Jun262011

How can I allocate free hard drive space after shrinking my C drive in Windows?

Anjani Kumar Gupta asks:

I shrank my C drive, which volume has been 278 GB, into a new drive of 100 GB. Now it is showing 100GB unallocated, but now I have a problem that I can’t allocate the volume. It is not going to be formatted. It shows an error. Help me, what should I do?



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20 Answers -

0 votes

Tina

June 26, 2011

Anjani,

I don’t quite understand your question.

Are you trying to create a new partition / volume from the unallocated space?
Or are you trying to add the free space to another existing partition / volume?

Shouldn’t it show 178GB unallocated space if you shrank C to 100GB?
What size is C now?

What are you trying to format? You cannot format unallocated space I think.
What is the error it is showing, what does it say?

Which version of Windows are you using?

You might also want to look into these two links:
How To Shrink & Extend Volumes Or Partitions in Windows 7
How can I activate an unallocated volume on an external hard drive after shrinking one of the partitions?

Anjani Kumar Gupta

No ma’am….actually i shrank c drive. I was trying to create a new drive of 100gb. Firstly i opened manage then disk management and i shrank c drive.
Initially my c drive was of 278 gb. After creating a new volume of 100 gb it is now become of 178 gb.
In disk management an unallocated drive is showing of 100gb.
But it is not showimg in my computer.
How will i allocate this?
please help me ma’am……Thank u for your support

June 26, 2011
FIDELIS

Hello, you will not be able to see it through Computer/My Computer until either it is formatted or it is converted to free space.  You will have to allocate the space using disk management.  Use disk management to create a new partition on your unallocated space.  Once unallocated space is formatted and partitioned, a drive letter will be provided and you would be able to see it on Computer/My Computer.  

June 26, 2011
Anjani Kumar Gupta

but it is not being formate…..when i formate it then it is showing a message that “if you will continue then your disk(s) will be changed into dynamic disk”
when i click on the continue button then it shows a message that”your operating system is not supportable for dynamic disk”
i am using window7…….thank u for your response

June 27, 2011
FIDELIS

Hello, how many partitions are on your system?  Windows has a limit of four primary partitions, or 3 primary and an extended partitions where you can create as many as 128 logical volumes as long as there is enough space.  If you do not want that warning about dynamic disks to pop up, you will have to make sure there are only 4 partitions on your system.

June 27, 2011
Blochsabir

Tina Ma`m 
i partition my hdd completely in window 7 but now my os failed…
please regard me….

January 18, 2012
Tina

Blocksabir,

what exactly did you do to your HDD? How did you partition it? Do you think that caused your Windows to fail? Any error messages or symptoms?

For a fast and thorough answer, I recommend to ask a  new question.

January 19, 2012
mayank

how can i delete the unallocated disc. i have sme problem but i cannot erase the unallocated disc whic has taken 100gb of space

April 26, 2012
0 votes

Anonymous

June 26, 2011

Change, add, or remove a drive letter
Right-click the partition or drive that you want to give a letter, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-add-or-remove-a-drive-letter

Create and format a hard disk partition
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Create-and-format-a-hard-disk-partition

go to start >> run >> diskmgmt.mscright click the unpartitioned ( unallocated ) space and follow on-screen instructions…to create a partitionRight-click the “Unallocated” disk from the list of hard drives installed on your computer and then click the “New Simple Volume” option from the menu.
Click on the “Next” button in the Wizard that appears.
Leave the default drive size and then click the “Next” button.
Click the “Next” button in the “Format Partition” window. Wait for the computer to format your hard drive. This could take up to 20 minutes depending on the size of your drive

hover the mouse pointer over this DISK and right click. It will ask if you want to activate or initialize this drive. Click “OK”. Now move your mouse to the small area to right where it now states something like “100GB unallocated” and right click and it will lauch a new window with the PARTITION WIZARD. Follow the instructions using default settings and you drive will be ready to be used! Hope this helps all of us without a whole lot of computer savy

Partition Find and mount
http://findandmount.com/

0 votes

Tina

June 29, 2011

Anjani,

was your problem with allocating the free space solved in the meantime? What was wrong? Please update us on how you fixed it or whether you need more help. Thank you!

