Hard Drive Showing no space to create partition

Hello, Seven Forums! I've been lurking about for a bit, and have been able to find all the answers to my problems here just by searching. Until Now. I've been trying to create a hard drive partition to dual wield Windows 7 and Windows 8, but when I go to shrink C: to create the new partition, it says "Querying Volume for available shrink space, please wait..." for about five minutes. Now I'm fine with this, but when that finishes, I get this.


So, I mentally "Hmm" and head on over to my disk properties, and find exactly what I was expecting to find.

Next, I tried using the command prompt (Tutorial I clicked in Pic 1) to shrink the volume, but that told me there wasn't enough space either. What do I do? Smash my computer? Open obscure files? Abandon ship?

This is normal. The MFT which is sitting high up on the partition is blocking it and Disk Management cannot move the MFT.

If you want to shrink it, you have to use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard. That can move the MFT. Have a look at Option 3 here - but instead of shrinking on the left side I would shrink on the right side (same procedure).

To be safe, make an image of C before you manipulate it. Better be safe than sorry.

Okay, and is there a USB bootable version of the Partition Wizard? My laptop originally had a CD/DVD drive, but it broke and I just decided to go without it.

Here is a simple freeware version that may be just what you're looking for.

MiniTool Partition Wizard

Another method. This may or may not be closer to what you need.

Run MiniTool Partition Wizard From Bootable USB



I haven't tested this myself, so let us know if it works.

Yeah right, the USB version comes only with PW Pro. But with Yumi you can make one yourself from the .iso.

If I had Unetbootin, would that work for the MiniTool thingy? If not, I'll still download it.

EDIT: Okay, I'm really stupid. I guess it automatically makes the USB for me. Thanks guys, will update momentarily.

Thanks guys, it worked like a charm! I ran into a bit of a slippery spot with MSR slots, but the Search Function got that problem resolved and I expect to have the Dual Boot ready by the end of the evening.

EDIT: Neeeevermind. I had one last question. It says it's a logical drive. Will that have any effect on my dual booting?

"However the boot loader in the standard MBR of Microsoft does not support booting from logical drives."

Boot-Manager Boot-US: Glossary: Part 6

If you could, post a snip of disk management, fully expanded before you proceed.