Expand dynamic disk partition

[rlawsha]

I have a server with a small C drive. Unfortunately it is a dynamic disk. There is free space on the partition but I can't expand the existing C drive space. I deleted the VM and restored it with Veeam hoping I could adjust the partition sizes in the process but no luck. Can someone here advise me on how I might expand this partition? I have already trimmed down the drive usage as much as I can. I have moved the swap drive to another disk etc... If this were a basic disk I could use one of the many partition tools out there.

[Vitaliy S.]

Hello Rick, have you tried following the instructions provided in the links below to extend the partition:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590
http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/fil ... lume-.aspx

Should help!

[rlawsha]

Both of your links mention DISKPART. Trying to extend the partition gets me this:

DISKPART> list volume

Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
* Volume 0 C OS NTFS Simple 20 GB Healthy System
Volume 1 F DATA NTFS Partition 40 GB Healthy
Volume 2 D CD-ROM 0 B Healthy
Volume 3 S SWAP NTFS Partition 10 GB Healthy Pagefile

DISKPART> select volume 0

Volume 0 is the selected volume.

DISKPART> extend

The volume you have selected may not be extended.
Please select another volume and try again.

DISKPART>

[Vitaliy S.]

I've just done more research on this matter and it looks like the only option is to use 3rd party management tools to extend the system partition on the dynamic disk, please check out this link for more info:
http://www.extend-partition.com/extend- ... ition.html

Hope it helps!

[softlover]

Hey, recently I met the similar question. I have to extend my dynamic partition right away. I searched some articles about how to extend dynamic partitions with freeware (http://www.partition-tool.com/easeus-pa ... volume.htm).
Does it safe? Can I trust those freewares? Can anyone recommend me some credible freeware?

[CarlConstantine]

Just resize it through the Disk Management console. I had this the other day, just grow the partition. If you're using Win 2003 server, it appears as gold color and looks like two partitions, but it's treated as one. Windows 2008 even easier and does it better.

Some tools, like gPart don't like dynamic partitions and won't touch them. A commercial program like Partition Magic (or similar) has no issue.

[averylarry]

You can also use the VMware converter to do this. Of course, the machine has to be down and you have to have enough disk space for a full copy of the VM.

[averylarry]

Oh -- and linux tools ***may*** work (have a backup first!). Add the virtual disk to a linux VM and use ntfsresize/fdisk/gparted/etc.