[Towlies]

Recently was able to use a shrink tool in Vista setup to get about 15 GB free and installed Vista on it, I was trying to dual boot my XP and new Vista. That worked out and it successfully got about 15 GB which Vista is on now. Now I am trying to extend the Vista partition size to a higher amount but the build in Vista tool isn't working.

Basically the "Disk Management" tool will let me click the "Shrink Volume" for my bigger partition, it won't let me actually enter any size to shrink it also the available size to shrink is 0 MB.

Don't understand why it won't let me shrink it because there is more then 50 GB free on the bigger volume to shrink.

[allheart55]

This may help.......
PARTITION LOGIC AND WINDOWS VISTA
Partition Logic

DOWNLOAD HERE

Cute Partition Manager (It supports all versions of Windows (9x,ME,NT,2K,XP,Vista),

Cute Partition Manager
DOWNLOAD HERE

[Towlies]

Tried both of those without success...

Partition Logic - Didn't load, got stuck on loading screen
Cute Partition Manager - Had no options to shrink, only to delete or change file system.

Any other ideas?

[allheart55]

Hi Towlies, Here is information that was posted here at TSG by Elvandil, she's a Moderator .

This is an ISO file that has to be burned to disk. It's a Vista Recovery Disk used for partitioning. CLICK HERE AND SAVE TO DESKTOP


Scroll down to post # 6 by Elvandil.MORE PARTITION TOOLS

[jonmcc33]

Windows Vista partition manager works without a problem. No need for 3rd party applications.

Post some screenshots to show us what you see.

[Towlies]

Originally Posted by jonmcc33

Windows Vista partition manager works without a problem. No need for 3rd party applications.

Post some screenshots to show us what you see.

This is a screenshot of what the dialog looks like for shrinking D:\ partition.



Also Disk 1 is a external hard drive so pay that no mind. Also the D:\ partition has about 50 GB free on it.

[jonmcc33]

The Windows Vista partition manager evaluates how much you are able to shrink. I have 165GB free on my 320GB drive but it only allows me to shrink 92GB of that.

Read this: http://vistahelp.blogspot.com/2007/0...ista-disk.html

[Towlies]

Alright, I have 50 GB unused space on my D:\ partition, shouldn't it allow me to shrink some of that down? Which then I can use on the C:\ partition to extend Vista's space.

[allheart55]

Originally Posted by allheart55

Hi Towlies, Here is information that was posted here at TSG by Elvandil, she's a Moderator .

This is an ISO file that has to be burned to disk. It's a Vista Recovery Disk used for partitioning. CLICK HERE AND SAVE TO DESKTOP


Scroll down to post # 6 by Elvandil.MORE PARTITION TOOLS

Originally Posted by jonmcc33

Windows Vista partition manager works without a problem. No need for 3rd party applications.

It is actually neccessary to sometimes use third party partition tools. The Vista partition manager has some major limitations. 1) Shrink doesn't go as far as it could (it often leaves lots of unneeded space) (2) If you make a Logical Partiition you can't resize it once full in order to add more volumes. 3) It doesn't let you access the ~50MB~ first partition that DELL and other computers have a restore zone there. (4) You can't resize the front end, only the back. 5) Vista doesn't move data during its resizing like full function tools. You can't take your C drive and put it on the outside of the disk.

Originally Posted by Towlies

Alright, I have 50 GB unused space on my D:\ partition, shouldn't it allow me to shrink some of that down? Which then I can use on the C:\ partition to extend Vista's space.

The D partition is actually your "restore zone" and I really don't think you want to get rid of that. However, if you don't want it and need that space, you can delete it and /or extend it to C drive. You WILL have to use a third party partition tool, Vista won't allow you to do it! As I said there are quite a few good ones out that work well with Vista and they are free.
See the first part of this post for links to those tools by Elvandil. Good Luck to you!

[Towlies]

That drive its not a restore zone partition its actually where my Windows XP is installed to. This computer is not a OEM so there was never a restore type partition made.

So I am looking to actually resize that parition and make it smaller. I found a tool called "Acronis Disk Director 10" which sounds like it will work with Vista, any good/bad opinions?

[allheart55]

Disk Director will do what you want, but why purchase a tool when there are excellent free ones to do the same thing. "Cute Partition Manager" and "Partition Logic" are both good tools. Both are on Elvandil's list of free partition tools. See post # 6 for tools. HERE

[Towlies]

It worked!

I was able to use "Acronis Disk Director" which was included in a nice CD called "Hiren's BootCD 9.4". In it I was able to resize it and give it more partition size.

The only small issue I got was booting back with Vista, I got a error but it told me how to simply fix it by putting in the Vista install disk and clicking Repair.

After that, it worked perfect....Great to see and Thanks guy.

[allheart55]

Hello Towlies, Glad to hear it, that's great news! You can mark your thread solved. ~ Cindy ~