Resize NTFS partition

David · External Since: Feb 18, 2007 Posts: 3

Hi,

I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but I
don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these products.
Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions? Even
paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works with
Win2K _Server_.

Thanks for any advice.

David

"Pegasus · External Since: Oct 14, 2005 Posts: 1845

"David" <David RemoveThis @David.com> wrote in message
news:%23dtE34ZYHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but I
> don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these
products.
> Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions?
Even
> paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works with
> Win2K _Server_.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> David
>
>

Here are a couple of free options:

a) Boot the machine with a Bart PE boot CD, then use xcopy.exe
to copy the old partition(s) to a spare disk. Use the right switches
to include hidden files and permissions. After testing the spare
disk, repartition the old disk and reverse the copy process.

b) Install the server disk and a spare disk as slave disks in some
Win2000/XP PC, then proceed as above.

John Toner MVP1 · External Since: Aug 16, 2004 Posts: 27

If you just need to extend the volume, you could use diskpart.exe. You can
read more about it here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590

Regards,
John

"David" <David.RemoveThis@David.com> wrote in message
news:%23dtE34ZYHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but I
> don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these
products.
> Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions?
Even
> paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works with
> Win2K _Server_.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> David
>
>

David · External Since: Feb 18, 2007 Posts: 3

John,

Thanks much for pointing this out. I was pleasantly surprised to see
diskpart.exe until I read:

..Only the extension of data volumes is supported. System or boot volumes may
be blocked from being extended, and you may receive the following error:
Diskpart failed to extend the volume. Please make sure the volume is
valid for extending
..You cannot extend the partition if the system page file is located on the
partition. Move the page file to a partition that you do not wish to extend.

It's easy enough to move the swap file to D: but are there other reasons
that prevent C: from being extended? From the bottom up, I have C:, free
space, D:. Everything is simple.

Thanks again.

David

"John Toner [MVP]" <jtoner.DeleteThis@DIE.SPAM.DIE.mvps.org> wrote in message
news:uD1fzylYHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> If you just need to extend the volume, you could use diskpart.exe. You can
> read more about it here:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590
>
> Regards,
> John
>
> "David" <David.DeleteThis@David.com> wrote in message
> news:%23dtE34ZYHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but I
>> don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these
> products.
>> Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions?
> Even
>> paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works with
>> Win2K _Server_.
>>
>> Thanks for any advice.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>
>

"Pegasus · External Since: Oct 14, 2005 Posts: 1845

AFAIK you cannot use diskpart to extend the system
partition. You would have to use one of the methods
I suggested in my first reply, or a commercial product.

"David" <David RemoveThis @David.com> wrote in message
news:%23OO2MZmYHHA.3824@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> John,
>
> Thanks much for pointing this out. I was pleasantly surprised to see
> diskpart.exe until I read:
>
> .Only the extension of data volumes is supported. System or boot volumes
may
> be blocked from being extended, and you may receive the following error:
> Diskpart failed to extend the volume. Please make sure the volume
is
> valid for extending
> .You cannot extend the partition if the system page file is located on the
> partition. Move the page file to a partition that you do not wish to
extend.
>
> It's easy enough to move the swap file to D: but are there other reasons
> that prevent C: from being extended? From the bottom up, I have C:, free
> space, D:. Everything is simple.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> David
>
> "John Toner [MVP]" <jtoner RemoveThis @DIE.SPAM.DIE.mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:uD1fzylYHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> > If you just need to extend the volume, you could use diskpart.exe. You
can
> > read more about it here:
> >
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590
> >
> > Regards,
> > John
> >
> > "David" <David RemoveThis @David.com> wrote in message
> > news:%23dtE34ZYHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but
I
> >> don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these
> > products.
> >> Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions?
> > Even
> >> paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works
with
> >> Win2K _Server_.
> >>
> >> Thanks for any advice.
> >>
> >> David
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

jas0n · External Since: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 2

In article <#dtE34ZYHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, David.RemoveThis@David.com
says...
> Hi,
>
> I simply need to resize an NTFS partition on a Win2K Server machine but I
> don't want to pay $500 for the "server" versions of some of these products.
> Are there any freeware/shareware products that will resize partitions? Even
> paying something like $50 is not a problem as long as it also works with
> Win2K _Server_.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> David
>
>
>

I seem to recall using GParted ... a linux boot cd to to this on a win2k
server a while back - it worked fine although I did have full backups to
go back to if required.

rancelan · Joined: Aug 12, 2008 Posts: 1

try EASEUS Partition Manager Server Edition, Just like Partition Magic exactly. But more cheap

Jayton · Joined: Jun 03, 2009 Posts: 1

I've just used diskpart on a partition with Windows XP installed.

I turned off the pagefile on the drive I wanted to extend.
I loaded the 'old' partition as master so as to boot off that drive, with the drive I wanted to extend as the secondary drive and used diskpart to extend the new drive all the way to the end of the drive.

Note: This was done in a Virtual PC test environment, and may not work as expected in a real world scenario - but I see no reason for it to not work.

HTH

--
Jayton

Guruinhelp · Joined: Aug 31, 2009 Posts: 1

Yes, you may try diskpart, this is free provided by Windows, but if there is no unallocated space behind this partition, you cannot expand it. If you like to use this free tool, seach in microsoft. I suggest to use easeus partition master, which is quite easy to use, you just need to drag on the disk map, shrink other partition and then expand the os, besides resizing and other basic partition management tool, it can enlarge the os partition even without reoobt, you may check http://www.partition-tool.com/easeus-partition-manager/extend-ntfs-sys...-partit

Johnson · Joined: Oct 14, 2009 Posts: 6

Diskpart is too complicated for the unprofessional person and it cann't solve the problem.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 allow users to extend the partition if there is unallocated space.

If there is no unallocated space next to the partition and you have to delete the partition next to it spare some unallocated space just as Guruinhelp indicates.

Why not try some third-party tool to ease this job? Laughing

With which, several clicks is required. You can resize, move, extend or decrease partition easily and no need to reboot the computer with all the data protected.

Windows XP and Vista users may refer to How to extend NTFS drive without reboot and reinstall OS safely?

If you are server or RAID user, this works for you How to extend Windows Server/RAID system partition without data loss?

Easy tool worth to try Wink