Windows 7: Partition or Volume - Shrink

I have never lost any data with the Partition Wizard. But it is always prudent to make an image before you manipulate the OS partition. I suggest you use free Macium unless you usually use another imaging program.
Regarding the backup CD/DVD I suggest you burn one from the recovery partition. It takes 2 or 3 DVD-R's. There is a standard procedure on how to do that. Unfortunately it is different with every manufacturer. It should be explained in the little booklet that came with your PC.

disk management problem
i can extend F drive from my C drive.
but i can not extend my E drive from neither of my drive [from D drive and F drive]

suggest me to extend my E drive

You really have no options within Windows. Follow link below to create a Bootable CD that will allow you to re-partitions drive to which ever way you want.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD - Windows 7 Forums

Best of Luck,
Eldin

I have just spent the better part of two days setting up a new Windows 7 Pro 64bit system (HPE-270F). I've already loaded all my software and now wish to shrink the C: partion to +/- 200GB. I've only used 30GB of the C: drive but I'm only able to shrink it to 472gb.

• I've followed the recommendations on this "How to Geek Page": Working Around Windows Vista’s "Shrink Volume" Inadequacy Problems - How-To Geek.
• I've tried 3 different defrag programs including Perfect Disk 11. Perfect Disk shows the system files (all "system volume information" files) stuck at the end blocks of the 472 gb Partition.
• I have also tried three different 3rd parting partitioning programs (Partition Wizard, Paragon and Easeus.)

It is incredible to me that Microsoft makes it so bloody difficult to accomplish this simple administrative task - but then again I guess I should not be surprised

None of the trial partition managers I've tried are able to move the system files. I do not want to pay for a partition manager unless I am certain it can do the job.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Brink gives some very helpful info:

The size of the available shrink space can be restricted by the amount of space currently allocated to on the hard drive for the virtual memory page file, System Protection maximum storage space size, and hibernation files.

However, for those of you who - despite empty space - cannot shrink beyond a certain point because "You cannot shrink a volume beyond the point where unmovable files are located.", you may not have put two-and-two together.

If you need to shrink further then Windows will allow, try temporarily turning off the three services above mentioned above (make sure to to it in such a way that it deletes the files a well - Win 7 seem to do better with this then XP) and restarting your computer.

After the restart, you should be able to shrink all available space, although you will want to leave some extra to turn these services back on or for future updates, etc.

I tried shrinking the C: drive on a second machine by turning off the three services above, but still had something "unmovable". After some ore searching, I used disk cleanup to delete all the temporary files on the computer (including the system ones) and also cleared out IE files and logs. Also, when you go to make the shrink query, make sure you don't have any programs running as that will make their files temporarily unmovable as well. If you try the suggestion above and still have issues, try these additional three steps.

Well Mate, that is yet another set-up 'to do' checked off the list, and it went like a dream.

The only query I have is in the page layout. I notice that in the Tutorial screen shots, the Drives are all shown as 'stacked'. Mine however, are displaying 'in-line' like this;



- a minor gripe I know, but a nuisance all the same. Is there anything I can or need to do to get the Drives into a 'stacked appearance' in that window?

I think I understand why the System Protection Maximum Storage Space etc, etc. is warranted - because all is now on the one drive, whereas in Vista, that flexibility was removed from User choice with the dedicated allocation of space on the Hard Drive with the pre-set and loaded partitions ie. Acer C: and Data D: Drives., and all pertitioning was done via the C: Drive alone.

Thanks again Shawn for another of your typically easy to follow Tutorials. .....and yes I know that I've yet to update my Systems Specs, but I've been flat out doing this sort of stuff.. Cheers T

Hello Tony,

If you mean with "Disk 0" in your Disk Management, then they are not stacked since those are only partitions on the single HDD (Disk 0) and not separate physical HDDs.

hey, um can i decrease the partition size of disk where my OS was located?

Hello Randy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Please post a screenshot of your Disk Management window showing all of your drive's layout, and I'll be happy to take a look at it to help see if you would be able to or not.