How to extend system drive partition (C:) to get more capacity

Anonymous

After installing Win 7 on C: with other programs that partition is getting too close to full. How do I add from logical partition to increase size of c:?

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Anonymous

When you are unable to make changes to partitions using Disk Management below are partitioning programs you can use.

EASEUS Partition Master (free):

Includes Partition Manager, Disk & Partition Copy Wizard and Partition Recovery Wizard for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 (32 bit and 64 bit). It allows users to Resize/Move Partition, Extend System Drive, Copy Disk & Partition, Merge Partition, Split Partition, Redistribute Free Space, Convert Dynamic Disk, Partition Recovery and more. Be careful, re-sizing partitions is usually safe but errors can happen, and always backup anything important before modifying partitions on your hard drive.

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

Paragon Partition Manager (free):

A good program for making general changes to hard drive partitions while Windows is running. Create, delete, format, and resize partitions with this program. It can also defragment, check file system integrity, and more. Be careful, re-sizing partitions is usually safe but errors can happen, and always backup anything important before modifying partitions on your hard drive.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express/download.html

Gparted Boot Disk(free):

If you can't make the changes you want with Windows running using a Gparted boot disk to change the partitions is a good solution. If you will be changing the main Windows partition, or a partition with important info, backup anything important - it's not common, but things can go wrong. Altering the partitions can be risky, be careful and know what you are doing - there is no Windows safety option when using this - if you tell it to format the Windows partition it will do so and delete the entire Windows installation. Depending on what you are doing it can take from a few minutes to a couple hours. Download the ISO and burn it to a CD.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gparted/files/gparted-live-stable

How to use:

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html

If after altering the partitions Windows 7 data/files are still there but Windows won't boot the following may help:

Try Repairing The Windows 7 Installation

Insert the Windows 7 DVD and restart your computer
Boot from the DVD.
Choose your language and click Next.
Click Repair Your Computer and then select the operating system you want to repair.
Click on the Startup Repair link from list of recovery tools in System Recovery Options.

If that doesn't fix it:

Insert the Windows 7 DVD and restart your computer
Boot from the DVD. If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.
Choose your language and click Next.
Click Repair Your Computer and then select the operating system you want to repair.
Select Command Prompt and try the following commands (a single command might work, or you may need to use multiple commands depending on the exact problem):

bootrec /fixMBR

bootrec /fixBoot

bootrec /rebuildBCD

Note: there is a space before the /

Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

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71 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-02-10T09:41:53+00:00

yes, aomei partition assistant is useful, i once used it to help me solve this problem.
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Anonymous

2015-02-06T20:42:19+00:00

Windows did not do it for me, not as far as moving the allocated space to the right side. That's why I used the 3rd party software to do just that and then went back into Windows to finish the job. So that's the tip I gave for those experiencing the same problem. Haha, I wish I worked for said software :p But thanks.

Glad it helped!
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Anonymous

2015-02-06T20:03:22+00:00

We all want to give C: (bootable/system) more space. The Disk next to it in Disk Manager is likely D: or E: (the Drive with the free space you wish to take and add to C:).

It's no problem shrinking D or E to create some now unallocated space. The problem now becomes that the freed up space is not immediately to the right of or beside the C: partition. The "extend" command in Disk Manager will not be available until that allocated space is permanently set in place BESIDE C:

For example, let's say C: and D: (the drive with expendable space) are listed beside each other in Disk Manager. Once you shrink your desired space from D:, that unallocated space is now the the RIGHT of D: What you want is to have that unallocated space INBETWEEN C: and D: Once that happens, the "Extend Drive" command will now be available for Drive C.

The PROBLEM is that Disk Manager cannot move that unallocated space for you. That's where 3rd party apps such as EASEUS are absolutely necessary. And the free version of EASEUS is all you need for this purpose. Once you've shrunk the desired free space from D: (or E: or whatever) fire up EASEUS. That's where you CAN move the unallocated space INBETWEEN C: and D:. Hit APPLY. Your computer will reboot and reflect the necessary changes (takes a few minutes).

Once that is done, go back into Disk Manager. You will see the changes reflected that the unallocated space is now directly beside C: as is necessary. You will also find that you can now EXTEND C: to take up that space. BOOM. Done.

Windows did it for me.
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