Can't figure out extending a disk partition (Windows 8.1)

[Today]

Hello,

I'm trying to extend drive E or preferably F but am getting this warning:

AFAIK, this is supposed to appear when I'm trying to create more than 4 partitions, but as you can see, there are only 3 on Disk 2. I tried Googling this issue for a while but still can't find a solution. I have been seeing people advise others NOT to make it dynamic (rather than basic), and likewise I don't want to do that.

Any idea what could be the issue?

I do have AOMEI Partition Assistant (third-party partition program) but would like to use it as a last resort so I can just use the stock Windows functions. Thanks!

 

[Mark Phelps]

It looks like you're trying to extend F: -- which you can't because it is adjacent to E: But, you should be able to extend E: into the unallocated space to the left of it.

I've not used AOMI, but I have used Minitool Partition Wizard, and generally speaking, the third-party tools provide a lot more flexibility than the built-in Disk Management tool.

 

[Today]

It looks like you're trying to extend F: -- which you can't because it is adjacent to E: But, you should be able to extend E: into the unallocated space to the left of it.

I've not used AOMI, but I have used Minitool Partition Wizard, and generally speaking, the third-party tools provide a lot more flexibility than the built-in Disk Management tool.

Thanks Mark! The same message appears when I try to extend E. If F wasn't going to work, I hoped to extend E, shrink E, then use the extra space (hopefully to "the right" of E) to merge with F.

I may have to end up using a third-party tool to do what I want, but I was hoping to get to the root of this issue. It just bugs me that there might be an underlying issue here that I may be sweeping under the rug if I just force it with a third-party tool.

 

[mysery126]

I think you should use the third party software, which I have used it once in a while. it is a great product by the way.

 

[topgundcp]

Originally Posted by Mark Phelps
you should be able to extend E: into the unallocated space to the left of it.

No you can't.
If you want to extend E: and the unallocated partition, the unallocated partition must be after E:
If you want to extend F: then the unallocated partition must be after F:

@OP
The easiest way to do this is:

1. Download: Bootable Partition Manger | MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition and use Rufus - Create bootable USB to create a USB stick to boot from
2. Boot up with the USB stick you create from step 1. You will see a screen similar to below:
   
3. Assuming you want to extend E: then right click on E: -> Move/Resize. Screen #2 will pop up, click and drag E: drive to the left as shown in screen #3. Then click Apply (#4) to commit the change.
   
4. Disconnect the USB and reboot.
5. Open Disk Management, right click on E: ->Extend Volume

 

[Mark Phelps]

No you can't. If you want to extend E: and the unallocated partition, the unallocated partition must be after E:

Excuse me ... but I have expanded partitions into unallocated space on the left numerous times -- but then, I use the Minitool Partition Wizard to do that. The MS Disk Management tool is too limited in functionality.

 

[strollin]

No you can't. If you want to extend E: and the unallocated partition, the unallocated partition must be after E:

Excuse me ... but I have expanded partitions into unallocated space on the left numerous times -- but then, I use the Minitool Partition Wizard to do that. The MS Disk Management tool is too limited in functionality.

Yup. 3rd party partitioning software doesn't have the same limitation that Disk Management has, they can extend partitions that are BEFORE or AFTER unallocated space.

It's not necessary to boot from another disk either, you can just run the partitioning software from the booted drive. It's always a good idea to have a backup should anything go wrong but, generally speaking, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[topgundcp]

@Mark Phelps
Sorry I misunderstood your answer. I thought you said to do from disk management.

 

[LMiller7]

Extending a partition to the right is a relatively simple thing, just update a few numbers in the disk structure. But extending to the left essentially means moving the beginning of the volume and that is a far from simple thing. The built in Disk Management utility has some limitations with extending partitions. If they wished Microsoft could supply with Windows a utility that rivaled the best commercial products. The problem is that doing so would leave commercial products without a market. The companies concerned would see Microsoft as having an unfair advantage. And the courts would likely agree, as they have in the past. Thus Disk Management had designed in limitations. For a similar reason Microsoft was forced to create a special N version of Windows for sale in the European Union that omitted most media programs.

 

[Today]

Just wanted to update everyone and say that I finally got around to using AOMEI to manipulate my partitions as desired Thanks for all the input.