expanding system partition

[Guest runner7@fastmail.fm]

In searching newgroups for ways to copy a Windows Server 2003 system

partition to a new, larger partition, I keep seeing xcopy recommended,

but other sources say this is unreliable due to long-vs-short file

name issues. Since I would not trust anything as controversial as

xcopy, this post is to ask if anyone who really knows about this issue

could pass on to us a reliable and inexpensive way of getting the

system partition on a larger partition. In particular, are there any

settings, such as in the registry, that need to be changed when the

system finds itself on a new, larger partition? Thanks very much for

any help on this issue.

[Guest Mathieu CHATEAU]

Re: expanding system partition

 

Hello,

 

the easiest way for me is ghost...

 

xcopy is not good, you would use robocopy at least. Take care of having the

partition bootable

 

--

Cordialement,

Mathieu CHATEAU

http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com

 

 

<runner7@fastmail.fm> wrote in message

news:1188363482.281270.170790@r34g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...

> In searching newgroups for ways to copy a Windows Server 2003 system

> partition to a new, larger partition, I keep seeing xcopy recommended,

> but other sources say this is unreliable due to long-vs-short file

> name issues. Since I would not trust anything as controversial as

> xcopy, this post is to ask if anyone who really knows about this issue

> could pass on to us a reliable and inexpensive way of getting the

> system partition on a larger partition. In particular, are there any

> settings, such as in the registry, that need to be changed when the

> system finds itself on a new, larger partition? Thanks very much for

> any help on this issue.

>

[Guest nmowatt]

Re: expanding system partition

 

On Aug 29, 12:58 am, runn...@fastmail.fm wrote:

> In searching newgroups for ways to copy a Windows Server 2003 system

> partition to a new, larger partition, I keep seeing xcopy recommended,

> but other sources say this is unreliable due to long-vs-short file

> name issues. Since I would not trust anything as controversial as

> xcopy, this post is to ask if anyone who really knows about this issue

> could pass on to us a reliable and inexpensive way of getting the

> system partition on a larger partition. In particular, are there any

> settings, such as in the registry, that need to be changed when the

> system finds itself on a new, larger partition? Thanks very much for

> any help on this issue.

 

Is the system partition Dynamic or Basic? Secondly, is the larger

partition on the same drive or a different hard drive? If it is a

Basic partition and on the same drive, I've found using something like

Acronis software works well. They have a 15 day trial version that

you can download that is fully functional. It has the ability to

change the size of your partition.

 

If it is Dynamic, you are a little bit more in a pickle, but it isn't

impossible to do. What I've done in the past is Ghost (Using Norton

Ghost) over the Dynamic drive to another Hard Drive. Boot to the new

hard drive and it should be converted back to a Basic Drive. Once you

do that, then you can use Acronis (I believe it is True Image Server.

Go to http://www.acronis.com and check it out) to expand the partition just

like above.

 

If you are looking to just image it to another drive, you would still

use either method above. If it is Basic, just use ghost or acronis

true image server to image the drive over to a new drive. During the

process, it should ask you about partition sizes, resize it at that

point. If it is a Dynamic drive, only way I know to do it is, image

it as is to another drive, that will convert it to a Basic disk then

use something like Acronis to stretch out the partition to the size

you want after it has been moved over.

 

I shouldn't have to tell you this, but ALWAYS make a backup first

before you start anything like this.

 

Neil

[Guest runner7@fastmail.fm]

Re: expanding system partition

 

The Windows Server references I have been reading tell me you cannot

expand a system partition, whether basic or dynamic. Do you mean to

tell me that Acronis can safely accomplish this feat? The partition I

am talking about is basic, but I am interested in knowing how to

expand either type. I do not know whether the new partition will be

on the same or a different disk right now; this is one of the things

that has to be figured out once all options are known.

[Guest nmowatt]

Re: expanding system partition

 

On Aug 29, 10:34 pm, runn...@fastmail.fm wrote:

> The Windows Server references I have been reading tell me you cannot

> expand a system partition, whether basic or dynamic. Do you mean to

> tell me that Acronis can safely accomplish this feat? The partition I

> am talking about is basic, but I am interested in knowing how to

> expand either type. I do not know whether the new partition will be

> on the same or a different disk right now; this is one of the things

> that has to be figured out once all options are known.

 

That is news to me. I've done it several times. Check this out:

 

http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirector/

 

You can't resize dynamic disks, but by imaging them over to another

drive via ghost or acronis, it will convert it back to a basic disk

and then you can do what you need to it.

[Guest runner7@fastmail.fm]

Re: expanding system partition

 

It looks like Acronis is $500. That is not going to be an option for

the small place where this is an issue. What if we did the following:

 

Entirely reformat the disk with larger C: (system) and smaller D:

partitions which will erase all data.

 

Restore our backup to the disk.

 

The question is, would there be any settings that need to be reset

somewhere for the system to properly function in the new, resized

partitions? Can anyone tell me where this info is documented? Thanks.

[Guest Steve]

Re: expanding system partition

 

I have never done this, but I almost had to last year.

I don't think you'll have a problem but make sure you have a fall back

plan if need be (backups, pull a mirrored drive, etc).

 

Ghost 2003 and newer can image dynamic drive but can only restore them

as basic which is good if you have dynamic drives. Basic drives should

be image-able using most other programs (bootitng or PM8, for example).

 

I think this might work although it is UNTESTED (you're on your own to

test this):

-disconnect the network cables (prevents any domain/AD issues)

-use ghost 2003 or newer to backup your drives partitions (not the whole

drive as one job) to a second, larger drive as image files.

-use ghost to backup the whole drive as one image file

-delete all partitions on the original drive

-use ghost to restore the partitions back and specify a larger target

partition for the system partition. Other application may not offer

this feature, check in advance.

-Windows might state a new drive was detected at next boot and/or do a

disk check but a second reboot should finish the job.

-if your event logs are still clean after a second or third reboot you

can reconnect the network cables and verify replication still works.

 

If all else fails just restore the whole disk ghost image and your good

as new again.

 

runner7@fastmail.fm wrote:

> It looks like Acronis is $500. That is not going to be an option for

> the small place where this is an issue. What if we did the following:

>

> Entirely reformat the disk with larger C: (system) and smaller D:

> partitions which will erase all data.

>

> Restore our backup to the disk.

>

> The question is, would there be any settings that need to be reset

> somewhere for the system to properly function in the new, resized

> partitions? Can anyone tell me where this info is documented? Thanks.

>

[Guest subin leo]

resize partition on server

 

resize partition on server

 

You may find that there is not enough free space on a certain partition. For example, you want to enlarge C: drive, which usually is Windows system drive. EASEUS Partition Manager Personal lets you free enlarge or reduce a partition in Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server(Only Server Edition) without destroying data easily.

 

For more:http://www.partition-tool.com/easeus-partition-manager/help/resizing-and-moving-partition.htm