1 Topic by bendfella (edited by bendfella 2010-03-23 17:54:37)

  • bendfella
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Topic: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

So, here's the problem. I'm using Windows 7 and I have two HDD's. One of 320 GB, and the other of 80 GB, where 7 is installed.
The 80 GB HDD is split in two partitions, C:\, the system partition, 10 GB, which I want to extend and another one of 66 GB, which I want to shrink.


It looks like this:

/dev/hda1        ntfs             11.73GiB   10.59GiB    147.85 MiB     boot
/dev/hda2        extended      54.03GiB                                      lba
     /dev/hda5   ntfs             54.03GiB   51.54GiB    2.58 GiB
unallocated                         9.77GiB


I first shrinked /dev/hda5, then /dev/hda2, to put the free space between /dev/hda1 and /dev/hda2, but, somehow, it didn't worked. The unallocated space is still after /dev/hda2.
Did I do something wrong?
Thanks!

L.E.: oops, seems like I was using 0.3.4. This might be the problem big_smile

2 Reply by bendfella

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Re: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

Still the same output with 0.5.2.
Firstly shrinked hda5, then hda2, but the unallocated space is still under hda2.
Any help?

3 Reply by class413

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Re: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

0.3.4-x versions are rather old now. It is safer to use the latest stable version.

The GParted screen shows the exact partition and unallocated space placement.

If the unallocated space is at the end of the disk space, you need to:
1. Expand the extended partition /dev/hda2 to take the unallocated.
2. Resize the logical partition /dev/hda5 to take that space at the end of the extended, and move the start of that same partition to the left, to leave free space at the left part of /dev/hda2.
3. Shrink /dev/hda2 to leave that free space outside (just next to /dev/hda1).
4. Expand /dev/hda1, keeping the "round to cylinders" box unchecked (this will leave the start sector of the partition with no change).

After each step, it is better to reboot into windows at least twice and leave the system to check the partition as needed.

(I move the thread to the live media section, because I guess that you worked with the livecd).

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

4 Reply by gedakc

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Re: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

See the tip section under Resizing Partitions in the GParted Manual.

5 Reply by class413

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Re: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

I forgot to add that you have too little free space in your partitions. This means that you can't defrag them properly, as a free space of 15% is needed for this. If you can free some disk space by moving data files to other media, you could make the operations more efficiently and safely too.
In any case, we always recommend backup of all important files, because a broken resizing operation can damage the filesystem.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

6 Reply by bendfella

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Re: [SOLVED]Can't extend system partition

Thanks a lot, guys!
Works like a charm.
You saved from a very unwanted format smile. I wasn't aware I could "pull" the free space to the start of the partition.
Very useful software, added it to my collection.