AOMEI Partition Assistant
Is It Still Necessary to Have Disk D?
Is it still necessary to have Disk D on my PC? In this article, we’ll explain what Disk D is typically used for and how to make the most of it.
By Gia / Updated on May 29, 2025
Is It Still Necessary to Have Disk D?
Traditionally, Disk C is the primary partition housing the operating system and essential software programs. Disk D, on the other hand, often serves as a secondary storage location for:
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Storing personal files, such as documents, videos, photos, and more
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Installing programs and games to save space on Disk C
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Holding recovery partitions created by the manufacturer
So, do I need a D: drive? The answer depends largely on your storage habits and system configuration. For many users, Disk D provides a convenient way to organize files separately from system data. It also helps maintain a clean C drive and improve system performance.
However, many modern computers come with just one main partition (Disk C). If everything can comfortably fit on disk C, you may not need a separate D drive. In this case, is it okay to delete the D drive? Yes! If the D drive doesn’t contain any important data, removing it can simplify your storage and free up space for other uses.
How to Make the Most of Disk D?
In most cases, it is still necessary to have Disk C and D to better manage and organize your data. But how can you make the most of Disk D? This section outlines three effective methods to help you optimize its use. Read on to enhance your computing experience today!
Method 1. Store Personal Data on Disk D
Disk C is primarily used to store the operating system and essential software programs. To ensure there is enough space, it's advised to save your personal files on Disk D or another location. Additionally, keeping personal files separate makes it easier to reinstall or upgrade the C: drive in the future without data loss.
By default, all downloaded data is saved to the C: drive. You can change the default download location by following these steps:
Step 1. Double-click on This PC on your desktop to enter Windows Explorer.
Step 2. Right-click on the Downloads folder, and then select Properties.
Step 3. Go to the Location tab and click Move.
Step 4. Change the default download location to Disk D and click Apply to proceed.
Method 2. Move Installed Programs to Disk D
Sometimes, you may have installed large programs on Disk C, which can lead to low disk space issues. To free up space on your primary drive, you can move some installed programs to Disk D. While not all programs can or should be moved, especially those integrated with the operating system, many applications, like large games or software suites, can be transferred.
Manually moving programs can be risky, as it may break registry entries or shortcuts. To move programs safely, it's recommended to use AOMEI Partition Assistant. This professional disk management tool allows you to relocate apps and large files securely on Windows PCs. With just a few clicks, you can reclaim valuable space on Disk C and help your system run more efficiently.
100% SecureHere's how you can move installed programs using AOMEI Partition Assistant:
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the Free up > App Mover.
Step 2. Choose Move Apps or Move Folders as you like. In this step, we choose App Mover.
Step 3. Select the partition you want to move applications from and click Next.
Step 4. In the pop-up window, select the applications you want to move and choose a target location for them. Then click Move.
Step 5. Click OK to start the process. Then your applications will be safely moved to the target location.
Method 3. Allocate Free Space from Disk D to Disk C
If your Disk C has limited storage while Disk D has sufficient free space, you can reallocate some of that space to Disk C. AOMEI Partition Assistant makes this process easy. You don’t need to manually resize partitions; simply reallocate free space to the drive you want with just a few clicks.
100% SecureFollow these steps to reallocate space from Disk D to Disk C:
Step 1. Right-click the Disk D drive and select Allocate Free Space.
Step 2. In this window, you can input how much free space to allocate to Disk C and click OK.
Step 3. Click Apply and Proceed to commit the pending operation.
Wait for a while, and the free space will be allocated from Disk D to Disk C.
Pro Tips: How to Recover Missing Disk D?
Occasionally, Disk D might disappear from File Explorer. This can happen due to accidental deletion, drive letter conflicts, or partition corruption. Fortunately, the recovery is often possible, especially if the data hasn't been overwritten. AOMEI Partition Assistant also comes with a powerful "Partition Recovery" feature that can help you find and restore your missing partition with ease.
100% SecureStep 1. Click Recover > Partition Recovery on the main interface.
Step 2. Choose the disk from which you want to recover the accidentally deleted or lost partitions. And then click Next.
Step 3. Choose a search mode as needed and click Next.
Step 4. Once the missing partitions are found, they will be displayed in the list box. Select the partition that you want to recover and click Proceed to continue.
Finally, check if Disk D is back in the main interface or Windows File Explorer. The recovered partition may have no drive letter, you can assign a drive letter to it.
Conclusion
So, is it still necessary to have Disk D? The answer depends on your personal needs. For users with a large single drive, it might seem less essential. However, if you do have a separate Disk D, consider following the methods above to repurpose it effectively or use its space more strategically.
