How to Initialize Your Intel® SSD with Windows* Disk Management Tool

Documentation

Install & Setup

000022235

03/14/2022

Learn how to initialize an Intel® SSD in Windows*, whether it is new or Secure Erased. These steps apply to Client and Data Center SSDs that are connected with a SATA port, M.2 slot, or a PCIe* slot.

In cases where the Intel® SSD uses the PCIe interface, you need to have an NVMe driver installed in the OS before proceeding.

  • On Windows 8.1* or higher (it comes with a native In-Box driver) you don't need to do anything.
  • In Windows 7*, in order to detect the SSD, here are two options:
  1. Use the NVMe driver for Intel® SSD's - Some products may not be supported, confirm in the driver release notes for specific support.
  2. The Microsoft* NVMe driver can be applied.

Follow these steps to initialize, partition, and format your Intel® SSD:

  1. Open Disk Management tool

    Run
    1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run prompt
    2. Type diskmgmt.msc
    		 diskmgmt command
    Quick Link
    1. Press Window Key + X
      1. This brings up the image to the right
    2. Click Disk Management
    		 Windows Quick Link Menu

     

  2. Initialize the disk

    1. Once Disk Management has launched, you should see this pop-up:

      If Not...
      1. Right -click the left section of your new disk.
        1. It will display Not Initialized.
      2. Click Initialize Disk
      3. (You now have the pop-up)

      1. (Un)Select Disks and select 'Partition Style', then click OK.

        • GPT is newest
          • Required for Intel® Optane™ memory module for system acceleration
        • MBR is legacy
        Note

        If you intend to clone from an existing drive, make sure you choose the partition style that matches that drive.

        This avoids problems during cloning.
        		disk management
        Disk is initialized, but is Unallocated disk is initialized

  3. Partition & Format the disk

    1. Right-click anywhere in the Unallocated Sector

    2. Select New Simple Volume

      New Simple Volume Wizard
      1. Click Next
      		 New Simple Volume Wizard
      1. Specify the Volume (Partition) Size
        1. Normally the entire disk
      2. Click Next
      		 Click Next
      1. Select Drive Letter or Path
        1. Windows typically use drive letters
      2. Click Next
      		 Choose the disk space of the volume
      1. Select Format:
        1. File System = NTFS
          1. NTFS is typical for Windows
        2. Allocation = Default
        3. Volume Label
          1. Display name of the drive/partition
        4. Leave checkboxes as is
          1. Unless you know otherwise.
      2. Click Next
      		 Choose the drive letter to assign
      1. Review & Confirm selections
      2. Click Finish
      		 Confirm the settings

  4. Ready for Use

    1. Navigate to This PC, with File Explorer, and you will have a new storage device.