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resize Windows server 2003 mirrored partition

I have a windows 2003 server, 2 drives, C: and Z:. Drives are SCSI and are mirrored drives. The C: drive has 20 GB with 1GB or less free and drive Z has 60 GB with 38 GB free. The Z drive is basically static at this point. I would like to take 30 GB from the Z Drive and resize the drives to the now be 50 GB and 60 GB. Symantec Endpoint Solution and SQL Express with an account database are on the C: Drive and it is not really desired to try to move these to the Z: Drive.

What is the best procedure to use to accomplish this and what tool should be used. I have seen the Paragan Partition Manager and Avantiis' Partition Command Server, each for about $300 which is within our budget.

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kaskhedikar_tushar

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PowerEdgeTech

For what it is worth, you have several options - ALL of which carry some degree of risk, so have a backup before choosing a method. A third party utility as mentioned above adds some convenience in normally being able to resize leaving data in both partitions intact.

An easy way (if you do not have a third party utility) is to use a 2008 DVD - boot to the DVD and act like you are getting ready to install. When it shows you your partitions and asks where you want to install, you can click on Drive Options, and choose Expand.

If this is Dell server, and you do not have a 2008 DVD or a third party utility, you can use Dell's ExtPart, available at the link below.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R64398&formatcnt=2&fileid=83929

Instructions:
http://ftp.dell.com/app/ExtPart.txt

Must use as Administrator and disk must be Basic (not Dynamic).

** In order to expand the size of C in either of these scenarios, you must first delete the second partition, leaving it as Unpartitioned Space, then restore the data after expanding C and recreating the smaller Z.

cwsoft05

ASKER

Just an update on how the system is setup, to see if any of the comments change:

Disk 0
Dynamic c: 20GB
68.6 GB z: 48.36GB
Online
Mirrored

Disk 1
Dynamic c: 20GB
68.6 GB z: 48.36GB
Online
Mirrored

cwsoft05

ASKER

Does EASEUS work with dynamic volumes.

cwsoft05

ASKER

I ended up using Partition Commander Server V10 instead of the EASUS tool. EASUS did not respond to technical questions and my questions about dynamic volumes was not answered. At Least with Partition Commander, I was able to talk to a technical support person.

Backed up to an image first.

I had to do the process from the boot disk, break the mirror, convert the dynamic volume to a standard volume, do the reallocation, recreate the dynamic volumes and remirror.

PowerEdgeTech

I think both of us provided a correct answer - my post offered several solutions, one of which was third-party utilities - Kash's suggestion. Any of these should have worked, and I can only assume that he could not commit to the project at this time. This type of project does require a commitment of time and resources.