VMware Cloud Community
mreeds
Contributor
Contributor

Can't extend Windows C:\ partition after converting thick disk to a thin disk using Storage Motion?

We recently attempted using SMotion to convert our VM's current thick disk to thin provisioning but when increase the disk size in the vSphere client the Windows OS won't let us extend the c:\ partition . According to the official docs this is supported using SMotion so if anyone can assist me I'd appreciate it.

Reply
0 Kudos
3 Replies
AndreTheGiant
Immortal
Immortal

It does not depend by VMware feature... It's just a guest OS problem.

You can use Dell Extpart to extent your C: with the free space...

Or use VMware Convert (useful for example to reduce the C: size).

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
Reply
0 Kudos
prakashraj
Expert
Expert

Hi,

Also check out this http://vsphere-land.com/tips-tricks/re-sizing-virtual-disks

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Prakash

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!
Reply
0 Kudos
bulletprooffool
Champion
Champion

A little workaround . . .

Shutdown your VM

Snapshot/backup your VM

Add the VMDK (disk) you want to extend to a different VM and start that VM up . . set the drive up as d:\ or e:\

Use diskpart at the command prompt to extend it, then shut the VM down again.

move the disk back to the original VM and start it up.

the alternative is to buy something like Partition Magic, or boot from a WINPE boot disk or something similar, with diskpart and extend there

One day I will virtualise myself . . .
Reply
0 Kudos