I am using Windows 8 Single Language 64 bit. I have > 350 GB Unallocated space in my hard disk. I want to add this > 350 GB unallocated space to C: drive where Windows is installed. I have checked using 'Extend Volume…' in 'Disk Management', which is currently disabled. Is there some simple way to do this? Kindly don't answer like backup your data and format your hard disk/drive, use third party software, etc. Kindly help me and ask for any further clarifications if needed.
Windows 8 Disk Management – Add More Disk Space to Local Drive
disk-managementwindows 8
Related Solutions
My verified solution to dealing with unallocated space on a disk (Windows operating system):
- BACK YOUR STUFF UP.
- When the unallocated space is not immediately next to the partition you want to extend, Disk Management falls short on the task. Install the free third-party tool MiniTool Partition Wizard, which seems to have good support and is kept up to date. It's a standalone application that doesn't require any booting from a CD.
- Run the program as administrator (recommended here).
- This step involves moving partitions around. We want the C: partition to be immediately next to the unallocated space.
- Right click on the partition currently next to the unallocated space, blocking the way. Select
Move/Resize. - In the block labeled
Size And Location, there will be a slider. It's unintuitive, but it represents where your partition lives in memory. Drag the center of the slider all the way to the other side (of the unallocated space), making sure none of the byte sizes change (obviously we want the location to change). ClickOK. - Changes haven't occurred yet. Click
Applyat the top. Follow the instructions. - Repeat these steps for any other blocking partitions.
- Right click on the partition currently next to the unallocated space, blocking the way. Select
- Go back into Disk Management (or use the wizard...) and extend the volume.
- Reboot for good measure to make sure things still work.
Some notes about my solution in particular -- I had a partition next to my C: drive that didn't have any recognizable file system format. I'm fairly sure it was a leftover of un-dual-booting a Linux OS long ago. I deleted it and everything was fine.
The 1st partition doesn't matter. It's only the 3rd partition which sits "between" C: and the empty space.
Use something like GParted Live CD to move the whole partition all the way to the right. This will result in empty space immediately next to C: and you'll be able to use "Expand".
(GParted can also resize NTFS partitions itself, but I probably wouldn't recommend doing so for the system partition.)
Best Answer
In this case, I transferred my files back to C: drive, deleted E: drive, extended C: drive and created E: drive again (with the space remaining). This is because a partition can only be extended if there is space next to it (contiguous).