0 votes

Eoyugi

July 22, 2011

hi i use Windows 7 Starter and i had followed your instructions step by step but am still getting an error: dynamic disks are not supported by this operating system or server configuration.Dymanic disks are not supported on clusters.What next?

0 votes

Jraa23

August 21, 2011

have you got the solution for your problem
I am also having the same problem
what should i do now ??

Tina

Jraa,

did you try the suggestions above? If none of them worked for you, I suggest to ask a new question and explain what you tried and why or how it failed (error messages etc.).

August 21, 2011
0 votes

Zingani Mwale

December 22, 2011

I’ve now got three partitions on my drive but i cant view the third partition pliz help me on this one. A.S.A.P

FIDELIS

Hello, can you explain more about your situation?  What operating system are you using?  Did you make the third partition yourself?  Do you think you can take a screen shot of your partitions?  To take a screen shot of your partitions do the following:

– click on start
– right click on computer/my computer
– select manage
– select disk management
– it should show you all the partitions available
– click on PrtScn key on keyboard
– now, open paint program in your computer
– press ctrl+v key together
– you should see a capture of your screen
– save the capture to your computer
– post a reply to my reply and add the capture screen by pressing the +Image at bottom of commenting box.  Check attached picture
– I’ll take a look at it and let you know.

December 22, 2011
Idrees Akram

Hi, Idrees here.

I am encountering the same problem as Tina.
I purchased new LAPTOP HP-CORE i5- window 7 basic, with three partitions C,D,E.
C was of 280GB.
D is of 16GB having window recovery file.
E is of 4GB having HP Tools.

Now my target is to shrink C and make new volume. I followed the same steps discussed by Tina. but finally when i was going to convert unallocated drive the message appears in the following way. Here i am sending print shots of the error msgs. kindly email me on this email, idrees.akramm@gmail:disqus 
.com

January 1, 2012
Rahul

Only four partitions are allowed in windows home basic.If you want to create a new partition delete HP_tools and recovery partition.Make sure you create a back up of both.

January 5, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, it is not recommended deleting the recovery partition.  Getting rid of HP tools would fix the problem easily. 

January 5, 2012
Idrees Akramm

I think this is not the solution of deleting partition. Kindly pay me the right and reasonable solution :)

January 6, 2012
Idrees Akram

Rahul there is already 3 partitions. i want to shrink C and then there will be total 4 partition after making new volume. then why persisting the problem…..

January 6, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello,like I said before that is the only solution for accomplishing what you want with starter edition.  Try using the free software in link below.  It has more options than disk management:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

For tutorials on how to use the software, try the next link:

http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/resize-boot-partition-2.htm

If you need any more specific help let me know. Check the posting for user Mohdkashif3 below and see that he solved it with this software.

January 20, 2012
0 votes

Mohdkashif3

January 19, 2012

mam i am showing my disk management file through paint kindly help me in getting my disk space back 

FIDELIS

Hello, What is it that you want done?  Do you want to create a partition on free space?  Do you want to get rid of free space?

First of all, you try expanding the C: partition to use the unallocated space next to it?  To do so try the following:

– in disk management page you show, click on C: partition
– right click on it and select extend volume
– it automatically should tell you the amount
– follow instructions until process is finished.

