Merge partitions and Unallocated space in Windows Server 2008
To manage disk partitions and use disk space more efficiently, you need to do many operations, for example: delete an unused partition, format a partition to rebuild file system. Sometimes you need to shrink or extend a partitioned drive, decrease or increase the number of drives. In this article, I’ll introduce how to merge partitions and combine Unallocated space in Windows Server 2008 R2.
How to merge partitions
By merging partitions, there are two benefits: transfer free space from a drive to the other one that is running out of space and decrease the number of drives.
Transfer free space
Some drives such as system C drive and the drives for backup and projects are very likely running low on disk space. In this case, you can increase free space by merging other drives. For example: by merging volumes E to D, the free space in E will be transferred to D. So you can solve this problem without starting over or waste a long time to back up and restore.
Decrease number of drives
As we know, it is better to create more volumes to save different type of files, so you can better organize and locate the files. But on the other hand, if you create too many drives, each drive is smaller, and it may cause difficult to find the files you need.
Steps to combine partitions in Windows Server 2008 R2:
1. Download NIUBI Partition Editor and you’ll see all disk partitions.
2. Right click either drive D or E and select Merge Volume.
3. In the pop-up window, click the check-box of both D and E, and then click the drop-down box to select destination drive.
Click OK and back to the main window, drive E is combined into D drive, click Apply on top left to execute, done.
Open drive D when partition merging complete, a new folder is created as E to D(with date and time), all files in drive E are moved to this folder automatically.
Note:
- Do not merge partitions C and D, otherwise all programs and services in D become invalid, though you won’t lose these files.
- It is not suggested, but you can still merge C and D drive with NIUBI. However, to avoid system boot failure, you can only combine partition D into C. Merging drive C to D is disabled.
How to merge Unallocated space
Besides creating new volumes, Unallocated space can be added into to a partitioned drive, then this Unallocated space will be converted to part of the free space in this drive.
In Windows Server 2008, you can get Unallocated space by deleting or shrinking a volume in its native Disk Management. You can also combine Unallocated space with the built-in Extend Volume functionality, however, you can only merge this Unallocated space to the drive that is adjacent and on the left side.
With NIUBI Partition Editor, you can merge Unallocated space to any volume in the same disk by simply dragging on the program.
Steps to merge Unallocated space in Windows Server 2008 R2:
For example: there is 20GB Unallocated space between drive C and D, let’s see how to merge Unallocated space to C drive.
Right click C drive and select Resize/Move Volume, drag the right border towards the right.
Unallocated space will be combined to C drive.
If you want to merge the Unallocated space to drive D: right click D and select Resize/Move Volume and then drag the left border towards the left.
How to merge nonadjacent Unallocated space
As you see, it is very easy to combine Unallocated space to any adjacent volume, you just need 1 step to drag either border towards the other side. To merge Unallocated space to nonadjacent volume, you just need 1 more step to move partition.
For example: there is a 20GB Unallocated space between drive D and E, let’s see how to merge this Unallocated space to C drive.
1. Right click drive D and select Resize/Move Volume, drag the middle position rightwards.
Unallocated space will be moved to the left side.
2. Right click drive C and select Resize/Move Volume again, drag the right border rightwards to combine the Unallocated space.
No matter you want to merge partitions or merge Unallocated space in Windows Server 2008 R2, it is very with NIUBI Partition Editor by simply dragging on the program.