How to Resize Partitions on Windows Server (3 Methods)

Updated by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

If you're starting with a new system or don't have any other partitions created, you'll see the default size for the C: drive and any other partitions. You can adjust the size of each partition drive as per your preference. It's not recommended to keep all your data on a single partition drive. You'll need to create different partitions to store your data, files, and applications.

When data is spread across multiple partitions, the risk of data loss is reduced. Also, when your C drive is full, you'll get a 'low disk space' notification. This can also affect the overall performance of your system. Having multiple partitions allows for better organization of data.

If you're running low on disk space or need to resize partitions, this article is for you. We'll delve into the details of how to resize partitions for optimal system performance. We'll also recommend a tool that enables you to perform this task flexibly, while safeguarding your data and resizing partitions quickly. By the end of this article, you'll know how to create and adjust partitions with ease, so let's dive into the specifics.

Why Need to Resize Windows Server Partition?

If you have issues with low disk space or need to resize partitions on your system, you might wonder why you would want to resize Windows Server partitions, especially when they already exist.

Partitioning is necessary for several reasons. If your C drive has a lot of data and low space, it will eventually affect your system's performance. Proper partitioning is required for the error-free operation of your system.

Also, in case your system crashes or gets infected by a virus, the data on drives other than C will be safe. Sometimes, you may have a lot of unallocated space in your system partition that is lying unused. You must allocate it to make the most of the available partition capacity.

Partitions also come in handy when cloning or transferring data via an external drive. Should your system fail, you would need to salvage data. You should also consider resizing partitions to allocate available space properly.

Run Disk Management to Extend/Shrink Server Partitions

Now let's see how to create partitions on the hard disk. Disk Management is used for creating partitions. This default feature can be used for creating partitions. The only disadvantage of Disk Management is that it will work only if you have unallocated space behind your partition.

The steps for extending/reducing a server partition are as follows:

Step 1: Click the Windows icon and select Disk Management through right-click.

Step 2: First, we'll shrink the basic disk. To shrink the partition, right-click the drive and select “Shrink Volume.”

Right-click the drive and select “Compress volume.”

Step 3: It will prompt you to enter the amount of space (in MB) that you want to shrink. Click “Shrink.” Your drive space will now be smaller.

After you shrink the volume, you can see the unallocated space on the disk.

Next up, just translate this sentence into American English:

Now let's extend the volume.

Step 1: Right-click the disk you want to extend, and select "Extend Volume."

(2) The Extend Volume Wizard appears. Click Next.

<Step 3> You will see the unallocated space on your hard drive. Type in the number of MB you want, then click “Next.”

Click “Finish” to complete the operation and resize your partition.

Resize Server Partitions with Diskpart

The second method of resizing the Server partition is by using Diskpart. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Click on the search box, type “cmd”, and then click Run.

Step 2: Type diskpart, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Type select disk 0 and hit Enter. You'll need to type the name of the disk on your computer here.

Step 4: Type list partition. This will show you how many partitions are on your system. Here, we have two.

Step 5: Select the partition that you want to extend. Type select partition 2.

Step 6: Now, type extend size=512 and press Enter to grow the partition. You can specify any size that is available in your system's free space.

Step 7: You have now partitioned your hard drive. Type exit to quit the program.

Note that if there's no unallocated space after the target partition, Diskpart won't be able to resize it. Also, it can't move a partition.

Try Professional Server Disk Management Tool - Partition Master Enterprise

So far, we only recommend using the default feature of Windows Server to resize partitions. To solve all disk management issues, the Partition Master Enterprise tool is a feasible solution. It is the best disk management software for Windows Server. Now, it can enhance and improve the partition recovery function.

It efficiently maximizes disk space and makes the most of your storage capacity. It also prevents data loss. Here are some of the main features of Partition Master Enterprise:

- Supports Windows Server 2003, 2008 (R2), 2012 (R2), 2011, 2016, and 2019. - Utilized by IT professionals, businesses, organizations, and service providers. - Efficiently reallocates space to resolve disk space shortage issues. - Enhances the performance of Windows servers. - A free trial version is available for download. - Offers comprehensive data protection and security.

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition

Launch Partition Master, enter Partition Management, select the hard disk/partition whose size you want to adjust, right click and choose “Resize/Move”.

4. To shrink the partition, simply drag one of the endpoints into the free space. When you're done, click OK.

2. To extend the partition, you must have unallocated space next to it (if not, create some as described above). Click and drag the mouse over the unallocated space. Click “OK.”

3. To move a partition, unallocated space needs to be next to the destination partition. If there isn't any, free some up first.

Right-click the partition you want to move, and select “Resize/Move.” Then, drag the entire partition to the left or right to adjust its position. Click “OK” to confirm.

Step 3: Review the results and apply the changes

Here, you'll see the new disk partition information and the graph.

To save the changes, click the Run Task button, and then click Apply.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Enterprise breaks the limit of unallocated space and allows you to reallocate space flexibly. This easy-to-use tool helps you resize partition to expand disk space. Download the trial version to manage disk partitions quickly and accurately.

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Conclusions

So far, we have seen that a well-managed disk not only eliminates the need for additional storage drives, but also contributes to better overall system performance. We mentioned using the default tools to adjust partition sizes, but the limitation is that disk management works only when there is unallocated space on the system.

Choose the method that suits you best. Partition Master Enterprise is a good option. This tool makes resizing partitions very easy, and it's not limited by the amount of unallocated space behind the system. The user interface is clear enough to walk you through the entire process, so download it and give it a try.