Guest Mike Bailey Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 I have an HP Server with a Raid5, three hard drives in teh array, two drives - C and D. Both my drives are filling up and it's affecting performance. I've cleaned up all I can. I want to add an additional drive to the array this weekend. I have documentation on using the HP Array Configuration Utility to add the new drive into the array, but am stuck there for then adding that new space to the C and D drives. I have downloaded DiskPart.exe from Microsoft and am reading through the documentation. It's a little confusing to me right now and I'm nervouse as a cat about attempting this. Can anyone help me by listing the simple steps (commands) that I would issue using DiskPart after I have added the drive to the array? I assume I will be using the Expand command, but there is a lot of other stuff (commands) needed for focus and partions and... I've looked at using Partition Manger, but it's costly at $299 for a maybe one time use. Thanks, Mike
Guest Mathieu CHATEAU Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe hello, the extend function is limited. You won't be able to extend the C:\ is there isn't any space after. I assume the D:\ start just after the end of C:\. You shouldn't convert to dynamic just to extend these partition. I would prefer an ntbackup of data, then resize partition, format and restore. You WOULD test it on simple computer before. Here are some KB: How to use Diskpart.exe to extend a data volume in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B325590&x=18&y=16 The partition size is extended, but the file system remains the original size when you extend an NTFS volume http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B832316&x=9&y=13 -- Cordialement, Mathieu CHATEAU http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com "Mike Bailey" <mbailey@beaumontproducts.com> wrote in message news:O3IWD0E4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >I have an HP Server with a Raid5, three hard drives in teh array, two >drives - C and D. > > Both my drives are filling up and it's affecting performance. I've cleaned > up all I can. > > I want to add an additional drive to the array this weekend. I have > documentation on using the HP Array Configuration Utility to add the new > drive into the array, but am stuck there for then adding that new space to > the C and D drives. > > I have downloaded DiskPart.exe from Microsoft and am reading through the > documentation. It's a little confusing to me right now and I'm nervouse as > a cat about attempting this. > > Can anyone help me by listing the simple steps (commands) that I would > issue using DiskPart after I have added the drive to the array? > > I assume I will be using the Expand command, but there is a lot of other > stuff (commands) needed for focus and partions and... > > I've looked at using Partition Manger, but it's costly at $299 for a maybe > one time use. > > Thanks, > Mike
Guest shimoni Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe I had a similar problem with one server. I tried to use diskpart.exe but i found out that it's very limited. After exploring all my option i got this disk partition software http://www.partition-manager.com/ It took me 20 minutes to do the job. Please note that this is a very risky operation and format and restore may take much longer then you think. "Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote: > hello, > > the extend function is limited. You won't be able to extend the C:\ is there > isn't any space after. I assume the D:\ start just after the end of C:\. > > You shouldn't convert to dynamic just to extend these partition. > I would prefer an ntbackup of data, then resize partition, format and > restore. > You WOULD test it on simple computer before. > > Here are some KB: > How to use Diskpart.exe to extend a data volume in Windows Server 2003, in > Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 > http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B325590&x=18&y=16 > > The partition size is extended, but the file system remains the original > size when you extend an NTFS volume > http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B832316&x=9&y=13 > > > > -- > Cordialement, > Mathieu CHATEAU > http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com > > > "Mike Bailey" <mbailey@beaumontproducts.com> wrote in message > news:O3IWD0E4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > >I have an HP Server with a Raid5, three hard drives in teh array, two > >drives - C and D. > > > > Both my drives are filling up and it's affecting performance. I've cleaned > > up all I can. > > > > I want to add an additional drive to the array this weekend. I have > > documentation on using the HP Array Configuration Utility to add the new > > drive into the array, but am stuck there for then adding that new space to > > the C and D drives. > > > > I have downloaded DiskPart.exe from Microsoft and am reading through the > > documentation. It's a little confusing to me right now and I'm nervouse as > > a cat about attempting this. > > > > Can anyone help me by listing the simple steps (commands) that I would > > issue using DiskPart after I have added the drive to the array? > > > > I assume I will be using the Expand command, but there is a lot of other > > stuff (commands) needed for focus and partions and... > > > > I've looked at using Partition Manger, but it's costly at $299 for a maybe > > one time use. > > > > Thanks, > > Mike > >
Guest Mike Bailey Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe So did Partition Manager allow you to expand the C: drive? I called them yesterday and left a message asking this question but know one has called me back. I sure hate the idea of spending $300 for 20 mins of work - but it's looking like I may have to. Mike shimoni wrote: > I had a similar problem with one server. > I tried to use diskpart.exe but i found out that it's very limited. > > After exploring all my option i got this disk partition software > http://www.partition-manager.com/ > > It took me 20 minutes to do the job. > > Please note that this is a very risky operation and format and restore may > take much longer then you think. > > "Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote: > > >>hello, >> >>the extend function is limited. You won't be able to extend the C:\ is there >>isn't any space after. I assume the D:\ start just after the end of C:\. >> >>You shouldn't convert to dynamic just to extend these partition. >>I would prefer an ntbackup of data, then resize partition, format and >>restore. >>You WOULD test it on simple computer before. >> >>Here are some KB: >>How to use Diskpart.exe to extend a data volume in Windows Server 2003, in >>Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 >>http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B325590&x=18&y=16 >> >>The partition size is extended, but the