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My system hard drive on my Windows computer is partitioned into 3 primary partitions, and 200+GB additional free space. The partitions are contiguous:

   C:   20GB
   D:   25GB
   E:  208GB
free:  212GB

I'd like to expand the E: partition, but in the Windows Disk Management GUI, the Extend Volume context-menu option is grayed out and unselectable:

alt text

Why won't Windows let me expand this partition?

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  • rephrased your question; hopefully this is roughly what you meant... Dec 17, 2009 at 19:13
  • Except I'm using Windows 7 RC. Dec 17, 2009 at 23:07
  • think i got "vista" off the C: drive label in the screenshot. thx for correcting. :) Dec 18, 2009 at 16:31

3 Answers 3

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Copied from Facepunch:

Delete that logical partition containing the free space at the end then you'll be able to extend it.

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  • 1
    Yeah, make it raw unallocated space.
    – Rob
    Sep 15, 2011 at 4:22
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Had the same problem trying to repartition a Vista machine to make have a big enough single partition for Windows 7. Was unable to get Vista to do it, even after deleting the other patition on the drive. Ultimately solved the problem using gparted, as described here.

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  • 3
    In my experience, linux/open-source tools are usually your best bet for advanced stuff like this.
    – marcusw
    Dec 17, 2009 at 2:24
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Try unmounting it first. RClick, choose 'Change Drive Letter and Path', then remove the existing drive letter. Then try to extend.

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  • sounds reasonable. worth a try. you can also use the mountvol command on the commandline; mountvol X: /D will unmount the volume and remove the drive letter. use mountvol or that "Change Drive Letter and Path" dialog to remount it when done (though a reboot might be recommended). Dec 17, 2009 at 3:06

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