If you want to create a new partition in free space, follow the next steps:

– click on partition showing free space
– right click on it
– click on format
– give partition an available letter, choose NTFS as your format and give partition a name if you like.  You just have to add the settings by answering to questions.
– let process finish

If you want to get rid of free space, try the following:

– click on partition showing free space
– right click on it
– select delete volume
– volume space should turn to unallocated space
– click on D: partition
– right click on it and select extend partition
– follow steps as above

Let me know if need more precise instructions

January 19, 2012
Mohdkashif3

no sir on right clicking on c extend volume option is not working i can not use this free space 
actually on any of the disk it is not showing

January 20, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, are you using windows 7 starter edition?  If you are, you will have to use a third party software like the following:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

Download the program in link, it is free.  With it you can fix your problem easily.  If you need instructions on how to use it, you can follow instruction on next link:

  http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/resize-boot-partition-2.htm

January 20, 2012
Mohdkashif3

thanks sir ur suggestion really worked
thanks again

January 20, 2012
FIDELIS

I am glad your problem is solved

January 20, 2012
mayank

how you solved your problem please tell me i m having same problem

April 26, 2012
mohd kashif

if u have downloaded the software given by Fidelis then u just have to use that software to get ur unallocated space back

April 28, 2012
0 votes

Shagoralom

February 15, 2012

i am using windows7 . there is only one drive.that is c drive. how can i take space from c to make another partition? i do not want to restore my operating system. is it possible???

FIDELIS

Hello, yes it is possible.  What version of windows 7 are you running?  There are differences for windows 7 starter.  Try the following:

– click on start
– right click on Computer
– click on manage and enter admin password
– in left hand side menu, click on disk management
– click on C: partition
– right click on it and select shrink volume
– enter and amount of space to shrink or use the default amount shown and then select shrink
– give process time to finish.  It should not take long
– once process is finished, it should leave a partition with unallocated space
– to create a new partition, click on unallocated space and right click on it
– select create a new simple volume and click on next
– type the amount in MB of the new partition you want to create.  If you want to use the whole amount you shrank, just leave the amount shown
– click on next
– select a letter for drive, or leave the letter chosen by system by default and click on next
– type a name for partition if you want and make sure that perform a quick format is check marked and click on next
– click on finish button

Let me know how it goes.

February 15, 2012
Shagoralom

thank you . it worked. i am sorry .because i am late..

March 12, 2012
Tina

Better late than never. Thanks for the feedback! :)

March 12, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello, I am glad your issue is fixed

March 13, 2012
jay joshi

i have 20 GB free space and i want to add it in C (System) drive …
i m unable to do it and tried a lot.
So pls suggest me some way to perform it.
Thanks

May 14, 2012
Bruce Epper

You can’t do it with native tools unless the free space is immediately after the C drive. You can use tools such as Paragon Partition Manager or EaseUS Partition Manager to do the job by shifting all intervening partitions back so the free space immediately follows the C drive and it will then append that space to the desired drive.

May 14, 2012
0 votes

Shagoralom

February 17, 2012

in the windows server 2008 r2, what is the relationship between Active Directory domain name and DNS zone name ?

0 votes

satya

March 3, 2012

satya

my question is how to recover 146 gb unallocated space on 320 gb hdd

plz tell me very  imp

thank u

0 votes

satya

March 3, 2012

 Expand satyamy question is how to recover 146 gb unallocated space on 320 gb hddplz tell me very  impand the error show on my desktop there is not enouugh space available on the disk(s) to complete this operation m using window7 ultimate

FIDELIS

 Hello if the system is telling you there is not enough space, make sure to move big files like video, music or even pictures to an external drive.  Most times for windows to be able to create system restore, the drive will need at least 15 % of free space.  Move these files to make the 15% of free space and then just try the following:

– right click on C: drive
– select extend
– answer and follow instructions
– you should be able to use whole drive for system

March 5, 2012
0 votes

Shagoralom

March 5, 2012

i am using xp . when i shut down my laptop,it take restart. how can i solve my problem?

Tina

Are you saying that your laptop boots back up when you try to shut down? How do you try to shut down? I think you should ask a new question as your problem does not seem related to the above question.

