Partition sw for extending C drive

[BarkingGhostar]

All, I have an SSD with a clone image I pulled from an HP Stream mini PC. There is a small UEFI partition (~300MB) followed by an even smaller unallocated space (120MB) followed by the C partition (~22GB), the System Reserved partition (~6GB) and another unallocated space (~80GB).

The image came from an original OEM 32GB SSD, that I cloned onto a new 120GB SSD (Samsung EVO 840). I would really like to extend the C partition by using 80GB from the unallocated space beyond System Reserved partition but I am running into problems.

I tried using Partition Mini Tool (derivative pf Partition Magic?), but that failed. When I tried it said the System Reserved partition was in use and needed to reboot in order to make the changes. When it does, I am left sitting at a Windows 8 splash logo and the circling loop of dots and nothing more.

I let the PC sit like this for ~15 minutes and rebooted, recovering using the HP Reset function to restore the image. So, how can I safely move the System Reserve partition out to near the end of the SSD and allow the C partition to be expanded by 80GB?

 

[lxskllr]

Maybe try expanding the SRP to use the rest of the drive, reboot to make sure everything works, then shrink the partition towards the end of the drive. if that works, expand the C drive to use the rest of the space. It goes without saying you should have a backup so you can get to where you started in case things go south. I use PartedMagic for this kind of thing.

 

[corkyg]

If I had that problem, I would use Acronis Disk Director. I would use the bootable media it can create so as to do it all outside of Windows. I keep a copy of that on a thumb drive just for such things.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Maybe try expanding the SRP to use the rest of the drive, reboot to make sure everything works, then shrink the partition towards the end of the drive. if that works, expand the C drive to use the rest of the space. It goes without saying you should have a backup so you can get to where you started in case things go south. I use PartedMagic for this kind of thing.

Let me go try this.

 

[Elixer]

Not sure why you are looking for an external tool, you can use Disk management to do what you want.
You can also boot up a live linux distro, and use gparted.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Not sure why you are looking for an external tool, you can use Disk management to do what you want.
You can also boot up a live linux distro, and use gparted.

When I go into Disk Management, I cannot Extend the C partition as the option for it is greyed out. If I am missing something (I easily could be), please enlighten in how I can do this natively in W8.1.

 

[Ketchup]

EaseUS Partition Master is the best software I have used for moving and resizing partitions.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

EaseUS Partition Master is the best software I have used for moving and resizing partitions.

Not looking to purchase s/w and the trial version prohibits this.

 

[Ketchup]

Not looking to purchase s/w and the trial version prohibits this.

Done it over a dozen times with the free version. Maybe you downloaded the wrong one.

Edit: are these dynamic volumes?

 

[Elixer]

When I go into Disk Management, I cannot Extend the C partition as the option for it is greyed out. If I am missing something (I easily could be), please enlighten in how I can do this natively in W8.1.

Screenshot of what it is showing you?
[UEFI][120MB][C][6GB][80GB] is that correct?
Since the 6GB is "in the way", the way to solve this is you backup that 6GB partition to your HD (or...), then nuke it, then extend C by 80GB, then restore that 6GB partition.
Oh, and if you don't want to back it up, just boot up a Gparted CD/DVD/flash drive, and move the system reserved to the end of the drive.

 

[holden j caufield]

EaseUS Partition Master is the best software I have used for moving and resizing partitions.

I've been using the free partition. The GUI is very easy to use.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Screenshot of what it is showing you?
[UEFI][120MB][C][6GB][80GB] is that correct?
Since the 6GB is "in the way", the way to solve this is you backup that 6GB partition to your HD (or...), then nuke it, then extend C by 80GB, then restore that 6GB partition.
Oh, and if you don't want to back it up, just boot up a Gparted CD/DVD/flash drive, and move the system reserved to the end of the drive.

Correct. BTW, I did as suggested and backed up the System Reserved partition and removed it. I then was able to extend the C partition, both from within Macrium and from within the OS. Unfortunately, when I put the System Reserved back on it continued to complain about the hal.dll not being found--and then suggesting I reinstall via the software that came with the PC.

I have no doubt I could install cleanly Win8.1, but I didn't want to pay HP the $45 they wanted for it. I also doubt M$ is going to let me d/l an OEM copy from their website as it is OEM.

 

[Ketchup]

Correct. BTW, I did as suggested and backed up the System Reserved partition and removed it. I then was able to extend the C partition, both from within Macrium and from within the OS. Unfortunately, when I put the System Reserved back on it continued to complain about the hal.dll not being found--and then suggesting I reinstall via the software that came with the PC....

Are the correct drive letter being assigned when you put the system reserved partition back on?

 

[Elixer]

Correct. BTW, I did as suggested and backed up the System Reserved partition and removed it. I then was able to extend the C partition, both from within Macrium and from within the OS. Unfortunately, when I put the System Reserved back on it continued to complain about the hal.dll not being found--and then suggesting I reinstall via the software that came with the PC.

I have no doubt I could install cleanly Win8.1, but I didn't want to pay HP the $45 they wanted for it. I also doubt M$ is going to let me d/l an OEM copy from their website as it is OEM.

You are seeing that error because it thinks (most likely) that the BCD information is incorrect, so, your options is to repair it.
How you ask? Well, download the win 8.1 ISO (you can use a GENERIC key to get past the key requirement, like this one for win 8.1 pro:
XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB, MSDN's technet lists the other ones if you need different versions, and no, these keys can't be used to register a copy of windows, they are meant for the installer only), and boot off that, and tell it to repair it, or drop down to the shell, and rebuild it yourself.

*edit for mods, in case they think that key shouldn't be posted, see this link: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
*edit 2, get win 8.1 ISO from either http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media or use google or bing to find one, just make sure it matches the hashes that MS provides.
You can also use your OEM key, by running https://github.com/christian-korneck/get_win8key (before you mucked around with the system reserve partition, and then just do a full install using your OEM key..or..or..

 

[ArisVer]

I have no doubt I could install cleanly Win8.1, but I didn't want to pay HP the $45 they wanted for it. I also doubt M$ is going to let me d/l an OEM copy from their website as it is OEM.

I did a clean install on my "new" notebook by downloading the 8.1 ISO from Microsoft which was originally loaded with Windows 8. Drivers and programs from the HP website. No recovery partition of course and I do not care. My thread is just further down.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2423471

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Elixer and ArisVer, thanks for the additional information This gives me something to try ...

 

[ArisVer]

Make sure you can find the drivers and programs from HP before you attempt an installation. From a quick search I did after I posted yesterday, I have found nothing in HP's website. Strange really, as it is the first time I couldn't find anything in HP's site.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Shortly after receiving the HP Stream mini I found the drivers and s/w for the product on HP's website. But keep in mind I am experimenting with a cloned environment and not the OEM SSD or the running SSD. I should just go ahead and try to d/l an ISO image of Win8.1 from M$ website, trying the OEM license key that came with the Stream mini.

 

[nemesismk2]

I have always used 7tools Partition Manager for creating Partitions etc.