[SOLVED] How to extend partition

[computer_nugget2]

so basically i used clone zilla to clone my 500gb ssd to a newer faster larger 1tb nvme ssd and it kep the same partition size and what not but now i have half of the new ssd unallocated. but the unalocated part is all the way to the right past the recovery partition. anything i can do to extend the partition or be able to use that space without making another partition on the same drive?

https://ibb.co/0j7S3Lh

 

[Lafong]

Windows Disk Management can't do it because of the intervening recovery partition.

Use a third party tool; Minitool Partition Wizard is a good one.

 

[computer_nugget2]

Windows Disk Management can't do it because of the intervening recovery partition.

Use a third party tool; Minitool Partition Wizard is a good one.

is that one free? lol

im willing to try anything that is free. i just dont want to have any extra drive listed on my computer. but let me give that a shot.

 

[Lafong]

Free

https://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html

 

[USAFRet]

Using CloneZilla will get that result.

A more modern tool such as Macrium Reflect, you could have fixed/prevented that during the clone process.

 

[USAFRet]

As an emergency fall back, is the original 500GB drive still viable?

Manipulating partitions like this always carries a risk of total fail.

 

[computer_nugget2]

As an emergency fall back, is the original 500GB drive still viable?

Manipulating partitions like this always carries a risk of total fail.

i its still available i just cloned it a couple of hours ago lol

 

[SkyNetRising]

im willing to try anything that is free. i just dont want to have any extra drive listed on my computer. but let me give that a shot.

Just delete recovery partition using diskpart. Extend partition C: after that.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 2​

list partition​

select partition 3​

(select 522MB recovery partition)​

delete partition override​

exit​

And done.

 

[computer_nugget2]

Just delete recovery partition using diskpart. Extend partition C: after that.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 2​

list partition​

select partition 3​

(select 522MB recovery partition)​

delete partition override​

exit​

And done.

wow i didnt know i could delete that partition and extend it that way lol i already used the program the bro listed and it worked already. i had to format the empty space extend it main partition and then merge the left over space into the recovery partition. but i will keep your method in mind for future use. that being said i want to thank everyone for the quick responses.

 

[computer_nugget2]

okay so i had to do the extend process a couple of times and this was the end result using that free program the bro listed.

https://ibb.co/7X9rsY9

 

[computer_nugget2]

Just delete recovery partition using diskpart. Extend partition C: after that.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 2​

list partition​

select partition 3​

(select 522MB recovery partition)​

delete partition override​

exit​

And done.

if i do this method in the future the recovery partition will automatically be made again wont it? after i extend the partition that i want?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't think that recovery partition is functional anymore after those manipulations.
Just delete it.

 

[computer_nugget2]

I don't think that recovery partition is functional anymore after those manipulations.
Just delete it.

well what i ended up doing was formating the unalocated space then extending the previous partition into that empty space as much as i could until the program didnt let me anymore it left a couple hundred megabytes left and then i simply expanded the recovery partition into that left over space. i dont know if that will affect that partition or not. but it seemed like the best thing to do at the time.

 

[Math Geek]

this is the one i use to do such things

AOMEI Partition Assistant | Partition Manager Software for Windows PC and Server

As alternative to partition magic software, AOMEI Partition Assistant is an easy partition manager and complete hard disk management tool for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.

www.diskpart.com

takes a while as it has to move all kinds of data around but they all do that.

 

[SkyNetRising]

well what i ended up doing was formating the unalocated space

I don't know, what that means. You can't format unallocated space.

 

[computer_nugget2]

this is the one i use to do such things

AOMEI Partition Assistant | Partition Manager Software for Windows PC and Server

As alternative to partition magic software, AOMEI Partition Assistant is an easy partition manager and complete hard disk management tool for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.

www.diskpart.com

takes a while as it has to move all kinds of data around but they all do that.

i was looking into this software as well. but bro gave me the other one first and used that one.

 

[computer_nugget2]

I don't know, what that means. You can't format unallocated space.

i had to create a second partition and extend the first partition into that one as much as i could then once there was around 100mb left i then merged the second partion i made into the recovery partition.

 

[SkyNetRising]

i had to create a second partition and extend the first partition into that one as much as i could then once there was around 100mb left i then merged the second partion i made into the recovery partition.

No. You had to delete recovery partition and extend C: partition.

No creation of additional partitions necessary,
No merging of partitions necessary.

It's like fixing your teeth and going in through your rear end (pardon my french).

 

[USAFRet]

i was looking into this software as well. but bro gave me the other one first and used that one.

It is rarely a bad thing to know new tools.

But with the proper clone tool and procedures, this would never have been an issue.

 

[computer_nugget2]

No. You had to delete recovery partition and extend C: partition.

No creation of additional partitions necessary,
No merging of partitions necessary.

It's like fixing your teeth and going in through your rear end (pardon my french).

i used the program and didnt have to delete nothing.

 

[computer_nugget2]

It is rarely a bad thing to know new tools.

But with the proper clone tool and procedures, this would never have been an issue.

so what cloning program you recommend. for future reference?

 

[USAFRet]

so what cloning program you recommend. for future reference?

Macrium Reflect.
Or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung drive.

Thusly:
-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[pyor66]

Hi, Thanks for the very helpful comments.

I had a similar problem. My main computer PSU was down and I needed to temporarily use the less powerful computer connected to my Media Centre. Space on drive C: was too small and drive D: unnecessarily large. The recovery partition was between D: and C: I used diskpart to delete the Recovery partition but this left drive D: between C: and the newly unallocated space.

I downloaded the free version of Paragon Partition Manager, having used it some years ago in its original form as Partition Magic. This permitted me to move the unallocated partition next to C: and extend C: into it. I left a hundred or so GB unallocated in case of future need.

From a headache it turned out to be easy peasy.

Regards