Help Needed To Resize Partition

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by Cruise, Sep 13, 2014.

  1. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    I could really use some help to extend the size of my 'User Files' partition. I'm running Win7 x64 and here's what Disk Management reports for my partitions:

    Partitions.png

    Two partitions 'Unallocated1' & 'Unallocated2' are not being used and I would like to take some (if not all) of that unused space to enlarge my 'User Files' partition, but I can't seem to do it with Disk Management because 'Extend Volume' is greyed-out!

    If it would help I also have Terabyte's BIBM on CD, but it hasn't been able to do the trick either (probably because I'm not too familiar with its use).
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2014
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Cruise,

    Is this correct? You would like to delete 'Unallocated1' & 'Unallocated2'. You would like to make 'User Files' larger by using the Free Space created by deleting (or resizing smaller) the two partitions.

    I used to create multiple partitions as you have created. I think it is a pain and serves no purpose as you can have named folders in a single partition. So I only have OS partitions, a single backup partition and a single data partition.
     
  3. taytong888

    taytong888 Registered Member

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    Hello Cruise,

    I would use a tool called Knoppix.

    1st: burn Knoppix iso from distrowatch.com to a blank CD/DVD, then reboot it.
    2nd: preferrences > GParted
    3rd: In GParted, modify the size of User Files partition by grabbing the left arrow on its left edge and move to the left, until you gain additional 29.01 GB of Unallocated2 partition. Similarly, you can expand Windows & Apps or Portables & VMs partitions by moving their right edge or left edge, to eliminate Unallocated1 partition.
     
  4. wat0114

    wat0114 Registered Member

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    Gparted should work nicely, but wouldn't the process be as follows:

    1. Delete Unallocated1
    2. Delete Unallocated2
    3. Move Portables & VMs to the left against Windows & Apps
    4. Expand User Files to take up all the free space made available from the previous three steps.

    Would this not work or is there a better method? Brian K will of course know :)

    *EDIT*

    actually, it looks like Portables & VM's, Unallocated2, User Files (E), Downloads (F) and Backups (G) are all within an Extended partition? If that's the case then the process would be a bit different.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2014
  5. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian, that is correct. I don't recall why I even have those unused (Unallocated) partitions. Regardless, I just moved over 40GB of photos from my 'User Files' partition to an external drive in order to free-up space in my 'User Files' partition, so I decided it's time to make use of that unused space in my 'Unallocated' partitions!

    I'd sure appreciated your help.

    Cruise
     
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Sorry guys. Close, but no prizes.
     
  7. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Cruise, are you happy to follow me with BIBM? Delete the two partitions and move the space into User Files?
     
  8. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Hi taytong and wat, while I appreciate your suggestions I would first like to find out if I can accomplish this by using my existing tools (W7's Disk Management or Terabyte BIBM). If not, then I will look elsewhere.

    Cruise
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2014
  9. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Absolutely!
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Boot BIBM
    Partition Work
    Bus BIOS
    Select the Drive
    Your partitions may or may not be named
    Select the Unallocated1 partition and click Delete. Put a tick in Clear Boot Sector and click Yes
    Select the Unallocated2 volume and click Delete. Put a tick in Clear Boot Sector and click Yes
    Select the Extended partition and click Resize. In Free Space Outside field, select the number and type 0. Click OK. Then click Close.
    You will now see Free Space above Portables and VMs
    Select Portables and VMs and click Slide. In the Free Space Before field, select the number and type 0. Click OK, Continue. Click Close when completed. Slides are slow.
    Select User Files and click Slide. In the Free Space Before field, select the number and type 0. Click OK, Continue. Click Close when completed. Slides are slow.
    Select User Files and click Resize. Click OK. In the New Size field select the number and type the Max Size number. Click OK, Continue. Click Close when completed.
    Click Close on Work with Partitions
    DONE!

    Edit.. Anything that has a tick, leave it there. Such as the tick in "Data Only" for a Slide.
    Anything that doesn't have a tick, leave it clear. Such as "Wipe Partition" in Confirm Delete.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2014
  11. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian,

    It's getting late here, so I'm going to kick-off a complete drive backup, go to bed and try to follow your instructions about this time tomorrow (when I should return home).

