Hard disk drives are indispensable components of a server, whether you use an HDD, SSD, or any type of hardware RAID array. Before saving files to these devices, you need to initialize a brand-new disk, and create and format partitions. After running the server for a period of time, disk space usage can become an annoying problem. A typical example is when the C drive runs out of space. Nobody likes to waste so much time starting from scratch. You need a reliable server partition manager to expand the C drive. In addition to these operations, you may need to copy, convert, or wipe disk partitions, etc. This article introduces the free partition manager in Windows Server 2016 and the best partition software for Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025, as well as previous versions like Server 2003/2008/2012.
Free Partition Manager in Windows Server 2016
As in other versions, there is a native free partition manager in Windows Server 2016: Disk Management. It is able to initialize a brand-new hard disk, create, delete, and format partitions, and change drive letters and paths. Besides the basic ability to manage disk partitions, it has some advanced features.
- It is able to shrink and extend partitions without losing data (in most cases). However, not all partitions can be resized. It can only shrink an NTFS partition to make Unallocated space on the right, and extend an NTFS partition by deleting the contiguous volume on the right.
- It is able to convert a disk between MBR and GPT, and between Basic and Dynamic, but it is destructive; you must delete all partitions on the disk in advance.
- It can create and manage Dynamic disk volumes. However, Dynamic disks consume a lot of server resources. They have many disadvantages compared to a hardware RAID array.
If you want to resize a partition without restrictions or perform other advanced operations, such as cloning a disk partition, converting MBR to GPT, converting a disk between Primary and Logical, or converting NTFS to FAT32 without losing data, third-party software is a better choice.
The Safest Disk Partition Software for Windows Server 2016
There are many disk partition software programs for Windows Server 2016, and they are much more powerful than Disk Management. The interfaces and functions are all similar, but that does not mean any software is acceptable. You had better back up in advance and run the safest tool for your servers.
There is a risk of partition damage and data loss while resizing partitions or making other modifications. For example, when resizing volumes, server partitioning software modifies all parameters of the associated disk, volume, and files; any error could cause system or partition damage. In addition to software errors, hardware issues such as power failures can also cause disasters.
Better than other Windows server partition software, NIUBI Partition Editor has advanced technologies to protect your system and data. For example:
- Virtual Mode - All operations you perform will be listed as pending for preview. Real disk partitions will not be modified until you click "Apply" to confirm.
- Cancel-at-will - If you apply the wrong operations, it is not a problem. You can cancel the ongoing operations without damaging the partitions.
- 1-Second Rollback - If any known error is detected while resizing partitions, it automatically reverts the server to its original status in a flash. In that case, your server can be back online immediately.
Another way to perform fast disaster recovery is by cloning with NIUBI. Since it can clone disk partitions in Windows without rebooting the server, you can clone the system disk regularly. Whenever the system disk is damaged, you just need to change the BIOS settings and boot from the cloned disk. This can be done in just a few minutes, making it much faster and easier than restoring from an image backup.
The Fastest Disk Partitioning Software for Server 2016
For server partitioning software, data protection ability is the most important. So, what comes second? Efficiency. It is much better if the program runs faster and completes operations in less time, especially when disk or partition modifications require a server reboot to proceed. Thanks to its advanced file-moving algorithm, NIUBI Partition Editor is 30% to 300% faster than any other tool.
If possible, you can compare it with other tools under the same conditions using a timer.
Download Partition Editor for Windows Server 2016
Download this partition manager on a Windows 2016 server (physical or virtual machine), and you will see the main window with 5 sections.
- All single partitions with detailed parameters.
- All physical and virtual disks (RAID arrays) with graphical structures.
- Available operations for a selected disk or partition. (You will see the same options by right-clicking.)
- Pending Operations: all operations you perform will not be executed immediately; instead, they will be listed there as pending.
- Cancel, redo, or apply the pending operations.
Unlike other Windows server disk partition software that lists all options, NIUBI only lists the available operations to keep the interface clean; unavailable options are hidden automatically.
What Does NIUBI Partition Editor Do in Windows 2016 Server?
To Unallocated space:
- Create one or more volumes
- Wipe data on it
- Surface test (scan for bad sectors)
- View properties (detailed parameters)
To a whole disk:
- Initialize
- Change status to offline or online
- Set read-only attribute
- Wipe disk (cannot be recovered)
- Surface test
- View properties
- Clone disk to migrate data and OS
- Convert MBR disk to GPT
- Delete all partitions
- Cleanup disk
To a single partition:
- Resize volume (shrink and extend)
- Move location
- Merge two adjacent volumes in 1 step
- Copy to Unallocated space
- Convert to Logical or Primary partition
- Convert NTFS to FAT32
- Optimize file system to repair errors and improve performance
- Change drive letter (such as D:)
- Change label (partition name)
- Set as Active
- Check file system integrity
- Defrag to improve performance
- Hide from File Explorer
- Delete (files can be recovered)
- Format volume to use as new
- Wipe (erase data permanently)
- Surface test
- Explore (view files/folders with directory)
- View properties
Because of its powerful system/data protection, fast resizing ability, easy-to-use and neat interface, as well as plenty of disk/partition management features, NIUBI Partition Editor is recommended as the best disk partition manager for Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025 and previous versions. Watch the video guide to learn how it works.
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