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Example: How to manipulate free space needed for a resize operation

In order for BootIt BM to resize a partition to a larger size, the required amount of free (unpartitioned) space must exist immediately following the partition to be resized. Since this is not always the case, this article will show, by example, how other partitions and volumes on the disk can be manipulated in order to arrive at the desired result.

Important: During the Resize and Slide operations shown below, events beyond the control of BootIt BM can occur and can result in the loss of data. A known good backup of all partitions and volumes to be manipulated is highly recommended before proceeding.

For the purposes of this example, the following partition layout (as seen in Partition Work) will be the starting point:

MBR Entry 0  Partition   10000 MB  HPFS/NTFS
MBR Entry 1 Partition  10000 MB  Extended
   Volume 1 Volume   5000 MB  HPFS/NTFS
   Volume 2 Volume   5000 MB  HPFS/NTFS


In this example, the overall disk size is 20000 MB and is completely occupied by existing partitions. MBR Entry 0 is a primary partition of 10000 MB and MBR Entry 1 is an extended partition containing two volumes of 5000 MB each. The goal is to increase the size of MBR Entry 0 from 10000 MB to 11000 MB, an increase of 1000 MB.

Step 1 - Resize Volume 2 Down by 1000 MB

Since no free space exists on the drive, the first step is to create some by shrinking one of the volumes. It is determined that Volume 2 has enough unused space so that it can be resized down by 1000 MB. That is accomplished by highlighting Volume 2 and then choosing Resize. After the filesystem check completes, enter a value of 4000 in the New Size dialog box and then choose OK. This operation will result in the following partition table:

MBR Entry 0
Partition   10000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
MBR Entry 1
Partition  10000 MB
  Extended 
  Volume 1
 Volume   5000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
  Volume 2
 Volume   4000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
  --------
 Volume
   1000 MB
  Free Space


Step 2 - Slide Volume 2 to the End of the Extended Partition

The required amount of free space now exists, but it is at the end of the disk and still inside of the extended partition (note above that the free space is indented and shown as a volume, which means it is still inside the extended partition). To get the free space out of the extended partition, it must be located at either the beginning or end of the extended partition. Since it eventually needs to be located immediately after MBR Entry 0, the next step will be to slide Volume 2 to the end of the extended partition so that the free space will then be in between the 2 volumes. This is accomplished by highlighting Volume 2, choosing Slide, and entering a value of 0 for Free Space After. That will result in the following partition table:

MBR Entry 0  Partition  10000 MB   HPFS/NTFS 
MBR Entry 1
 Partition
  10000 MB
  Extended
  Volume 1
 Volume
    5000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
  --------  Volume    1000 MB
  Free Space
  Volume 2
 Volume
    4000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS


Step 3 - Slide Volume 1 to the End of the Free Space

Since the free space is still not at the beginning of the extended partition, it is now necessary to slide Volume 1 so that the free space comes before it. This is accomplished by highlighting Volume 1, choosing Slide, and entering a value of 0 for Free Space After. That will result in the following partition table:

MBR Entry 0  Partition
  10000 MB   HPFS/NTFS
MBR Entry 1
 Partition
  10000 MB
  Extended
  --------
 Volume    1000 MB
  Free Space
  Volume 1
 Volume     5000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
  Volume 2
 Volume
    4000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS


Step 4 - Resize the Extended Partition to Move the Free Space Outside

The final step in manipulating the free space is to resize the extended partition so that the free space is outside of it. That is accomplished by highlighting the extended partition (MBR Entry 1) and choosing the Resize button. That will bring up the extended partition resize dialog. In that dialog, you need to enter a value of 0 for Free Space Inside the Beginning of the extended partition and then choose OK. This operation will result in the following partition table:

MBR Entry 0  Partition
  10000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
--------
 Partition
    1000 MB
  Free Space
MBR Entry 1
 Partition
    9000 MB
  Extended
  Volume 1
 Volume
    5000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
  Volume 2
 Volume    4000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS


Step 5 - Resize MBR Entry 0 to Increase the Size to 11000 MB

Now that the free space is outside of the extended partition and immediately follows MBR Entry 0, the desired resize operation on MBR Entry 0 can take place. Highlight MBR Entry 0, and then choose Resize. After the filesystem check completes, enter a value of 11000 in the New Size dialog box and then choose OK. The final result will be as follows:

MBR Entry 0  Partition   11000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
MBR Entry 1
 Partition    9000 MB
  Extended
   Volume 1
 Volume   5000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS
   Volume 2
Volume   4000 MB
  HPFS/NTFS

 

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