No matter which Windows operating system you are using, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2012, you may encounter the situation where Drive C is full. Under this situation, all of you would like to know how to free up space or enlarge the drive.
Generally, we can delete useless files to free up space. If you clearly know which files can be deleted, just delete them. But if deleting files only releases little free space or you are afraid of deleting files related to Windows boot, you’d better choose the way recommended in this post. After all, deleting any system file mistakenly would cause Windows unbootable.
With Partitioning Tool You Can Extend Drive C without Losing Data
If you are going to enlarge C for Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 10, download
MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition to help you do it. However, if you are planning to extend drive C for Windows Server 2003, 2008, and 2012, you’ll need to purchase the server edition. Purchase it here with enjoying discounts.
Then, follow steps below.
Step 1: launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to get its main interface:
Step 2: select drive C and choose "
Extend Partition" feature.
Step 3: choose an existing partition or unallocated space from the drop-down list of "Take Free Space from" tab.
Step 4: Click "
Apply" button to apply the change.
After these 4 steps, drive C of your Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2003, 2008, or 2012 computer is enlarged.
However, if you do not want to use third party partitioning tool even if it is free, you can make use of Windows built-in Disk Management utility, but you always need to backup data in advance.
Extend Drive C in Windows Disk Management
Firstly, please press on Win and R key combination to open Run, and then run diskmgmt.msc to enable Disk Management.
Here, please right click drive C to see whether Extend Volume feature is available if you are running Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2012.
Tip: if you are running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, or older Windows OS, you’ll be unable to see the function "Extend Volume" in Disk Management, because it is introduced since Windows Vista. And you have to use third party partitioning tool to extend C drive.
If
Extend Volume can be chosen, just extend drive C by following instructions. But if it is grayed out, you’ll need to backup data saved in the partition which is right contiguous to drive C, then delete it, and extend drive C via "
Extend Volume" feature.
Just compare both methods, and then choose the most proper one to enlarge the C drive of your Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10 and Windows Server 2003, 2008, or 2012 computer when it is full.