Solved Unallocated Space--Cannot Extend Volume

[mayaiz]

I just changed my laptop drive from a SSD 180 GB to a 500GB + 8GB NAND Flash hybrid drive. I cloned the old drive successfully and now need to extend the Windows partition to include the unallocated space. When I try to using GParted, the Disk Management tools in Windows, and Magic Partition, I get errors.

 

[AddRAM]

Could you post a shot of disk management.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[derekimo]

From the original post...

 

[AddRAM]

You can not extend the windows partition, it has to be next to the unallocated space, but you can make a logical partition with it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/146694-partition-extended-logical-drives.html

Thank You Derek

 

[mayaiz]

Sorry, however, that was not very helpful. I went with Method Two by first changing the Windows 7 partition to logical, then attempting to Shrink that volume. How, now, does this merge my unallocated and Windows 7 partition???

 

[AddRAM]

Did you read post #4 ?

I told you, you cannot merge them because they are not next to each other.

I did not say to make your windows partition Logical. And why did you shrink it ?

Make a Logical Partition out of the unallocated space.

Whatever you do, do not try to make a 5th Primary partition.

 

[mayaiz]

I followed the link that you posted.

The only way that I can create a new partition out of the unallocated space is by converting two other partitions from Primary to Logical.

I can also delete the Hibernation (8 GB SSD) partition and the Lenovo Recovery partition, then easily expand the Windows partition; however, I'd have have to recreate both of those.

 

[gregrocker]

How exactly was the Lenovo Recovery partition transferred to the new HD, because unless you've tested it chances are it will not boot. I also have never heard of an 8gb flash partition so don't know what it would provide except useless confusion. To have a hybid chip to speed up a hard drive requires at least 32gb and is a hidden page file partition. So maybe you can explain those two partitions as they seem like they may be dispensable which would allow you to delete them to extend C easily.

If not once we understand exactly how Recovery is bootable and the 8gb works, we can still show you how to extend C using the unallocated space even if partitions are in the way. How to extend partition easily with Partition Wizard - video help. But we need to know more about those two last partitions first.

 

[mayaiz]

I cloned my last drive onto this one using Clonezilla.

I am able to press F11 on boot in order to access the Lenovo Recovery partition. Since it is not dispensible, I'd like to keep it.

I had assumed that the 8 GB "Hibernation Partition" was the 8 GB SSD on the hybrid drive. This is probably not the case. It was likely cloned from the SSD drive.

I do not get the option to take space from "unallocated" as shown in the video. However, if I change the Lenovo Recovery partition to logical and delete the "Hibernation" partition (since I cannot change it to logical), it appears in the drop down as an option.

 

[gregrocker]

The Recov partition may not boot if you convert it to Logical or move it by extended C into the Unallocated. Better to create a Data partition in the Unallocated space unless you want to test if the changes you discussed will work for Recovery.

Be sure to recreate the Hiberfile on C where it normally is, by disabling and then re-enabling Hibernate. How did it get on that partition? Hibernate - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Forums

Not only is the Lenovo Recovery partition dispensible as I've done on mine, but the install it contains is a bloated factory preinstall which is the worst install of Win7 one can have and which no tech enthusiast would run. I would strongly consider starting fresh with the best install possible following Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[mayaiz]

Thanks, gregrocker. I used partition wizard to (1) convert two partitions (Windows and Lenovo) to logical, (2) delete the hibernation partition, (3) extend the C drive taking space from unallocated, then (4) convert Windows and Lenovo partitions back to primary. After all of the changes were appended, I noticed that the SSHD is too slow for my liking.

I will return this drive and upgrade to a 480 GB internal SSD instead, considering your advice about the 8 GB flash being too small to boost the speed.

Anyway, the problem has been solved.

 

[gregrocker]

Very good choice.

And if you stick with these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
you will have a perfect install for as long as you do.