Partition extension via Windows Disk Management

**katheni** · 02-03-2011

Hello everybody.
I have a HDD 120 GB and I have created 3 partitions (C: D: and E: ). The OS (Windows 7) is stored at the partition C: which it has run out of free space. So, I want to shrink volume D and afterwards to extend volume C with the free space.
The problem is that although the volume D is empty, I can see that 17 GB (of 24 totally) are reserved (I don't know how and where) and I cannot shrink this volume (the option is disabled). From Disk Management, I see that at the volume D is written in a parenthesis the following: Page File, Logical Drive.

Does anybody know why the "Shrink volume" option is disabled and how I can overcome this problem?

**Maq.H** · 02-03-2011

Well, i dont have much idea about Windows Disk Management but found some useful articles about this applications that states step by step process of working with windows 7 Partitions. Just checkout those, hope you will get helped surely:
Windows 7: Disk Management - shrink partition
How to access disk management in windows 7?
Information about the disk management in Windows 7

**katheni** · 03-03-2011

Thank you for your help.
I found the solution on this problem. I couldn't shrink the volume D because the reserved space was used as paging file for the virtual memory. I removed the paging file to another partition and afterwards I managed to delete the volume. So, now I have a free (unallocated) space between C: and E:.

But now I have another problem. Although between volumes C: and E: there is a free space, I cannot extend the volume C: (the option is disabled).

See an image at:

Do you have any idea why the "Extend volume" option is disabled?

**Maq.H** · 03-03-2011

Well, it is obvious that "Extend Volume" Button will be greyed out because the next partition showing 24.02GB free space (the green one) is just you have allocated free space but you haven't deleted any partition mate. What you have to do is, right the green one and select Delete Partition. Click on when the confirmation Pop-up appears.

Now you will find the unallocated space that can be added with any other volume. If now you will right-click on C drive you will see the option "Extend Partition" is available. Go ahead and extend C space.