Home --> Products --> Resource --> Shrink and Extend Server 2008

How to shrink and extend Server 2008 partition without losing data?

All the sizes of disk partitions or RAID array virtual drives are carefully allocated while building the Windows 2008 Server, however, things are changing and the scheduled size may not always meet your needs, for example:

1. System partition is too small and no free space is left, you need to extend it.

2. To manage files more effectively, you need to shrink the large partition and create more for different usage.

3. A data partition is too small, but you cannot delete it.

Comparing to the old Server operating systems, Windows Server 2008 provides new feature – Shrink and Extend partition, after reading this article, you'll know the details about this new feature and the difference with third party partition software.

How to shrink Server 2008 partition?

Shrink partition under Disk Management

Step 1: Right-click Partition C and select "Shrink Volume..."

Shrink Windows 2008 partition

In the pop up window, enter the amount of space to shrink, the maximum space can be used to shrink is 4644MB.

Enter amount to shrink
Windows 2008 partition shrank

Shrink feature Comparison

Windows 2008 Server Disk Management Partition Assistant Server

1. Can only shrink a little space, so you'll waste the free space if you won't use such a large partition.

2. The Unallocated space that just shrank can only be used to create new partition behind the system partition.

1. The maximum space can be shrank is all free space of this partition.

2. You may drag either left or right border of this partition to shrink, so the Unallocated space can be created behind or at the end of this partition.

3. This Unallocated space can be used to create new partition or extend any other partition.

How to extend Windows 2008 Server partition under Disk Management?

Step1: Right-click the partition you want to extend and select "Extend Volume…"

Extend Server 2008

Step2: In the pop-up window, enter the amount to extend from the total Unallocated space.

Extend Server 2008 drive

After that, the system C drive will be extended.

Server 2008 extended

Disadvantages of Disk Management to shrink and extend Server 2008

To extend a partition, there must be unallocated space behind it. The Shrink feature could shrink partition and get some Unallocated space, but you cannot extend C drive by shrinking Partition D, as the Unallocated space is behind Partition D. So the Shrink and Extend feature is useless to extend the system C drive, except that it could "move" the partitions.

Extend Server 2008 unavailable Extend Server 2008

There are many disadvantages in Disk Management, comparing with Partition Magic Server software:

Features Partition Assistant Server Server 2008 Disk Management
Extend/Shrink contiguous NTFS partition Yes Yes
Extend/Shrink nonadjacent NTFS partition Yes No
Extend/Shrink FAT partition Yes No
Create, delete, format partition Yes Yes
Change drive letter Yes Yes
Move partition Yes No
Copy disk/partition Yes No
Wipe Disk/Partition/Unallocated space Yes No

How to shrink and extend partition by Partition Assistant Server

Step 1, Launch Partition Assistant Server, you'll see all disks and partitions that connected to your Server and free space, used space and other properties of each partition.

Resize and extend 2008

Right-click the data partition and select "Resize", in the pop-up window, drag the left border rightwards to shrink it.

Shrink data partition

There will be some Unallocated space behind the system partition.

Unallocated space created

Step 2, Right-click C drive and select "Resize", in the pop-up window, drag the right border rightwards to hold the Unallocated space.

Extend system partition

Click "Apply" to proceed, done. After several minutes, you'll have a "new" Server that can be used for a long time again.

Partition resized and extended

How to allocate free space from any data partition and add to C drive?

Benefits to extend Server 2008 partition with Partition Magic Server software

  • All-in-one Partition Solution - All your partition and disk maintenance requirements can be fulfilled.
  • Enhanced Data Protecting - No Data Loss
  • Hot Resize - Extend NTFS system partition without rebooting
  • Easy to use & user-friendly interface
  • Trustworthy, many Fortune 500 companies select it to maintain their Servers
  • Read More...

Related Articles