Windows 7 - Option to extend partition is grayed out

I have a 5GB unallocated space I want to add to my main partition. However, any tool I've tried doesn't let me...

Screenshot here:
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6650/22009813.png

Window's tool is just grayed out...

Anyone able to help? I'll give you a cookie if you do! *looks for cookies*

You can only extend the volume adding adjacent unallocated space.

The easiest way, if the partitions have nothing on them would be simply delete them, expand the one you want and remake the partitions.
Or if possible & they have some DATA, move that DATA to another drive temporarily then delete resize,remake.

Otherwise maybe try extending and shrinking the volumes next to the unallocated after the target partition, choosing to leave the Unallocated space BEFORE the partiton.


Now about these cookies?

Hello Zaixionito, welcome to Seven Forums!



As Wishmaster has said you can only expand a partition to unallocated space to the right; have a look through the tutorials at the links below to get some ideas of how that works; be sure to keep us informed.
You could use a 3rd party program but there's always the chance of losing your data.

See "Method Two" in the first tutorial below

Partition or Volume - Extend

Partition or Volume - Delete

Partition or Volume - Shrink

Partition or Volume - Create New

Thanks, I've figured out how to do it now.

Hello again Zaixionito.



We're glad you have found a solution that works for you; thanks for the update.

Hi guys, since its only 18 hours since last post. I would like to ask a question related to what this user is asking.

I have a friend who uses 40gb hard drive and its really short on sapce. Specially when windows vista takes about 50% of that hard drive and demand more every day.
Right now that old disk is separated into two partitions, one for windows on 30gb and one for other stuff on 7gb.

So we agreed to buy a new hard drive and copy over the data from his old disk to new disk. That is how ever, not very difficult.

But the problem is the partitions remains the same and we are left with a bunch of unused/unallocated space.
What can be done to expand this partitions without data loss?

If the unallocated space shows to the right of the partition in Disk Management, you can just right click on the partition and "Extend". If it is to the left, it is more complicated. Entend does not corrupt any data.

I see what you are up to.

But as I said, there is 2 partitions on disk I wish to clone over. In that case, if I close over first partition, then expand it and clone over second partition and expand it with the remaining space. Will that work?

Let's use my drive map below using my "Disk 1"



If I wanted to recover the space on the "Storage" partition then I would move the data allready there to another partition then I could use #1

1. Partition or Volume - Delete on the "Storage" partition then I would use
2. Partition or Volume - Extend on the "XP partition to make one partition out of the 2, XP and Storage.

I hope this is clear enough?

Click this image to enlarge.

I guess that would work. As long as you have unallocated space to the right of a partition (as explained by Bare Foot Kid), you can always expand a partition. In your case just make sure you leave enough room to bring in the second partition (which you should predefine in the rest of the space once the first partition is cloned in).