Shrink Partition

[dlgn]

Hi, I am trying to shrink my system partition, and have disabled the paging file, system restore, kernel memory, and hibernation (following instructions from Working Around Windows Vista’s "Shrink Volume" Inadequacy Problems - How-To Geek). I have also run boot-time defragmentation. Nevertheless, I am not able to shrink the partition. I am running Ultimate 32-bit. Does anyone know of any possible diagnoses/solutions?


Thanks, dlgn

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi, I am trying to shrink my system partition, and have disabled the paging file, system restore, kernel memory, and hibernation (following instructions from Working Around Windows Vista’s "Shrink Volume" Inadequacy Problems - How-To Geek). I have also run boot-time defragmentation. Nevertheless, I am not able to shrink the partition. I am running Ultimate 32-bit. Does anyone know of any possible diagnoses/solutions?


Thanks, dlgn

To shrink the system partiton you need a third party app like Paragon disk suite (tial is free)


Ken J

 

[mjf]

Other alternative well regarded 3rd party (free software) is:
Partition Wizard

 

[gregrocker]

If Partition Wizard cannot shrink it enough, use Perfect Disk 10 trial version, rightclick partition choose System files to Offline defrag.

 

[dlgn]

I shrank the partition using partition wizard, but now I can no longer boot (am posting using an old xp computer). When I run system repair, it says the disk is corrupt. Is this a common problem?

 

[mjf]

Can you describe exactly what you did and give a "picture" of the disk management before and after shrank the partition. Presumably you just dragged the right partition marker to the left (Move/resize) leaving some unallocated space.
(1) How much room did you leave for the existing in excess of what it was using?
(2) For each partition you can boot up partition wizard to give the written "picture" of the disk. Also for each partition run "Check file system - (check only box initially).

 

[dlgn]

I shrank it 2 gbs. Its total size was 141 gbs. It uses about 64. I re-grew it using the parition wizard boot disk to 141 again, but the problem remains.

 

[mjf]

Can you do all the things I requested. You have to provide more information.
Also to confirm you shrank 1 141 GB partition to 139GB leaving 2 GB unallocated. The partition only uses ~64GB. And you shrank into the unused portion.

 

[dlgn]

I don't know what you mean by booting a partition using the wizard. Partition wizard will not allow me to check the filesystems of any partitions. And yes, that is what happened.

 

[mjf]

Maybe my wording was confusing.
1) Boot using Partition Wizard Boot disk
2) Describe your partition layout that it shows you.
3) For the disk in question select each partition in question
4) Over on the left you will see "Check file system" do it for each partition (don't select fix option).
Tell us what you see.

 

[dlgn]

Partition layout:
Toshiba system volume, ntfs, 1.46 gb, primary
Windows 7, ntfs, 141.76 gb, 65.75 used, active, primary.
unformatted, 3 gb, 3 gb used, primary
unallocated, 2.83 gb.

Partition Wizard won't let me check the filesystem. It may think that the partitions have no drive letters, and I cannot change/give them any.

 

[Nemix]

Try this: Best FREE Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 32 bit & 64 bit. EASEUS free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

Supports for 32-bit and 64-bit, online and boot-time offline.

 

[mjf]

Partition layout:
Toshiba system volume, ntfs, 1.46 gb, primary
Windows 7, ntfs, 141.76 gb, 65.75 used, active, primary.
unformatted, 3 gb, 3 gb used, primary
unallocated, 2.83 gb.

Partition Wizard won't let me check the filesystem. It may think that the partitions have no drive letters, and I cannot change/give them any.

I don't know where the "unformatted" came from.
Windows 7... partition should have a letter (eg. C
Are you saying it won't let you assign it a letter???

What was the structure of your disk before and exactly what did you do.

 

[dlgn]

The unformatted is a partition I planned to install Linux to. I erased it using Partition Wizard and then shrank my 7 partition by dragging the line on the right side to the left about 2 gb.

 

[dlgn]

When I try to boot windows, by the way, a blue screen appears saying at the bottom:
"Technical Information:
*** STOP 0x0000006B (OxC000012F, 0x00000003, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)"

Does anyone to what error that is?

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to repair Win7 boot.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

You may need to mark Win7 Active to get it to repair as the current Toshiba System partition may be corrupted. Use Free Partition Wizard bootable CD or Diskpark from DVD Command Line: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Then run Startup Repair again x3 to see if it will recover the System MBR into Win7 partition successfully.

There is also a wizard on PW CD to Rebuild MBR which sometimes works when other repairs won't.

If these fail, then you can copy out your files using the Install DVD or Repair CD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Then clean reinstall using these tips to get a perfect install: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[mjf]

"I shrank the partition using partition wizard, but now I can no longer boot (am posting using an old xp computer). When I run system repair, it says the disk is corrupt. Is this a common problem?"
He already he tried system repair which would be the obvious next step after partition adjustment. The poster then stated he had disk corruption problems.

dlgn,
do you still have problems or did Startup repair run again fix them?

 

[dlgn]

Unfortunately, startup repair did not fix the problem, nor did the partition wizard's mbr rebuilder. I also tried Microsoft's Solution, deleting the bootcat.cache file, but this didn't work either.

 

[mjf]

I hope you made an image before doing any of this.

You may end up having to do a reimage or clean install.
But based on what you said earlier the Windows 7 partition didn't have a letter assigned. If not use Partition Wizard(PW):
(1) assign it a letter (C) and do a check file system & fix using the PW
(2) Apply these changes
If (1) & (2) work out
Now try the startup repair at least 3 separate times until it reports no errors and boot.

 

[dlgn]

Is there any way to do a repair install without booting?