Windows 7 - Extending C

I have been messing around with partitions for a while now, but have never tried to extend or change a C: partition before. Now I find that I need more space on my C: partition, but, unfortunately, the partition is to the right of the space I want to extend into.

So, I tried method 2 of the tutorial provided on this site, and it didn't work saying that I didn't have enough space. I've downloaded MiniTool Partition Wizard, but I am a bit nervous here.

First, is it safe to do anything with the C: partition? I mean...it is in use while the OS is in use. It is the active/boot/system partition on that drive.

Second, is there a way to physically move the C: partition to the left/ first spot on the drive?

I guess I just don't quite understand how partitioning operations work, even though I understand what a partition is. Since I have a new, 2TB drive, and will be getting another one soon, I'd like to make the whole HD that my C: partition is on, into one big C: drive, since I no longer need to share it for other things.

Anyone have advice on this?

Hello Keln.



Have a look at these tutorials at the links below for some ideas and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.



Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

Partition : Recover Space Used by an Older OS

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk management drive map and listings, using Snipping Tool in Start menu. We can give you the steps to extend C to the whole HDD if this is what you want.,

Thanks. So, are you saying I cannot use this partition program while running windows? Or is it just not safe to do it that way?

It is not as stable and you want complete stability when Resizing OS.

PW CD is the most stable Disk Manager we know of. It gives accurate readings even when Disk Mgmt or PW run from Windows 7 is inaccurate.

Unlike all other Partition managers except Disk Mgmt, PW will not fail as long as Data Protection mode is selected. If it fails to resize (virtually) it will simply restart and try again until you bail out at startup countdown.

Never knew about that snipping tool...that's awful handy, thanks.


Ok, so I have not wiped the two other partitions on this drive yet because I am still moving files around, but I had wanted to go ahead and add unallocated space to C: now, and the rest later. I am not averse to using the methods described by BF Kid, but I am trying to understand more about partitioning operations involving the C partition, and mostly what NOT to do.

And I am assuming that I can use a flash drive instead of a CD or DVD for the bootable disc (like for windows recovery)?

PW has a new feature to write to USB flash stick from Windows 7, but I think it's in a paid version.

Try writing the PW CD ISO to flash stick using Win2Flash: YouTube - How to install Windows 7 from USB (WinToFlash) then boot under USB flash on BIOS Boot Menu.

I'd start by booting PW to rightclick delete G (after backing up its files),

then rightclick Resize C, drag its left grey border all the way to the left to take up the unallocated space, OK, Apply.

Have your Installation DVD or Repair CD standing by in case you need to run Startup Repair to repair the System MBR since resizing will occur on the boot sector: Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Thanks greg. I'll give this stuff a go.

1. Whatever you do to your C partition, make sure you take an image first to be on the safe side.
2. If you still have your user data folders on C, it may be easier to move those to another partition/drive rather than extending C

I have a question on another subject; are there bootable Operating System(s) on the other Disk #s 1 & 3 as I see from the snip they are marked "Active" and that may cause other issues if they are just data drives.