Expanding a partition - DiskPart.exe

[Mike Bailey]

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

 

[Mathieu CHATEAU]

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;en-us;325590&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;en-us;832316&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

 

[shimoni]

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;en-us;325590&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;en-us;832316&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
>
>

 

[Mike Bailey]

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;en-us;325590&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;en-us;832316&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
>>
>>

 

[Mathieu CHATEAU]

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;en-us;325590&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;en-us;832316&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
>>>
>>>

 

[Chris Allen]

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.

 

[Michael McGraw]

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

 

[Mathieu CHATEAU]

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