How to extend boot partition on Windows Server 2008?

Boot partition vs. System partition

The terms of boot partition and system partition are often used to indicate the partitions containing Windows startup for the system and operating system files to boot partitions respectively.

The boot partition refers to the disk volume that contains the Windows operating system files and the supporting files. Default settings, the Windows operating system files are stored in the Windows folder, and the supporting files are in the Windows/System 32 folder.

The system partition refers to the disk volume containing hardware specific files needed to boot Windows, such as Ntldr, Boot.ini, and Ntdetect.com.

The boot volume can be the same volume as the system volume (drive C:), while this configuration is not needed. Windows setup places the initial system partition based on motherboard BIOS settings. However, there is one boot partition for each operating system in a multi-boot system.

How to extend boot partition on Windows Server 2008?

The subject of extending boot partition due to low disk space or other reasons is still a hot topic for IT professionals who work with Windows Servers or Clients. It is true that a lot of people do need to extend the boot partition to speed up the computer or optimize the usage of the disk space in a safe and efficient way.

The pain occurs when you decide to extend the system/boot drive. In order to do that on Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP, you have to boot from WinPE bootable disk or use Diskpart command. Now with Disk Management of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, extending the system/boot volume becomes an easy task even you are a novice of Windows Server. But still, there is some fatal limitation existing: the "Extend Volume" function can only extend the partition which has unallocated space behind it. Therefore, if you want to extend Server 2008 boot volume with Disk Management, there must be unallocated space behind boot volume. Thus you have to backup data and delete the partition to make the unallocated space behind boot volume. To satisfy the limitation is difficult and time-consuming.

Is there any easy and time-saving partition software? As Server 2008 Disk Management alternative, EaseUS Partition Master Server can ensure you to extend Server 2008 boot volume easily and safely.

Extend Server 2008 boot partition with EaseUS Partition Master Server Edition

Following is a step-by-step instruction to extend boot partition of Windows Server 2008.

1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master Server Edition.

If there is no unallocated space behind the boot partition, please follow the below steps. If there is unallocated space behind the boot partition, please directly go to step 4.

2. Select partition E:, right click it, select "Resize/Move partition" and drag the partition handle leftwards to resize E drive. Then there will be unallocated space behind E: drive.

3. Move E: drive rightwards to let the unallocated space be behind the system partition and click OK.

4. Select the boot partition, right click it and select "Resize/Move partition", drag the partition handle rightwards to extend boot partition.

5. Click Apply.

After EaseUS Partition Master executes the operations, you will extend boot partition on Windows Server 2008.

For more detailed information, please visit resizing and moving partitions.

To sum up, EaseUS Partition Master, an all-in-one disk management solution for Server 2008, provides Partition Recovery, Copy Wizard and partition manager handling partition management issues such as "extend system partition", "resize/move partition", "split/merge partition(s)" and so on.

 

 

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