CHENGDU Yiwo Tech Development Co has announced the immediate release of EaseUS Partition Master 9. Available in both free (Home) and various paid-for (including Professional and Server) editions, EaseUS Partition Master provides non-destructive tools for partitioning Windows PCs that go beyond the basic functionality offered by Windows' own Disk Management tool.

Version 9 of EaseUS Partition Master includes several major new features, including the ability to merge two or more adjacent partitions on the same physical disk. Paid-for versions also include support for dynamic volumes, including copying, resizing and converting without data loss.

Partition Master 9.0 Server extends its partition repair capabilities to include RAID-5 volumes. It now also supports command-line usage, allowing system administrators to create automated functions without having to launch the main application. It's also now compatible with Windows Home Server.

All editions also gain the ability to wipe data from unallocated space -- perfect if you've just deleted a partition containing sensitive data and want to be sure it's been thoroughly purged from the drive. This is in addition to existing options for securely wiping partitions and disks.

Novices will also be pleased to learn that Partition Master 9.0 now includes a selection of video tutorials in both Home and Professional editions for those who need a guiding hand into using the applications functionality. This is accessible from the opening splash screen.

EaseUS Partition Master 9.0 Home Edition is available as a free product for personal and non-commercial use. It requires Windows 2000 or later, and is both 32-bit and 64-bit compatible. Paid-for editions start from $19.95.