Distributions of the latest versions of Windows (Vista and Seven) have a graphical interface for a utility that allows you to expand existing hard disk partitions. The Disk Management snap-in now has a corresponding function (Extend Volume) designed to carry out exactly this operation.
Instructions
Step 1
The workflow in Windows Vista and Windows 7, like Windows Server 2008, is almost the same. This operation requires administrator rights, so the first step in the sequence should be to log in with these rights.
Step 2
Before starting the procedure for expanding a partition, for greater reliability of the operation, you should make a backup copy of the entire partition or at least the most critical data contained on it.
Step 3
Right-click the My Computer icon and select Computer Management from the context menu. In the window that opens, go to the "Storage Devices" section and click "Disk Management". The utility will make a map of all your permanent and removable media in a few seconds, after which you need to select the disk whose partition you want to expand. Right-click it and select Expand Disk from the context menu.
Step 4
In the dialog box, click the "Next" button, and in the next one you need to specify in megabytes the amount of space that should be added to the current size of the partition. You can specify a volume that exceeds the physical volume of this disk, if there is free space on any other disk - it will be used. But by doing this you reduce the reliability of data storage by exactly half, since if problems arise on any of the two involved disks, the data of this partition will be lost on the second hard drive as well.
Step 5
Then click the next button and the computer will start the data restructuring procedure. It will not take very much time and you will not need to reboot the system.
