Windows 7 Partitioning Limitations

[feetand nches]

I was just trying to reduce the size of my C Drive and was not able to reduce it lower than 251558 MB out of 476838 MB? I was quite sure I had done this a few times before so what gives? I'm using the inbuilt Disk Management which I've also used before, but maybe not in this same way.

I was trying to bring it down to about 150GB and use the other space for a Linux Install. Again, computers make me feel so stupid.

Operating System
Windows 7 Pro 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 3770 @ 3.40GHz 30 °C
Ivy Bridge 22nm Technology
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-28)
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 051FJ8 (CPU 1) 28 °C
Graphics
DELL U2412M (1920x1200@64Hz)
Intel Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (Dell)
WD Black 2.5 500GB Laptop Drive

 

[iko22]

The answer lies in the message: the volume cannot be shrunk further where there are unmovable files present.

 

[SIW2]

You can try a 3rd party defrag - sometimes they can help.

Certain way is to use 3rd party partition manager - Aomei standard version will probably do. Pretty sure there is also Aomei partititon assistant Pro version giveaway atm.

How to Resize Partition with AOMEI Partition Assistant?

giveaway

Free Partition Manager Software - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard

Free edition is included in this boot media:

17514x86.iso
17514x64-v11.iso

 

[johnhoh]

here's a page that guides you through this using minitool partition wizard
Two Easy and Effective Ways to Free Shrink Windows Partition
Download MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition - MajorGeeks

 

[feetand nches]

The answer lies in the message: the volume cannot be shrunk further where there are unmovable files present.

That would be true if there were less available free space. There is clearly 423.73 Free Space out of 465.66, so I should be able to do this no problem.

 

[feetand nches]

I will use a third party tool if needed.

 

[johnhoh]

That would be true if there were less available free space. There is clearly 423.73 Free Space out of 465.66, so I should be able to do this no problem.

Windows does not know how to move unmovable files when you have free space, which is why I posted the links above

 

[feetand nches]

I understand johnhoh. I decided to do a Disk Cleanup and a Defrag to see if that would help. I wish I would have done a Drive Format before I did a Reinstall. I used a Drive that had Linux on it and don't know if that would matter or not. Maybe some of you can tell by looking at the Defrag Report.

Under File Name at the bottom Left, can any of you tell me if this is a Linux File, though it does say "System Volume Information" to the Right, I wouldn't know if that matters.

I guess I can just move forward with the Third Party tools to Re-Partition, do you guys think this will break anything, and is this somewhat Normal, have you guys seen this before?

I also wonder if I can, or should, make these pics smaller, or don't it matter?

 

[townsbg]

I don't think that a defrag will help because if windows thinks that it can't move a critical file, it won't. Since they integrated resizing starting with Vista there has always been that limitation. Third party programs don't have that limitation because they perform all the work when windows isn't running. I've used Eausus. Free partition manager software to resize partitions - EaseUS(R) Partition Master Free

 

[feetand nches]

That is what I'm going to do, I just want to know if I did something wrong that causes this? I normally don't wipe a drive until Install, then Delete all partitions and make sure the drive is ALL UNALLOCATED before moving forward.

 

[feetand nches]

I think I will look at this later and try to follow it.
Can't shrink a volume with lot's of empty space

 

[SIW2]

You know what to do. The instructions were posted earlier. 3rd party partition programs, such as Aomei Partition Assistant will move the files. It has be done from outside of windows, e.g. boot media.

An alternative is to make an image using a 3rd party program, e.g. Aomei backupper ( free version will do the job), or macrium, or O&O or Diskgenius, and several others. Then use boot media to delete the existing windows partition, which then becomes unallocated space. Create a smaller partition from that space. Restore the image to the smaller partition.

Partitioning and Imaging programs will make their own boot media.

 

[SIW2]

On reflection, you are probably best advised to use the imaging method.

That means if something goes horribly wrong several months down the line, e.g. hard drive failure - you have that image to go back to. Most likely, once you have got the hang of it, you will have made images since - which is even better.

Windows has a built in imaging function, which is pretty clever, but not very flexible. Not really suitable for what you want to do.

 

[feetand nches]

#6 I already said that I would do this. What I want to know now is why did this happen? Everything else I got handled. I don't like the fact that there is now 5.88GB in the middle of that drive. I know this happens but had never seen it on one of my own drives till now.

 

[SIW2]

Shadow copies, possibly. You can delete them. See if that helps.

vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /all

 

[feetand nches]

Done, I can't be bothered with making things perfect this time around, the partitioning is done.

Luckily this is not my Main pc and will be torching it at some point if it gets messed up. That being said, I just installed Windows 7 and didn't want to reinstall again right now. I'll beat it up for a while and see what happens. I will be using it for Linux also and copying customer files, which are sometimes questionable. It will be Imaged also, but you know how it goes, I may get lazy and forget to image.

 

[SIW2]

Done, I can't be bothered with making things perfect this time around, the partitioning is done.

What did you use to do it?

 

[feetand nches]

MiniTool

Before using MiniTool I deleted Shadow Copy Files via "Disk Cleanup" then after using minitool I don't see the Unmovable Files anymore from Disk Defrag.