diskpart

DiskPart is a command-line disk management utility developed by Microsoft for Windows. It provides text-based control over disks, partitions, and volumes, enabling scripted or manual disk operations without a graphical interface. It is included with Windows operating systems and is commonly used to automate disk provisioning and maintenance tasks.

DiskPart is run from an elevated command prompt. The user starts it by typing diskpart, after which a DiskPart prompt accepts commands such as list disk, select disk <n>, list partition, create partition primary, delete partition, format fs=ntfs quick, assign letter=<drive>, and active. The tool can also extend or shrink volumes, and manage both basic disks and dynamic volumes. It supports creating virtual hard disks (VHD/VHDX) via the create vdisk command and attaching or detaching them for use as needed.

DiskPart can convert disks between MBR and GPT on supported systems, and can convert basic disks to dynamic disks. It can create, delete, and resize partitions, assign drive letters, and set an active partition. It is able to manage volumes on both basic and dynamic disks, and can be used in scripts to automate complex disk layouts or deployment tasks.

Caution is advised when using DiskPart, as its operations are destructive and largely irreversible. Incorrect commands can render a system unbootable or lead to data loss. Users should back up important data and test scripts in non-production environments. DiskPart complements the graphical Disk Management tool and is a common choice for administrators performing bulk or automated disk configurations.