Windows 7: need to expand C partition.

I've Gparted a copy of the C partition and need to expand the size of the original.



before I resize, I want to back up a restorable MBR.

what's the best free program to use for this on Windows 7-64?

thanks,

Jim

hi and welcome to the forums

FREE Resize/Move FAT & NTFS Hard Drive Partition, Enlarge/Extend/shrink system partitions in Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7 and Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 - EASEUS Partition Master Manual

try the above Free partition manager to resize/move FAT & NTFS hard disk partition

I'd use free Partition Wizard bootable CD which has been used for hundreds of repartitioning/resizing operations here without a single failure. It has a data protection mode which will not fail during Resizing (unlike Easeus and others) but just start again until you bail out at restart.

Make sure Windows 7 is marked Active in case you need to repair the MBR by booting the Windows 7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

I'd also back up a Windows 7 System Image so you can start over if necessary. Reinstall or resizing is also a good time to back up the latest set of files.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html

easeus free only works for 32 bit.
you have to buy the 64bit capability and the trial doesn't execute.

Partition Wizard encountered what it called a known bug
and failed.
said partitions were going to overlap, (not) and wanted me to send in a bug report.

I've been chasing Windows solutions with results like this since Windows opened shop back in the day.
no more.
I'm still interested in helping my friends with their Windows installations here in my small town, but from now on I use Windows 7 for production, and Linux (Ubuntu 10.10) for everything else....especially for diagnostic and utility use.

so I just used GParted to resize then repaired MBR with Windows 7 install disk.
the world has taken on a rosy glow.

Hirens Boot Disk 12 is highly recommended to you Tech types.[URL="http://www.hirensbootcd.org/"]
it boots ISO and has powerful Linux and Windows interfaces.
sometimes I just use Hirens mini-Linux as my OS.

again, I like Windows7. it's a good OS and I recommend upgrading from XP/Vista all the time.
but for someone just starting out learning a new OS, Ubuntu is in the mix of options.

cheers,

Jim

I use this for the MBR backup
MBR Backup

thanks,
MBR Backup is in my bag o tricks now.

You might prefer just to use an imaging app to back it up - only takes a few secs.


Otherwise, I like plppart http://www.plop.at/en/windowstools.html

If your specific purpose is to simply back up the mbr why use an imaging program? I know most backup the mbr as a matter of course along with partitions.

The question was One valid answer is back it up with an imaging app. - easy to restore also - no need to type it all in manually.




Not all imaging apps. allow backing it up alone or separately