okamon
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possible to extend C drive volume?
I am running server 2008 R2 std in vmware (vsphere 5 essential). Currently the C drive is reaching its capacity. And it doesn't allow me to extend the volume. Any possible way to achive it?
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alienvoice
We solved this issue recently. You need to shutdown the Virtual machine. Add the Virtual machine drive as a an additional drive to another Virtual machine. Then you can add diskspace as per the normal steps. Then remove the drive and re-add it to the original virtual machine. You now have extended said c drive.
Extend the vmdk, create new partition. Move D: stuff on it using robocoy to retain permissions.
Detach D: from the current area and attach it to the new one.
Delete the D: partition. Now you can extend C:
Detach D: from the current area and attach it to the new one.
Delete the D: partition. Now you can extend C:
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SOLUTION
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This is very simple -- and works the same way in a virtual machine as on a real one.
Since the disk in question is a basic disk, it's very easily done using the free demo version of Boot-It BM.
First, download the free demo version [http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-bare-metal.htm ]; and create a bootable CD (or an ISO) using the included MakeDisk utility.
Now boot the VM to Boot-It VM; choosing CANCEL at the first prompt; then Okay.
Go to Partition Work.
Highlight the E: partition (the one before the unallocated space); then click on "Slide", and choose zero free space "Before".
Repeat this for the D: partition (the one after C:) -- again choosing "Slide" with zero free space "Before".
Those two operations will result in your unallocated space being immediately adjacent to the C: partition -- which is what you need.
Now highlight the C: partition and click on ReSize -- choose the max size and let it complete.
Done :-)
Note: The two "Slide" operations will take a while -- all of the data in those partitions has to be moved. The final ReSize will be VERY quick (a couple seconds).
Since the disk in question is a basic disk, it's very easily done using the free demo version of Boot-It BM.
First, download the free demo version [http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-bare-metal.htm ]; and create a bootable CD (or an ISO) using the included MakeDisk utility.
Now boot the VM to Boot-It VM; choosing CANCEL at the first prompt; then Okay.
Go to Partition Work.
Highlight the E: partition (the one before the unallocated space); then click on "Slide", and choose zero free space "Before".
Repeat this for the D: partition (the one after C:) -- again choosing "Slide" with zero free space "Before".
Those two operations will result in your unallocated space being immediately adjacent to the C: partition -- which is what you need.
Now highlight the C: partition and click on ReSize -- choose the max size and let it complete.
Done :-)
Note: The two "Slide" operations will take a while -- all of the data in those partitions has to be moved. The final ReSize will be VERY quick (a couple seconds).
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Actually he has a free space block of 40GB if you look on his screen shot and it seems to me that his questions was - how to allocate this space to C: drive.
ASKER
hi xcomiii, do you mean I should add more virtual hard disk instead doing partition on 1 virtual hard disk?
Yes, next time you setup a new VM, it will be easier for your self if you add seperate VMDK's instead of one big VMDK that you divide within the Windows OS. That will save you time and downtime for the VM's.
Lots of good comments from everyone.. Not sure if we can all agree but I'll try and summarize the best way to fix this!
take a backup of the entire disk (all partitions) before doing anything
run check disk /f on each partition
add another vmdk to this machine
copy the data from the D and E partitions to the new vmdk
delete the D and E partitions
this means that there is now room to resize C
but because C is the system drive this cant be done from within Windows
you will need to boot the VM from an ISO of another tool that you can use to resize the partition.
There are lots of different tools that you can use to to this. Disk part, gparted, paragon hard disk manager etc etc, some of these tools are free some are not.
If you’re comfortable with the command line – try disk part. If you’d prefer a GUI tool – try Paragon HDM
Good luck!
take a backup of the entire disk (all partitions) before doing anything
run check disk /f on each partition
add another vmdk to this machine
copy the data from the D and E partitions to the new vmdk
delete the D and E partitions
this means that there is now room to resize C
but because C is the system drive this cant be done from within Windows
you will need to boot the VM from an ISO of another tool that you can use to resize the partition.
There are lots of different tools that you can use to to this. Disk part, gparted, paragon hard disk manager etc etc, some of these tools are free some are not.
If you’re comfortable with the command line – try disk part. If you’d prefer a GUI tool – try Paragon HDM
Good luck!
One more thing,
Set yourself up a test VM (with the same partition setup) to practice this on before you do this on your production server.
And again - make sure your backups are good!
Set yourself up a test VM (with the same partition setup) to practice this on before you do this on your production server.
And again - make sure your backups are good!