failed member.
RESCAN	Rescan the computer looking for disks and volumes.
RETAIN	Place a retained partition under a simple volume.
SAN	Display or set the SAN policy for the currently booted OS.
SELECT	Shift the focus to an object.
SETID	Change the partition type.
SHRINK	Reduce the size of the selected volume.
UNIQUEID	Displays or sets the GUID partition table (GPT) identifier or master boot record (MBR) signature of a disk.

Recovery Console diskpart command syntax

Creates and deletes partitions on a hard drive. The below diskpart command information is only available when you are using the Recovery Console.

diskpart [/add | /delete] [device_name | drive_name | partition_name] [size]

/add	Creates a new partition.
/delete	Deletes an existing partition.
device_name	The device you want to create or delete a partition. The name can be obtained from the output of the map command.
drive_name	The partition you want to delete, by drive letter. Used only with /delete.
partition_name	The partition you want to delete, by partition name. Can be used in place of the drive_name. Used only with /delete.
size	The size, in megabytes (MB), of the partition you want to create. Used only with /add.

Examples

Diskpart

Typing diskpart without any additional switches or options opens a new DISKPART> prompt and allow all the above commands to be entered. For example, while at the DISKPART> prompt you can type: LIST DISK and get an output similar to the example below.

Disk ### -------------- Disk 0 Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Disk 4 Disk 5

Status -------------- Online Online No Media No Media No Media No Media

Size -------------- 119 GB 2047 GB 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B

Free -------------- 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B 0 B

Dyn --------------

Gpt --------------

Note: When entering the diskpart command in some versions of Windows you may receive a UAC warning. You must accept this warning before diskpart can open.

Tip: To exit the DISKPART> prompt type exit and press enter.

diskpart /delete D:

In the above example, the D: partition would be deleted.

diskpart /add \Device\HardDisk0 20

In the above example, a 20MB would be created on the HardDisk0 device. This name is obtained from the map command.