Extending the C: drive for a VMware Windows 2003 Server.

How to Resize a Partition after Disk Expansion

To re-size a disk, select the Virtual Machine, Select Edit Settings, Highlight the Virtual Hard Disk, and select Edit there is an option to increase size. This only changes the physical size of the virtual disk, it does not grow the partition on the disk. See below.

IDE disks do not support: Expansion, and need to be converted to SCSI first.

Before making any changes to the partition structure of the disk, ensure you have a full backup, not a snapshot.

1. Resize partition with Gparted Live CDROM

i. Download Gparted Live CDROM (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php).

ii. Upload the cdrom iso to the vSphere ESX/ESXi datastore.

iii. Mount the cdrom or iso on the virtual machine.

iv. Shutdown and restart the virtual machine booting from the cdrom.


v. Select Resize partition.

Here is a Tutorial Walkthorugh of how to resize a partition with a GParted Live CDROM

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry/resize/resizing.htm

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-gparted-to-resize-your-windows-vista-partition/


2. Using DISKPART.exe

(the system disk cannot be re-sized within the virtual machine, but other disks can be resized, eg. D: E: etc

i. Shutdown the virtual machine.
ii. Remove disks from virtual machine (but do not delete them).
iii. Add the disks to another virtual machine.
iv. Start up virtual machine.
v. Use Diskpart in the OS to extend disks.

see here for details on Diskpart usage

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590

3.Use VMware Converter Standalone to complete a V2V (virtual to virtual conversion).
there is an option to increase or decrease the size of target disks on the desintation at conversion.

Download VMware vCenter Converter here

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_vcenter_converter_standalone/4_0

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.x Documentation

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/converter_pubs.html

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 4.3 User Guide

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_43_guide.pdf

For the conversion steps, read fellow Expert Bestway's article.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/VMWare/A_3639-VMware-vConverter-P2V-for-Windows-Servers.html

Best Practice Video Guide here

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004588

Also the VMware KB here

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004071

Probably the easiest is to use vCenter Converter Standalone:
https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=converter
Guide: http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/converter_pubs.html

Best Practice/Troubleshooting:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1004588

Or, you can download GParted: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php, place the ISO on the datastore your VM is on, resize the virt disk to the size you want it to be, reboot the VM and it should go into the GParted app. Then, you can slide the partition to the full size.

Regards,
~coolsport00

Is the C partition the only partition on the physical volume?

Use Disk Management, it will show you the partition options you have, if you are able to resize C it will let you:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/resize-a-partition-for-free-in-windows-vista/
(i know it says windows vista, but the tool hasn't changed much since XP)

If you are unable to resize the partition, or you have multiple partitions on the drive, you will most likely need to back up the C partition, (*and any other partitions on the drive*) and then reformat and repartition the drive with a bigger C partition. This will destroy all of your data, so be sure to back up. After the repartition, restore your C backup and then rebuild the MBR so that your computer will boot into windows. (depending on how you repartition the drive, the MBR may not need reinstalling)

Good luck :)

If your VM doesn't go into the GParted ISO, you may need to go into the VM's BIOS & change the Boot Order. The easiest way to do so is go into the VM's Edit Settings area -> Options tab, Boot Options. Check the box to force entry into BIOS at next resart. When in the BIOS, go to the Boot Order and make sure CD Drive is 1st in the list.