Partitioning external hard drives (Windows)

If you're using an external USB or FireWire hard drive, you may find that Windows doesn't let you delete and create new partitions. To resolve this issue, double-click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the System Tray. Next, select the drive, click the Properties button, and then click on the Policies tab. If the Optimize For Quick Removal option button is selected; Windows treats the drive as a removable device and won't let you change partitions. However, if the Optimize For Performance option is selected, Windows treats the drive as a fixed device and you can delete and add partitions.