How To Increase The Size Of C Drive For Windows Using GParted

Sometimes,  you run out of space on the C: drive,  whether you need more space for programs or for Windows Updates.  In this article,  we will show you how to increase the size of C: drive without having to reinstall Windows.  Before starting, ensure you have a backup of your important data, as any operation on partitions can potentially lead to data loss.  You’ll need a bootable device with GParted Live, which is a Linux-based tool that allows you to resize and manage disk partitions.  You will also need unallocated space next to your C: drive, or free space from another partition (e.g., D: drive) that can be shrunk to provide space for C:.

Step 1: Prepare GParted Live USB/CD

1. Download GParted:
   • Go to the official GParted website: https://gparted.org/download.php
   • Download the GParted Live ISO file.
2. Create Bootable USB/CD:
   • Use a tool like Rufus (for USB) or ImgBurn (for CD) to create a bootable GParted Live USB or CD.
   • Insert a USB stick (at least 1GB) or a blank CD/DVD.
   • In Rufus, select the GParted Live ISO, choose the correct USB stick, and click “Start.”

Step 2: Boot from GParted Live USB/CD

1. Restart your computer.
2. Enter the boot menu (usually by pressing F12, Esc, or another key during boot) and select to boot from the USB or CD.
3. GParted Live will load, and you’ll be presented with a few language and keyboard layout options. Select the appropriate ones.
4. After loading, it will show the GParted interface.

Step 3: Resize the Partition (D: or other) to Create Free Space for C:

If there is no unallocated space adjacent to the C: drive, you will need to shrink another partition (e.g., D: drive) to free up space.

1. Identify your C: drive in the GParted interface. It is usually labeled as /dev/sda1 or similar.
2. Select the D: drive (or any adjacent partition) to shrink and click Resize/Move.
   • Resize the partition by decreasing its size. This will free up unallocated space next to the C: drive.
   • Leave enough space for your data on the partition, but free up as much as needed for the C: drive (e.g., 10-50GB).
   • Click Resize/Move to apply the changes.
3. GParted will now begin shrinking the partition. Be patient, as this might take a few minutes depending on the partition size and amount of data.

Step 4: Expand the C: Drive

1. Now that you have unallocated space, select the C: drive (usually /dev/sda1 or similar).
2. Right-click and select Resize/Move.
3. Expand the partition to use the unallocated space:
   • In the “New Size” field, increase the size of the C: drive by dragging the slider or manually entering the new size.
   • Make sure you’re increasing it to the available unallocated space.
4. Once you’ve set the new size for the C: drive, click Resize/Move to apply the changes.

Step 5: Apply Changes

1. At this point, GParted will show a summary of all operations (shrinking D: drive and expanding C: drive).
2. Click the green checkmark at the top to apply all operations.
3. GParted will start performing the operations. This might take some time, depending on the size of the partitions and data.

Step 6: Exit GParted and Reboot

1. Once the resizing operations are complete, click on Exit to close GParted.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Make sure to remove the GParted Live USB/CD during reboot to boot back into Windows.

Step 7: Verify in Windows

1. After your computer restarts into Windows, open File Explorer.
2. Go to This PC and verify that the C: drive has increased in size.

Issues:

• C: Drive not showing correct size: Sometimes Windows needs to refresh disk management. If this happens:
  1. Open Disk Management (Press Win + X → Disk Management).
     Right-click on the C: drive and select Extend Volume if it doesn’t reflect the new size.
• Unable to shrink D: drive: Ensure there is no system or unmovable data on the D: drive that prevents it from shrinking. You may need to defragment the drive or use the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to free up space before proceeding.