Vista SP1 Partition Resizing

Here's the typical method:

http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vista

Alternative method:

http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/04/07/how-to-work-with-partitions-in-windows-vista-xp-when-disk-management-doesnt-work

Enjoy!

Are you performing the steps in the following way??

http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vista

Cheers,

Bob

Now, the major problem with using Windows Vista's built-in tool for extending partitions is that in order to extend a partition, the free space must be immediately to the right of the partition you want to extend, like this:

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPFFFFFFFFFFF

where the P's are the partition to extend, the F's are the free space you get by shrinking a partition. When you shrink a partition, the free space is created immediately to the right of the partition you performed the shrink on, like this:

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSFFFFFFFFFFFFF

So how can you move the free space from after one partition to after another partition?  How can you change this:

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSFFFFFFFFFFFFF

to this:

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

You can't with the Vista tool. But you can with a shareware tool called Boot-It NG:

Boot-It NG is a shareware partition management utility that can be used to manage the shrinking and extending of partitions better than Vista's built-in tool.  It has an old DOS style interface, but it works well.  You can download a fully functional trial version here:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm

I downloaded the free trial version and burned it to a CD with the included program MakeDisk.exe in order to be able to move some unallocated space immediately behind one of my four partitions that I wanted to extend.  I just booted from the CD, clicked Cancel when it asked whether I wanted to install the program on the hard drive, then clicked on the menu choice for "Partition Work", and then used the "partition slide" concept to move the unallocated space.  The TerabyteUnlimited site has a good deal of documentation, tutorials, answers to FAQs, videos, etc. for how to use the program:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/support-bootit-next-generation.htm

A good overall article about the various things you can do with Boot-It NG, together with some screenshots, can be found here:

http://members.shaw.ca/bootitng/

Is your Vista 32 bit? If yes then download free version of Partition Manager from this link: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express/screenshots.html
It must help you to perform the requested operation in nice GUI.

niarb_innel, any feedback?

Hi Lee,

I used a product titled EASUES Partition Master  I now have a partition that is raw.  It has music files only.  Is there anyway to save this partition and its data?

Yes, there is a way to recover your data. Use undelete option from Partition Manager but not that EASUS made one. Get one from here: www.partition-manager.com
Delete existing RAW formatted partition and then run Undelete Partition wizard to the free space block. It will find and let you recover NTFS formatted system with your data on it.

One problem with Vista and older style partition tools is that unless you use Vista's own builtin tool Vista WILL complain about the new size of the partition and will probably fall over on boot.

I suggest tread very carefully if using non-standard tools and ALWAYS make sure you have a backup of your OS. (And data!)

Just to clarify before I get shot down in flames - this applies to the System Drive of a Windows Vista machine, not others.

I now have two partitions: C: (Formatted) and D: (Not formatted).  Is the www.partition-manager.com
alternative still valid?

Did you increase C: since problem occurred? If not then YES, it is still valid. All you need is to delete D: unformatted drive so later to search on free unallocated space for the partition in state when it was NTFS formatted.
Where did your E: drive go?
Could you take a screen shot of Windows Disk Management and upload it here? There I could provide more precise instructions.

I don't believe so.  E: is still there ... its my swap file.  Attached is the screen shot:

I'm sorry D; is the raw partition I want to recover.  E: is my swap file.  If I delete D: it says I will lose all my data which I do not want to do.

Another screen shot attached.
screen-shot-2.jpg

You didn't attach it. At least I do not see any screen shot. Anyhow if space of D: was not used by any of other partitions then you have chance to restore the partition to its previous state.
Just as a test download this trial version and install it: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-professional/download.html
Then run the program and find Volume Explorer tool there. Try to browse your D: drive with it, does it see the content of partition? If not then we will go on with Partition Manager - delete\undelete.

Ok now I see it. Sure it will warn you about data loss, it is standard warning. Go on and then in Partition Manager full window right click on empty space and select Undelete Partition wizard. Let it run till it finds your partition in NTFS file system.

1st screen shot attached.
I cannot find Volume Explorer tool
Screen-Shot.jpg

Look this link: http://www.paragon-software.com/export/sites/paragonsoftware.com/images/screenshots/en/db-pro/main.jpg
In the middle of the picture you should see vertical tabs like Properties, Volume Explorer and Disk Editor. Note, I am referring to trial version as I consider it could work for you if the damage to partition is not severe.
If it happens that partition is damaged greatly then use delete\undelete.

Attached is another screen shot stating that it cannot find unallocated space

Unallocated space will be created by deletion of unformatted D: drive. Did you delete it already?

The partition I want to recover is E: (see attached).  The trial version will not allow me to delete the partition.
Screen-Shot.jpg

Are you operating with Trial version of Partition Manager? Seemingly they have disabled this feature in Partition Manager. Then please go on with Drive Backup 9.0 I gave the link to: www.drive-backup.com
Download the trial version of Drive Backup 9.0 Professional and delete your E: partition.
Then apply Recover Lost Partitions by right click on free space and recover the NTFS formatted partition.
Also, I recommend you contacting their support, they are quite quick in answering.

I wish I could say I'm done and assign you the points.  But, I installed the software and deleted E:.  Now Drive Backup is showing  a G: NTFS  partition (attached) , but Windows Explorer continues to show an E: drive.
Screen-Shot-Drive-Backup.jpg