How to Resize Partition without Losing Data?
Summary: Partitioning your Windows PC has many benefits, including organized data storage and enhanced security. Several tools and methods exist to resize (extend or shrink) partitions in your Windows PC. However, many fear data loss in this process due to unforeseen circumstances. With Stellar Data Recovery professional software, you can quickly recover your lost partition and data.
Resizing a partition is a great way to organize, optimize, and secure your data on a Windows PC. Resize partitions involves adjusting the size of existing disk partition for efficient storage management, and other benefits like data safety and security. However, it is often associated with data loss, possibly due to system instability or human error.
While partition resizing can be risky, it is possible to do so without losing any data with the right precautionary measures. In this blog, we will discuss the proven methods to resize partitions without losing data, the primary benefits of resizing partitions, and the potential risks involved.
How to resize partitions in Windows without losing data?
You often need to resize partitions on your Windows PC for the benefits mentioned above. Windows offers built-in tools to resize partition without data loss, namely Disk Management and Diskpart.
In addition, other practical tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant, etc., also offer simple and secure partition management. Here, we will discuss the steps involved with Window’s built-in tool, Disk Management, to resize partitions on your Windows PC without the risk of losing data.
Note: You need an NTFS file system to carry out this operation. If your disk has a FAT32 file system, this operation will not work.
How to shrink volume using the “Disk Management” tool on Windows?
- Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R. Then type “diskmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog box, and click “OK”.
- The Disk Management window will open in the background.
- Locate the partition (for e.g., D:) you want to shrink and right-click on it.
- From the drop-down menu, click on “Shrink Volume” to open the partition resizing dialog box.
- Now add the size you want to shrink next to “Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB,” then click on Shrink.
- You can view the part of the free space among the total disk as “Unallocated” on the right adjacent side of the drive where you have performed the Shrink operation.
(Note: While shrinking volume, no matter how much free space is left, the space released won’t be over half the size of the current partition).
How to extend volume using the “Disk Management” tool on Windows?
To extend volume using Disk Management, there must be unallocated space on the right side of the disk you want to extend.
- Similarly open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R. Then type “diskmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog box and click “OK”.
- Locate the partition that you want to extend. Note that there must be unassigned space at the right side of the disk. For example, if you want to extend space in C: drive, there must be unassigned space on the immediate right side of the drive.
- Add the amount of space in MB at the right side of the “Select the amount of space”. This will be the maximum value by default.
- Now click on “Next”. The unallocated space in the disk will be merged in the drive where you have performed the Extend operation.
- You can also delete an unallocated volume; by default, it will merge into the adjacent left drive. To do so, simply click “Delete Volume” from the drop-down menu.
Why Should You Resize Partition in Windows?
Each partition in a Windows PC disk has its own separate space, drive letters (such as C:, D:, E:, F:), folder structure, and file system.
If a partition of your Windows PC disk is running out of space or has some extra space, resizing (extend or shrink) can be helpful. Let’s understand some key benefits of resizing partitions.
- Data Organization: Resizing partitions helps effectively organize and manage the files and folders on your Windows system. You can create separate partitions or drives for your Windows operating system, personal files, and work or office files.
- Dual Booting: Resizing partitions on your Windows PC can help you run dual operating systems on a single computer, such as Windows 8 and 10/11. It will allow you to create multiple drive spaces to install, run, and manage different operating systems in a single PC.
- Limiting access with a secure key/password: At times, you need to store confidential data or files on your Windows PC. When you resize a partition, you can create a new space or separate drive with access through a key or password. It helps store all your sensitive and confidential files and restricts access without a key.
- Data Safety: Data safety and security is the primary benefit of resizing partitions. Multiple partitions help to keep your data safe. For instance, if one partition of your disk is corrupted or infected with malware, the data stored in other partitions will remain unaffected and accessible.
Challenges and potential risks of resizing partition on Windows PC
Resizing disk is really easy and simple. However, it needs careful operation to prevent any risks or complexities. There are often instances of data loss or potential risk to your sensitive data while carrying out the resize and extend operation on the partition.
Let’s discuss certain scenarios that may lead to loss of data while resizing partitions on your Windows system and measures to prevent it.
- Software or OS Malfunction: Though rare but potentially risky, while resizing partition on your Windows PC, system errors or Operating system malfunction may lead to corruption of system files or data loss, if interrupted.
- Hardware malfunction: The partition resizing process involves relocating space to different hard drive sectors. Hence, malfunction of a hard drive or system disk having bad sectors can lead to data loss or corruption of the file system. It’s important to have a backup in place before starting the process.
- Human Error: Most cases of data loss are due to human errors. This can happen when non-tech-savvy individuals make mistakes while executing the process. For example, due to premature cancellation of the operation or accidental deletion of the wrong partitions. Hence, it’s essential to understand the technicalities of the process before you begin.
- Power surge: System shutdowns due to power failure, dead battery, or surge during the resizing partition operation can lead to data loss. This sudden shutdown can corrupt your disk and fail the resizing process, hence, making your data inaccessible.
- Software issues: Various third-party partition software and tools help to resize partition without losing data in a Windows PC. However, if the partitioning tool is affected by a bug, it may lead to loss of data or system files.
Have you accidentally deleted a partition while resizing and want to recover it?
While resizing partitions, there is always an inherent risk of data loss. Whether accidental or a human error, the consequences can be devastating, and losing important data files can frustrate any computer user.
To prevent such mishaps, you must always create a backup of your important and sensitive files in an external drive or into any cloud storage before performing such operations. However, if you are in a situation where you have not created a backup and mistakenly deleted a drive, do not worry! You can still overcome this challenge with the help of Stellar Data Recovery Professional software.
Raminfotech Data Recovery Professional software for Windows works as a safety net for when things go wrong with the disk partition. The Do-it-yourself professional data recovery software offers an intrusive data recovery experience with its simplistic GUI that does not require any technical expertise to recover data.
The Partition Recovery feature in Raminfotech Data Recovery Professional software can retrieve lost, deleted, and formatted data. In a few simple steps, it can recover lost disk partitions due to drive corruption, accidental deletion, or partition loss caused by any reason. Let’s see how to recover partitions with Raminfotech Data Recovery Professional software for Windows.
Steps to recover deleted partition with Raminfotech Windows Data Recovery:
- Download the Raminfotech Data Recovery Professional software.
- Now install the software on your Windows PC and launch Raminfotech Data Recovery Professional software.
- Select the data you want to recover in the Select What to Recover screen
End Note
The above blog discussed how to safely resize partitions without losing data. Creating a backup before resizing partition on your hard drive is highly recommended. Nevertheless, if you accidentally delete your precious data or an entire partition, there is nothing to worry about. Raminfotech Windows Data Recovery Professional Edition can help you easily recover your lost partition and restore all essential files in a safe place.
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