Solved How to increase size of windows partition in dualboot?

[chromium]

Ok so i originally had windows 7 and i decided to install win8 in a dualboot.
I wasnt expecting to use win8 to be very good, and i didnt plan on using it too much so i only gave it a 50gb partition.

Now i want to make it bigger (probably around 100gb)
So how can i extend the partition into my win7 partition?
Do i need to shrink the win7 partition then merge the unallocated space it makes with my win8 partition?

Also i really prefer to use disk management, and no thrid party hard drive software.
I've had some bad experience with Easeus in particular (see my older posts for more info if youd like)

Ive attached a screenshot of my disk management for a visual reference

Thanks

 

[Thorsen]

You should be able to shrink the C: drive and it will free up un-allocated space: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html

and then extend the d: drive. Just read through both tutorials. I am not an expert on this, but there are many on this forum that are. Hopefully one of them sees this and can confirm and walk you through it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2670-partition-volume-extend.html

Both tutorials rely on built in windows functionality.

 

[Thorsen]

Only thing I would warn is that if the unallocated space is freed up on the other side of the D: drive then the c: drive won't be able to extend into it. This would be fixable with 3rd party tools, but I am not certain on this happening. there are posts in those two tutorials about that as well. again, Im not an expert on partitions. I have done partitioning, but never ran into problems that needed expert help.

 

[chromium]

Only thing I would warn is that if the unallocated space is freed up on the other side of the D: drive then the c: drive won't be able to extend into it. This would be fixable with 3rd party tools, but I am not certain on this happening. there are posts in those two tutorials about that as well. again, Im not an expert on partitions. I have done partitioning, but never ran into problems that needed expert help.

thanks. this is exactly what im scared will happen.
It happened last time and disk management would merge because the partitions werent beside each other,
then when i used easeus everything just got corrupted.

I guess ill just wait for an expert response...i really dont want to screw up

 

[Thorsen]

I would also back up all your data prior to doing anything with them. Also, I have seen experts on here do some pretty amazing things....

 

[theog]

I would look for a 3rd party Partitioning software, which fully supports Windows 8, uEFI, GPT & Secure Boot.
Which is signed by Microsoft.


Paragon Partition Manager Free Edition - Free Download

 

[chromium]

I would look for a 3rd party Partitioning software, which fully supports Windows 8, uEFI, GPT & Secure Boot.
Which is signed by Microsoft.


Paragon Partition Manager Free Edition - Free Download

i really dont want to use 3rd party software.
Can i just shrink the D: partition (win7), and then extend my C: (win8) into the unallocated space?
See my screenshot to see what im talking about

 

[Arc]

You dont need to use any third party program, use the bootable Partition Wizard CD (last one in the link). Burn it in a blank CD, and boot into it, following this instructions.

Now, follow it:

• Split partition with partition magic software ? MiniTool Partition Wizard. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to split partition.)
• How to resize Partition for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 or Windows XP/7/Vista with partition magic manager software? Move/Resize Partition Help. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to move or resize partition.)
• Extend partition with partition magic software ? MiniTool Partition Wizard. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to extend partition.)

As it is a bootable disc, it is not to be considered as a third party program, and it is the most widely used tool to manipulate partitioning operations without any hassles.

 

[Golden]

Good information from Arc. This is also a useful reference for more info:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

 

[chromium]

You dont need to use any third party program, use the bootable Partition Wizard CD (last one in the link). Burn it in a blank CD, and boot into it, following this instructions.

Now, follow it:

• Split partition with partition magic software ? MiniTool Partition Wizard. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to split partition.)
• How to resize Partition for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 or Windows XP/7/Vista with partition magic manager software? Move/Resize Partition Help. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to move or resize partition.)
• Extend partition with partition magic software ? MiniTool Partition Wizard. (Watch how to use Partition Wizard to extend partition.)

As it is a bootable disc, it is not to be considered as a third party program, and it is the most widely used tool to manipulate partitioning operations without any hassles.

Thanks ill use that, but wont this work through disk management?:
-shrink the D: partition (Windows 7)
-format the unallocated space partition that it makes to ntfs
-extend my C: (win8) into the ntfs space?
See my screenshot to see what im talking about

 

[gregrocker]

You don't have any choice but to use 3rd party to resize Win8 to the left. We recommend free Partition Wizard bootable CD which has helped here resize countless thousands of complicated partitioning operations without a single failure - whereas all other managers (including PW Home version) except for Disk Mgmt can fail with data loss.

So you'd shrink Win7 in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Shrink

Then you'd boot PW CD, follow these video steps to resize Win8 partition to the left: Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help.

If for some reason Disk Mgmt doesn't give you enough shrinkage, use PW on Win7 to resize from the right.

 

[chromium]

You don't have any choice but to use 3rd party to resize Win8 to the left. We recommend free Partition Wizard bootable CD which has helped here resize countless thousands of complicated partitioning operations without a single failure - whereas all other managers (including PW Home version) except for Disk Mgmt can fail with data loss.

So you'd shrink Win7 in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Shrink

Then you'd boot PW CD, follow these video steps to resize Win8 partition to the left: Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help.

If for some reason Disk Mgmt doesn't give you enough shrinkage, use PW on Win7 to resize from the right.

ok thanks for clarifying that i have to use 3rd party. i guess ill do it later when i have enough courage to do it , lol

 

[AddRAM]

I agree with Arc, Golden and Greg . I use the PW boot cd and it`s never failed me and so easy to use.

 

[Thorsen]

Just make sure to back up any crucial data. Everyone should do this anyway just as common practice. You're in good hands here...

 

[chromium]

Thanks for the help everyone . jus to summarize is this what i need to do?:

-boot partition wizard CD
-shrink win7 partition by going to move/resize and dragging right side to the left
-increase win8 partition by going to move/resize and dragging left side to the empty space on the left
-hit apply and reboot

Also, will doing this affect my MBR in anyway?

 

[chromium]

can someone please quickly confirm that what i wrote above is good.
I just want an experts response before i do it.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, that should work fine. But have your Win7 DVD or Repair CD standing by in case you need to run Repair after resizing, which only happens about 5% of the time and then only when the resizing is done on the boot sector which is at the other end of the HD.

 

[chromium]

thanks everyone, i followed what i summarized above with the help of you guys and it worked flawlessly.
I didnt have to use win7 repair dvd and i didnt encounter any issues. Partition wizard is actually quite good and fast.

Thanks again

 

[Arc]

thanks everyone, i followed what i summarized above with the help of you guys and it worked flawlessly.
I didnt have to use win7 repair dvd and i didnt encounter any issues. Partition wizard is actually quite good and fast.

Thanks again

Good to know

Partition Wizard is a great tool, undoubtedly.