Windows 7: Extending my Windows 7 Partition

Macrium's Reflect and a new one called ToDo are both seeing free system imaging programs for that purpose.

If there's nothing on the 7 installation quite yet an even faster method of seeing 7 use up the remaining drive space since the Vista primary has been reduced would be simply nuking the 7 primary rather then moving it for a new where a fresh install of 7 would go on that much faster.

Some here report a clean install of 7 in as little as 12 minutes while the average is right around 20. Now compare that to the time required to move the 7 primary forward and expand it afterwards or the 39-45 minutes typical of an XP or Vista fresh install. New primary to replace first for 7 only no need to move or resize simply created in the total empty space.

As far as imaging the drive you would want to do something like that once you have both Vista and 7 the way you want to see them and in top working order first. Then you would have the optimum backup image created at that time. A general data backup for anything you want to prevent from being lost would be the first step in case you run into any big problem where either Windows won't run.

The currently booted OS will show that it is the "System Boot and Pagefile.. etc. etc.", thats Vista now, when you boot into Windows 7 it will then show it's drive as "System Boot and Pagefile.. etc. etc.". Windows 7 will call itself drive C: also. At least it does on mine.

This has no effect as to where the partition is physically on Disk0. That will not change.

Actually haven't tried this on Windows 7, but previous windows including Vista, Disk management will not 'extend' a partition to the left, only to the right. This is why X: won't go to the left. As far as I could tell, MS disk management is restricted due to anti-trust suits.

Try Partition Wizard Home Edition from this site:

FREE Great Programs for Window 7

Works on 32 and 64 bit and Windows 7. I used it to move my OS partitions and it worked flawlessly.
Be sure to backup everything first. Acronis is the best, but several 'free' programs work very well, DiscWizard from Seagate (if you have a seagate HD and is a limited functionality version of Acronis), Macrium reflect, Paragon is said to be good also.

Download some of the help and how to info from the Partition Wizard home page. It will explain everything.
It's quite easy to run. You can select the moves you want to do, see what they will look like, then close all open programs except Partition Wizard, and then click "Apply" and it will shut down your OS and preform the changes and restart your OS, complete them and it's done.

Good luck,
Dave

OK wow ... Everybody is right! (can everybody be right? hehehe )

Dave is right in that the Windows 7 Disk Management utility will not extend a partition to the left ... Douh!!

Night Hawk is right in that the simplest way to proceed from here is to use GParted to finish this the way you want it.

Jimbo is right in that it is always a good idea to back everything up.

Here is what I suggest you do. Go to this web site and download "System Rescue CD". It is an ISO or when you burn it to a CD (do a burn image to disc in Windows 7) the CD will boot. While you are doing that, I will make some screen shots so you can use GParted to extend your X: partition.





System Rescue CD is a "Live" CD in that it will run from the CD and not install anything to the hard drive. GParted is one of the programs on the CD so you can easily finish extending the X: partition.

Robert

While I'm waiting for the screenshots to cure, here is a quick easy way to make a picture (worth 1000 words!) and include in posts:

Have what you want to show visible on your screen. TYPE: Ctrl (hold) then press: Prt Scr. Now open "Paint" (every Windows has it) and "Paste". Find paste in the menu or just TYPE: Ctrl (hold) then press: v



You have just captured the image on your screen, placed it on the "Clipboard", and pasted it into "Paint". Now you can "Select" and "Crop" small areas, add arrows, circles, and text or what ever?

You can add the screenshot as an attachment directly to the post by clicking the "Attachment Paper Clip" in the tool bar above: Then browse for the screenshot and up load. Finally click the "Attachment Paper Clip" again and select the screenshot you just uploaded and you are done!



Or, you can create an album and upload your pictures there and reuse them as needed:





Just make sure your pics are less than 600 X600

Robert

Please follow this link for instructions on using GParted to resize this partition:

Hard Drive Partitions - Changing with GParted

Robert

Okay, Im jusst about to do the GParted thing, but do i absolutly have to use the erm.. SystemRescueCD thing? I mean worst case scenario.. i have to re-format my laptop, but honestly i wouldnt mind it that much as i have already backed all my important data files etc.

EDIT: More rep for you all XD

Well ... no one can make that decision for you. But if you are already prepared to reformat and reinstall everything (all day project?) it seems to me that you have nothing to loose (maybe an hour?) and might enjoy the learning experience for the next time? I made pictures of every step and it is all windows type gui. If you can shrink in Vista and 7 you should have no trouble extending with this software?

Its up to you.

Robert

Yay!! I did it Thanks for all of your help everyone. Time to giv ya'll some rep Thanks a bunch everyone...
SOLVED!!

Excellent work! Nice job. Now you have some experience you can pass on to someone else, huh?

Robert

Hah yea Once again Thank You all