file system remains the original >>size when you extend an NTFS volume >>http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B832316&x=9&y=13 >> >> >> >>-- >>Cordialement, >>Mathieu CHATEAU >>http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com >> >> >>"Mike Bailey" <mbailey@beaumontproducts.com> wrote in message >>news:O3IWD0E4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> >>>I have an HP Server with a Raid5, three hard drives in teh array, two >>>drives - C and D. >>> >>>Both my drives are filling up and it's affecting performance. I've cleaned >>>up all I can. >>> >>>I want to add an additional drive to the array this weekend. I have >>>documentation on using the HP Array Configuration Utility to add the new >>>drive into the array, but am stuck there for then adding that new space to >>>the C and D drives. >>> >>>I have downloaded DiskPart.exe from Microsoft and am reading through the >>>documentation. It's a little confusing to me right now and I'm nervouse as >>>a cat about attempting this. >>> >>>Can anyone help me by listing the simple steps (commands) that I would >>>issue using DiskPart after I have added the drive to the array? >>> >>>I assume I will be using the Expand command, but there is a lot of other >>>stuff (commands) needed for focus and partions and... >>> >>>I've looked at using Partition Manger, but it's costly at $299 for a maybe >>>one time use. >>> >>>Thanks, >>>Mike >> >>
Guest Mathieu CHATEAU Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe Ghost will do the job too if you have a license or less expensive. 300$ is to compare with the time you won't have to work on it. Doesn't dispense good backup (everything can goes wrong) -- Cordialement, Mathieu CHATEAU http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com "Mike Bailey" <mbailey@beaumontproducts.com> wrote in message news:uqYhtSN4HHA.600@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > So did Partition Manager allow you to expand the C: drive? I called them > yesterday and left a message asking this question but know one has called > me back. I sure hate the idea of spending $300 for 20 mins of work - but > it's looking like I may have to. > Mike > > shimoni wrote: >> I had a similar problem with one server. >> I tried to use diskpart.exe but i found out that it's very limited. >> >> After exploring all my option i got this disk partition software >> http://www.partition-manager.com/ >> >> It took me 20 minutes to do the job. >> >> Please note that this is a very risky operation and format and restore >> may take much longer then you think. "Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote: >> >> >>>hello, >>> >>>the extend function is limited. You won't be able to extend the C:\ is >>>there isn't any space after. I assume the D:\ start just after the end >>>of C:\. >>> >>>You shouldn't convert to dynamic just to extend these partition. >>>I would prefer an ntbackup of data, then resize partition, format and >>>restore. >>>You WOULD test it on simple computer before. >>> >>>Here are some KB: >>>How to use Diskpart.exe to extend a data volume in Windows Server 2003, >>>in Windows XP, and in Windows 2000 >>>http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B325590&x=18&y=16 >>> >>>The partition size is extended, but the file system remains the original >>>size when you extend an NTFS volume >>>http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B832316&x=9&y=13 >>> >>> >>> >>>-- >>>Cordialement, >>>Mathieu CHATEAU >>>http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com >>> >>> >>>"Mike Bailey" <mbailey@beaumontproducts.com> wrote in message >>>news:O3IWD0E4HHA.2208@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> >>>>I have an HP Server with a Raid5, three hard drives in teh array, two >>>>drives - C and D. >>>> >>>>Both my drives are filling up and it's affecting performance. I've >>>>cleaned up all I can. >>>> >>>>I want to add an additional drive to the array this weekend. I have >>>>documentation on using the HP Array Configuration Utility to add the new >>>>drive into the array, but am stuck there for then adding that new space >>>>to the C and D drives. >>>> >>>>I have downloaded DiskPart.exe from Microsoft and am reading through the >>>>documentation. It's a little confusing to me right now and I'm nervouse >>>>as a cat about attempting this. >>>> >>>>Can anyone help me by listing the simple steps (commands) that I would >>>>issue using DiskPart after I have added the drive to the array? >>>> >>>>I assume I will be using the Expand command, but there is a lot of other >>>>stuff (commands) needed for focus and partions and... >>>> >>>>I've looked at using Partition Manger, but it's costly at $299 for a >>>>maybe one time use. >>>> >>>>Thanks, >>>>Mike >>> >>>
Guest Chris Allen Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe Mike have you considered using a free partition editor? There are some different ones available (eg. Ranish, Cute, GParted). Personally I've used GParted in the past with success. You might want to try this first. GParted is a linux based utility so you'll have to use a boot CD. Knoppix comes with it, or you can download the official GParted boot CD from http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php .. Knoppix will probably have better hardware support than the GParted CD, but that is only a guess. Also as Mathieu already pointed out, it is absolutely VITAL to backup your data before running a tool like this.
Guest Michael McGraw Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe Mike, what OS is on the machine? I just physically added a 72G drive to an HP server running W2K3-R2/SP2 and, after using the HP Array Utility to add the hd to the RAID5 logical-D: partition, used diskpart to successfully add all 72G to the D: drive in the OS. What's your OS & where are you experiencing problems? EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice http://www.eggheadcafe.com
Guest Mathieu CHATEAU Posted August 21, 2007 Posted August 21, 2007 Re: Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe You could because there was room after D:\ which was the last partition. You couldn't do the same for C:\ except if you have room (which you wouldn't have by default), or you would have to convert to dynamic. Mike want to extend the c:\ drive. Good experience return anyway :) -- Cordialement, Mathieu CHATEAU http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com "Michael McGraw" wrote in message news:2007821114728mmcgraw@baptisthomesofin.com... > Mike, what OS is on the machine? I just physically added a 72G drive to > an HP server running W2K3-R2/SP2 and, after using the HP Array Utility to > add the hd to the RAID5 logical-D: partition, used diskpart to > successfully add all 72G to the D: drive in the OS. What's your OS & > where are you experiencing problems? > > EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice > http://www.eggheadcafe.com
Recommended Posts