Server Partition Resizer: Resize Partition without Data Loss

This article introduces a Server partition resizer and helps you resize Windows Server partition in detailed steps.

Lucas

By Lucas / Updated on May 12, 2023

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About Windows Server System

Windows Server, an operating system developed by Microsoft, the first edition is Windows Server 2003, launched on April 24, 2003. Now, the latest long-term service (LTSC) version of Windows Server is Windows Server 2019.

The Server system is built for enterprise management, thus its programs, communications, and storage design… are all for the environment of company management, which also makes it prevail in enterprises.

Why need a Server partition resizer?

Since the Windows Server system is more commonly used for enterprise, one of the approaches to improve the efficiency of the server is to create a reasonable partition. Before you set up the server, you need to consider how to allocate the space, especially the system partition. On the one, if you assign too much, your disk space will be insufficient, on the other, if you give too little, your server will sink into an awkward dilemma of getting slow for it can’t rob enough space. Even if you’ve already been prudent when you divided the space for the partitions, you might also find that the size of the system partition is inadequate. Hence, using a Server partition resizer to resize the partition becomes a required option.

3 methods to resize Server partition

According to different requirements, we list 3 solutions to help you resize the partition. Each method has detailed steps, so don’t be panic, keep reading.

Method 1: Resize Server partition with Diskpart command

You can resize the partition with diskpart command.

Step 1. Insert “cmd” in the search bar and press “Enter”.

Step 2. Type “diskpart” in the command prompt window.

Step 3. Then insert “list volume” and press “Enter”

Step 4. Type “select volume”, then press “Enter”.

Step 5. Type “shrink desired  = (* MB)” to shrink the partition, “extend desired = (* MB) to extend the partition. After this command, press “Enter”.

Shrink volume

Step 6. Type “exit” and press "Enter", then close the window.

Notes:

• There must have unallocated space behind the partition that you want to extend.
• You cannot move the partition if the unallocated space is not behind the partition you wish to extend.

Method 2: Resize with Windows Disk Management

As the Diskpart command, Disk Management is also a common choice when Server users want to resize the partition.

Step 1. Press “Win”+ “X” at the same time, and select “Disk Management” in the menu.

Win X menu

Step 2. Right-click the partition you want to resize, and select “Shrink Volume” or “Extend Volume.”

Server Disk ShrinkVolume

Step 3. Click “shrink/extend” to shrink/extend this partition with maximum available space, or insert an amount of space.

Server Shrink Space

Tips:

1. As you can find in the menu, you can only shrink the partition or delete the partition. And you can’t extend it by shrinking another partition.
2. You can only resize the NTFS partition. FAT32 and any other types of partitions are not allowed.
3. If the partition has unmovable files or due to other reasons, it cannot shrink, even if it has free space.
4. The unallocated space must about the partition you want to extend and it must be on the right side, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to operate.
5. You can’t execute the operation if the selection is gray out.

Method 3: Resize with a magic partition resizer

With so many limits, many users will wonder how to resize the partition as they wish. Thus, we recommend you a third-party software—AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. This powerful & convenient Server partition manager can resize the partition as you want without the limits of the location of unallocated space and type of the partitions. You can shrink and extend the partition, or adjust the partition with this professional tool because it has various functions to attend to your needs.

First, let’s see how to resize the partition with Partition Assistant.

Download SrvDemo Win Server 2008(R2)/2012(R2)/2016/2019
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Step 1. Install and run the software, right-click the partition which has enough free space in the main window, and select “Resize/Move Partition” in the menu.

Resize partition

Step 2. In the pop-up window, drag the right slider bar leftwards to shrink it and generate an allocated space. Then drag the arrow to the right side, then the unallocated space will move to the location behind C drive. Press "OK".

Move and Resize Partition

Step 3. Now, let’s increase the space of the C drive. Like resizing the D partition, right-click C partition and choose "Resize Partition".

Resize destination partition

Step 4. In the new window, drag the slider bar rightwards till the end or type a specific amount of space. Press "OK". This operation will add unallocated space to the C drive

Extend partition

Step 5. You can see the details of the C partition that has been expanded. At last, click "Proceed" and "Apply" in the top left corner to commit the operations.

Proceed

As we mentioned above, this tool has many pragmatic features to help you adjust your partition. You can also use other functions of this software to extend the partition. “Allocate Free Space” is one of the convenient functions with which you can directly allocate the free space from one partition to another one that needs more space if you just want to extend the partition. Here, we use C drive and D drive as examples.

Step 1. Right-click the partition with enough free space, choose the “Allocate Free Space” function in the small menu.

Allocate free space

Step 2. In the pop-up window, you can specify the free space to be allocated, and the destination partition that the free space will be added.

From D drive to C drive

Step 3. In the "Pending Operations" window, you can see the information about your operation. Click “Process” and click "Apply" to execute pending operations.

Proceed

As introduced in the article, Diskpart command and disk Management in Windows Server could only offer users limited services. You can meet lots of problems during the operation processes. AOMEI Partition Assistant Server provides you various possibilities to resize and moderate the partitions without limits. Lots of users can rely on this Server partition resizer to adjust all partitions flexibly, for it supports Windows Server 2003, 2008 (R2), 2012 (R2), 2016, 2019, and SBS 2003, 2008, 2011.

Lucas
Lucas · Staff Editor
I prefer peaceful and quiet life during vacation,but sometimes I watch football match if my favorite club performs brilliantly in that season. And I love reading, painting and calligraphy, thus I send my friends festival handwriting cards every year.