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Unable to extend System Drive
- Thread starter cheer8923
- Start date
Nelviticus
Programmer
I think with the built-in Windows tools you can only extend forwards, not backwards. You'd need something like Partition Magic to do that.
If you Google windows 7 100mb partition you'll see a lot of posts about this, with some people saying it's fine to remove it and others saying don't touch it. Unless you really need that 100MB I'd just leave it.
Regards
Nelviticus
If you Google windows 7 100mb partition you'll see a lot of posts about this, with some people saying it's fine to remove it and others saying don't touch it. Unless you really need that 100MB I'd just leave it.
Regards
Nelviticus
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***FIRST*** a word of caution. Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that it is a totally unused partition? Because that sounds like the system boot partition that Windows now installs when installing the system. If you changed this, or know for sure it's empty, proceed. If you're not sure, it isn't worth messing with. Also, even if you are sure, be aware that things CAN go wrong in doing such, and if something does go wrong, your system WILL NOT START (most likely). In other words, you'd not be able to get back into the same Windows installation without some fixing, if something were to go wrong during the process. Here's one hint: Don't do it during a big thunderstorm or ice storm or something.![[wink]](/data/assets/smilies/wink.gif "[wink] [wink]")
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Now, on to the how:
Use a 3rd party app at boot.
Here's the easiest way, assuming you don't own an Acronis Disk Director disk or Norton Ghost disk...
Download The Ultimate Boot CD from one of the "Mirror Sites" a little way down the page at this link.
Burn it to a CD, using ImgBurn if you don't have something for burning image files already.
Boot your system with that. (you may need to change your boot settings in your BIOS to get into the disk. If you're unsure about this, just try booting from the CD. If you don't get the CD, but Windows, then that means you've got to change your boot order in BIOS/Setup.
Look under the menu item/group, "Partition Management", as displayed in the list here.
Select GParted if you don't already have a preferred tool from past experience.
Follow the instructions here or here for resizing.
When finished, reboot your system (if you didn't do that already), and see if it is correct.
***FIRST*** a word of caution. Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that it is a totally unused partition? Because that sounds like the system boot partition that Windows now installs when installing the system. If you changed this, or know for sure it's empty, proceed. If you're not sure, it isn't worth messing with. Also, even if you are sure, be aware that things CAN go wrong in doing such, and if something does go wrong, your system WILL NOT START (most likely). In other words, you'd not be able to get back into the same Windows installation without some fixing, if something were to go wrong during the process. Here's one hint: Don't do it during a big thunderstorm or ice storm or something.
****************************************************
Now, on to the how:
Use a 3rd party app at boot.
Here's the easiest way, assuming you don't own an Acronis Disk Director disk or Norton Ghost disk...
Download The Ultimate Boot CD from one of the "Mirror Sites" a little way down the page at this link.
Burn it to a CD, using ImgBurn if you don't have something for burning image files already.
Boot your system with that. (you may need to change your boot settings in your BIOS to get into the disk. If you're unsure about this, just try booting from the CD. If you don't get the CD, but Windows, then that means you've got to change your boot order in BIOS/Setup.
Look under the menu item/group, "Partition Management", as displayed in the list here.
Select GParted if you don't already have a preferred tool from past experience.
Follow the instructions here or here for resizing.
When finished, reboot your system (if you didn't do that already), and see if it is correct.
rclarke250
Technical User
As stated above, this is the new system boot partition for windows 7. From experience, if you delete it, after windows 7 won't start, and you get that nice rush of adrenaline. Get your install disk, and windows 7 has a very good repair install utility that will hopefully save your butt, it did me. 
For the record, I deleted mine when I was beta testing the RC for 7 and was dual booting xp, and the beta.
I freaked out for about 2 minutes, than ran the RC disk again, and about 5 minutes later I was able to boot into both OSes again.
For the record, I deleted mine when I was beta testing the RC for 7 and was dual booting xp, and the beta.I freaked out for about 2 minutes, than ran the RC disk again, and about 5 minutes later I was able to boot into both OSes again.
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