Hard Drive Resized in Disk Management, But Not Windows Explorer
Points of My Scenario:
1. I have a Windows Server 2003 computer with multiple disk volumes from SAN storage
2. I successfully added storage to one of the volumes and extended the drive using "diskpart"
3. Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) shows the new size successfully in the bottom pane
4. Windows Explorer shows the original smaller size - even after rebooting the server
5. The Extpart.exe utility returns the error "unable to get partition information for current volume"
QUESTION: What can I do to make Windows Explorer show the new drive size?
1. I have a Windows Server 2003 computer with multiple disk volumes from SAN storage
2. I successfully added storage to one of the volumes and extended the drive using "diskpart"
3. Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) shows the new size successfully in the bottom pane
4. Windows Explorer shows the original smaller size - even after rebooting the server
5. The Extpart.exe utility returns the error "unable to get partition information for current volume"
QUESTION: What can I do to make Windows Explorer show the new drive size?
Tony Giangreco
Try Extpart in safe mode. The paging file may be locked of something else in is contention on that drive.
ASKER
Will Windows be able to see SAN volumes while in Safe Mode?
I don't know. I never tried it.
Possibly log into the san device and try it there.
ASKER
Hi TG-TIS: Unfortunately, neither Windows Explorer nor Extpart could read the SAN-based drives while in Safe Mode.
In regards to logging onto the SAN, note that the SAN utilities are able to see the extended drive space already. Even disk management can see it: only Windows Explorer is unable to see it. It must be an OS-level issue.
Thanks so much for the ideas. I'll keep researching.
Kind regards,
Walt
In regards to logging onto the SAN, note that the SAN utilities are able to see the extended drive space already. Even disk management can see it: only Windows Explorer is unable to see it. It must be an OS-level issue.
Thanks so much for the ideas. I'll keep researching.
Kind regards,
Walt
What size did you expand the drive to? Windows 2003 generally won't see anything past 2TB. That's an OS and BIOS limit on most older hardware.
Take a look at these for more info:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2581408
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2010/02/18/understanding-the-2-tb-limit-in-windows-storage.aspx
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=472424
Hope this helps!
Take a look at these for more info:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2581408
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2010/02/18/understanding-the-2-tb-limit-in-windows-storage.aspx
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=472424
Hope this helps!
Shrink the disk by about 10MB. Sometimes when you expand a partition the full amount you won't see the actual size from explorer etc., but if you leave about 10MB unformatted it will show the correct size.
ASKER
@TG-TIS: I am extending the volume from a mere 60 GB (sixty gigabytes) to 80 GB (eighty gigabytes)
@rindi: I could not find a way to shrink the disk on Windows Server 2003. Eventhough Microsoft has an article about how to do it with Diskpart.exe (Diskpart: https://technet.microsoft.
@rindi: I could not find a way to shrink the disk on Windows Server 2003. Eventhough Microsoft has an article about how to do it with Diskpart.exe (Diskpart: https://technet.microsoft.
Have you tried accessing the San from another server or PC to verify the size?
Check if you can shrink it directly from within diskmanagement. On newer OS's that is available there.
One further thing, you should realize is that your OS is very old, and support for it is ending this month (the 14th if I'm not mistaken). After that you won't get any patches anymore and it's vulnerability will increase. You should really replace it asap. That would also make your current issue unimportant.
One further thing, you should realize is that your OS is very old, and support for it is ending this month (the 14th if I'm not mistaken). After that you won't get any patches anymore and it's vulnerability will increase. You should really replace it asap. That would also make your current issue unimportant.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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It's a standard problem, "extend filesystem" is the correct syntax although I guess just "extend" might work.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/832316 (ignore the hotfix info and skip down to the more information section. BTW, not restricted to Win2003, seen it with 2008R2 as well.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/832316 (ignore the hotfix info and skip down to the more information section. BTW, not restricted to Win2003, seen it with 2008R2 as well.
ASKER
I solved my own problem! I have explained the solution in my last comment - which I have accepted.