The distributions of the Windows 7, Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems include a graphical utility that allows you to change the space allocated to a hard disk partition. The corresponding function (Extend Volume) has been added to the Disk Management snap-in.
Instructions
Step 1
Log in as an administrator. Subsequent actions must be carried out on behalf of a user whose account has sufficient rights to change the system settings of the OS. The order of operations will be the same for Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008.
Step 2
Create a backup copy of the partition you are changing. It is better to make a full backup, but if this is not possible, then you can limit yourself to saving the most critical data in this section.
Step 3
Right-click the My Computer shortcut on the desktop and select Computer Management from the context menu. A window will open in which you need to go to the "Storage Devices" section and click the "Disk Management" line. The utility will take a few seconds to create a map of all permanent and removable media in the computer. When this procedure is complete, highlight the partition that you want to expand. In the context menu that pops up when you right-click on a section, you will see this item, which has been added to newer versions of Windows, - "Expand disk". Choose it.
Step 4
Click the "Next" button in the launched section extension dialog. In the next dialog box, specify the additional amount of disk space in megabytes to add to the existing size of the partition. At the same time, it is acceptable that the total size of this partition even exceeds the physical capacity of the disk as a whole, if there is sufficient free space on the other disks. However, it should be borne in mind that with such a partition, the potential for data loss will double, since if one of the disks fails, the data of the entire partition will be lost, including those stored on the other disk.
Step 5
Click "Next". After that, the process of restructuring the data on the computer media in accordance with the new settings will begin. It will not take too long and will not require a subsequent reboot of the system.