March 6, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello, can you try the steps provided in the next link?  Let me know if that solves your problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311806

March 9, 2012
0 votes

Shagoralom

March 12, 2012

this is virus problem . i setup my os again and setup antivirus then scan full operating system . there are lots of virus. thank you.

0 votes

Don Fierro26

March 23, 2012

I have a question, I shrank my external HDD into three equal parts, one is NSTF format, another is FAT32, the third became unallocated and when I right click on it, won’t give me the “new simple volume” option. How can I fix this?? Running Windows Vista Home Premium. And help would be great! Please email me at don.fierro26@gmail.com

FIDELIS

 Hello, did you use disk management to partition the harddrive into three partitions or a different software?

March 26, 2012
0 votes

It Dept Ang

March 24, 2012

hi formatted hdd in sony vaio laptop now its showing unlloacted partion i try create partition from one software & disk management from windows 7 but its not solve how i create that unllocate partion any one help me pls

0 votes

jimit26911

March 24, 2012

i formateed hdd in sony vaio laptop but i did some mistake so now its showing unllocate partion i try to create partition from disk mangement or one software also but its not done so how i create partition any one help me

FIDELIS

 Hello, can you give me more information about how you formatted the drive, your operating system and mistake did you make?

March 26, 2012
jimit26911

i have windows 7 32 bit so i want to 64 bit so i formatted in format process i format all drives so recovery drive & all drive formatted so now partition showing unalloacted so i want to make partition but i can’t so what i do for this pls help me 

March 26, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello, you should be able to do this from disk management interface.  What version 7 do you have?  If this does not work, try the following software:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

How many partitions does your system have? 

March 29, 2012
0 votes

Raj_ma

March 24, 2012

how will I alocate my drive D after Re partitioning what I deed is to increase my drve C I repartition Using Acronics , but when Im done repartioning my drive d is already alocate but there’s an error ” this drive is not formatted and asking me to format drive ” but i can’t because all of my documents and my archive is their.
pls help me…. 

FIDELIS

 Hello, what you could do is move your documents and other stuff to another partition and then format the drive.  You could use an external drive or if you have a flashdrive with enough space, store it there.

March 26, 2012
0 votes

ramya santhanam

May 2, 2012

my new laptop is not yet drive allocated. how to do it??

ha14

if you would like to partition a hard drive .
http://www.resize-partition.com/resizepartition/partition-external-hard-drive.html

May 2, 2012
0 votes

Michael

May 7, 2012

In fact, the Windows 7 snap-in disk management has so many limitation on managing your hard disk, therefore, try use other professional partition software for windows 7 is much better. From http://www.partition-magic-windows7.com you could find more detials information about best windows 7 partition software

0 votes

Madhu

May 29, 2012

Dear Sir/ mam,

I am using Windows7. I have 200GB of Free Space and 370 MB of unallocated Space out of 500 GB in my Hard Disk. Now i was trying to Extend Volume of ‘C’ from 40GB to 60GB but it is extending upto 370Mb only, eventough i have 200GB free space.

I would like to know how to convert Hard Disk Free Spcae to Unallocated Space.

Bruce Epper

Right-click on the partition marked as Free Space and select Delete Partition from the context menu. If it is adjacent to the other Unallocated Space, it should all become Unallocated Space. At this point, if the Unallocated Space is adjacent to your C partition, you should be able to extend it to consume as much of the Unallocated Space as you wish.

May 30, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, as an alternative you can use the software provided in the link below. The advantage this software has as compared to the tools provided with windows is that you can shrink any partition at the beginning of it or at the end. It is easy to use and it would suit your purpose very well.

You could use the software to shrink the 200 GB drive to the amount you need and then extend the C from 40 to 60. Best thing of all is that you can do it all in one step. After that, all you do is restart system. By the way, what version of windows 7 are you running? How many partitions are in your drive? Here is the link:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

May 31, 2012