    Thanks very much!
     
  12. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Great idea. If you have a power blackout half way through a slide, that backup could be invaluable.
     
  13. MrBrian

    MrBrian Registered Member

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    I agree with Brian K. I have two main partitions. One is for OS+Programs. The other partition is for downloads, documents, backups, virtual machines, etc.
     
  14. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian,

    Just to let you know that my flight from Boston arrives Los Angeles @ 6pm (US - Pacific Time) and I should be home an hour later. I will then be able to boot my laptop using BIBM and follow your partition-resizing instructions (any idea how long all of that should take)?

    Cruise

    PS#1. Please clarify: "Select the Extended partition" (from your instructions).
    PS#2. I now have an up-to-date complete backup. ;)
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2014
  15. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Okay, but other than those Unallocated partitions and my need to expand my User-Files partition, my other (working) partitions suit me just fine. ;)
     
  16. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Got to sign off now (leaving for the airport)...
     
  17. MrBrian

    MrBrian Registered Member

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    Ok :). An advantage of having a bigger partition serving multiple needs though is that there are fewer times that you'll run out of space, since there's a bigger storage pool.
     
  18. wat0114

    wat0114 Registered Member

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    Extended partitions are, however, nice when you want to dual-boot with Linux or whatever other O/S. It allows you to have up to four partitions within it, yet it takes up only one of the maximum four available in Windows. Of course with BIBM there's no worry about partition maximums.
     
  19. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    In BIBM you will see a partition labelled Extended. It will be just above "Portables and VMs". An Extended Partition is a Primary partition which can contain volumes. I've forgotten how many volumes can be contained in an Extended partition. Certainly more than twenty.

    With Slides, data is being moved and the speed depends on your hardware. Maybe allow for 2 GB/minute but probably slower. In GParted, slides are extremely slow as non-used sectors are moved too. Say you had a 10 GB partition containing 1 GB of files. BIBM would move 1 GB of sectors. GParted would have to move 10 GB. Otherwise, I like GParted. (GParted calls a Slide a Move)
     
  20. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Some times. A 60 GB Win8 partition containing 11 GB of files. Times to Move/Slide the partition 80 GB down the HD....

    BIBM........ 8.5 minutes
    GParted..... 59 minutes

    As I mentioned above, GParted has to move the unused sectors as well.
     
  21. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Brian, I just got home a half hour ago (my flight was delayed) and I'm way too tired to even think about BIBM. I'll try to get to it sometime tomorrow...

    Cruise
     
  22. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    When BIBM and GParted move/slide a partition, the sectors in use remain in the same relative position to each other. Similar to a sector based restore. Not so with MiniTool Partition Wizard. I used a 16 GB WinXP partition containing 12 GB of files. A 1 GB Move was performed. When the sectors were examined in Perfect Disk it was noted the first 1 GB of data had been moved from the start to the end of the partition. These were the sectors Perfect Disk had placed at the start of the partition to optimize booting. So 1 GB was chopped off the start and placed at the end of the partition.

    I won't let MiniTool Partition Wizard near my OS partitions.
     
  23. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Cruise, you had a long day.
     
  24. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    It was a very long day only to arrive in Los Angeles and over 100ºF temp. Entering my closed-up house was like going into a sauna!

    Brian, you are probably asleep now but here it's going on 9:25 AM (and the start of another hot day in LA). After I finish my 2nd cup of coffee I'll boot BIBM and follow your instructions. Stay tuned....
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2014
  25. Cruise

    Cruise Registered Member

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    Ah, the sweet taste of success!!! -- Brian, your instructions worked flawlessly. :thumb:
    Here is my new partition structure as reported by Disk Management:

    AfterResizing.png

    BIBM's 'Partition Work' is great (once you know how to use it). :confused:

    Thank you!
    Cruise


    PS. Total time to completion was 21 minutes (some of that time was due to my double-checking every step along the way). :cautious:
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2014
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