Can you EXPAND a Windows 2000 Server partition? 1

[IanGlinka]

Here's my problem... Someone thought it would be a great idea to cut a 2GB partition and install Windows 2000 Server on it. Now, there is 78MB free on the C:\ drive, and the Server just automatically shut off because it ran out of free space (probably trying to use it for paging) on the C:\ drive.

My question... Can I expand the partition so it will use up more of the hard drive it is on? The other remaining 18GB of the 20GB hard drive is NOT in use.

OR - Do I have to completely wipe out all the partitions and start over? Even if I could somehow ghost this one 2GB partition onto another hard drive and put it into an 80GB partiton, that would work for me.

What am I supposed to do? What I'd really like to do is strangle whoever decided to only use 2GB for the WINNT partition.

Thanks
Ian

 

[LoopyLoo]

How about using partition magic? I used it on my servers and it worked a treat.

Alternatively create another partition and move the paging file there.

Also, move your install directories for the apps to the other partition as well.

2GB is normally pretty ample for the C: partition but you need to manage where the apps go, the paging file is and the log files for your apps.

 

[IanGlinka]

Is there any way to do this without using Partition Magic?

Ian

 

[NortonES2]

No, this can't be done without using 3rd party tools.

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If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!

 

[wolluf]

PM doesn't work on servers (NT/2k/2k3) - you need the more expensive Volume Manager - or another third party app (Acronis Partition Expert does work on servers).

As said - you need 3rd party - unless using dynamic disks (where partitions can be extended). I've never used them so can't comment about drawbacks etc:

http://www.labmice.net/Windows2000/diskmgmt/dynamic_disk.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...rl=/windows2000/en/server/help/dm_upgrade.htm

might be useful

You also mentioned ghosting partition - that should work (you'll need somewhere to save the image to/restore it from, obviously) - as partition you restore to can be different suze to original.

 

[ReddLefty]

Wolluf and NortenES2 are correct. You cannot use Partition Magic for Server, nor does Ghost for that fact. They do not work on Windows Servers, or it would be a nice security flaw (Ghost and then unghost in fat32.. voilà! full access).

Did you move your swap file yet? You can start by moving it to another partition.. in fact, it's recommended to place your swap file on a partition of it's own.

Otherwise, apart from disaster recovery tools, there is no "quick" way that I know of to just duplicate a W2K server with tools like Ghost and Partition Magic.

 

[dgh2000]

I would be interested if anyone has a good solution. Volume Manager would probably work but it is a $550-$600 program. Do NOT convert to dynamic disks. You can't extend a dynamic disk that was originally created as a Basic Disk- even with Volume Manager. Diskpart.exe might do it but not recommended for Boot/System drive but might be worth a try if you were going to redo the server next as a kind of last resort before proceeding. Not sure if it will even try on a sys volume. Info here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325590

Dave

 

[IanGlinka]

OK - I followed that link and downloaded DiskPart. Will this actually work? I'm afraid it's only going to screw up my Server Install. I'm using NT Backup... and even when I do a backup of the systemstate data... I still don't think I'd be able to just do a restore and have my server back and running.

I don't want to run diskpart if there's a risk that I might lose my server

Ian

 

[ReddLefty]

Hmmm.. I may be wrong, but I don't recall DiskPart being able to Expand volumes... I use it sometimes to wipe out Linux and NTFS volumes when the OS isn't available anymore...

Better find out more before using that tool...