Win8.1 OS (C:) partition refuses to shrink!

[m654321]

I have to copies of my original win8.1 OS, thankfully, as the original one doesn't work.
On the 250GB SSD is the following:
900MB recovery partition
100MB EFI System Partition
231.78GB OS (C NTFS

I need to shrink C: so that I have some space for an LL2.4 reinstall. The shrink tool under Disk Management doesn't seem to work, or at least is indicating that no space is available for shrinking.  This is strange as I did it before, and the windows shrink tool usually allows up to a 50% shrinkage to generate free space. Can I, instead shrink under an LL live environment, using GParted to do the job for me?

Thanks for any help
Mike

[N4RPS]

Hello!

Folks, if I've left anything important out of all this, please correct me. This should go without saying, but if you can, BACK EVERYTHING UP before attempting ANY of this!

Although it's not the preferred method, yes, you CAN use GPartEd from LiveCD/LiveUSB. I used to do it that way before someone here told me that it's best done - and done so more quickly - in Windows.

Since you have a UEFI boot partition, you probably use GPT partitioning. If you don't, you will have to create a fourth partition as a logical partition to use for your LL partition and swap area.

Just make sure to reboot into Windows right after you shrink it in GPartEd, so that it can run a CHKDSK on the newly-resized partition. If it doesn't run CHKDSK automatically (it should), tell it to...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[m654321]

Thanks Rob.
Yes, my drive has GPT partitions so, from what you so, it looks good to shrink using LL live in Gparted.
Thanks for your help. I will subsequently post the outcome...

Cheers
Mike

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

Only only briefly flirted with Win8, but having read in various forums/threads depending on how Win8 is setup it can make disk management a bit more difficult.?
From what I read if you have "Fast Boot" and/or "Hibernation" enabled it seems to set flags/locks on the disk which may account for why within Win8 you are unable to resize.??
I can see the rational, if you try to shrink it, you could inadvertently make it smaller than Win8 needs for it's own internal needs..??

Having said that, not sure what the impact will be if you re-size it from "outside" of Win8 with gparted.

GL - Dave

[m654321]

Even under GParted it appears impossible to resize by any amount... min size & max size both given as 237344MB !
Oh dear... what to do?

Yours woefully
Mike

[m654321]

Rob, I've succeeded.
I downloaded the free version of Minitool Partition Wizard and it worked a treat in shrinking the drive by 50% & healthy rebooting.
EaseUS Partition was another option but after the free demo, you had to pay $39 to get the key to apply the changes.  Fingers crossed
that the free one doesn't come with malware...
Regards
Mike

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

I don't have Win8...
Google "How to check if Fast Boot is enabled" and "How to check if Hibernation is enabled"


If they are.??, Disable them, re-boot, and check in Win8 if you can then re-size.?


Dave

[Wirezfree]

I guess I was typing at the same time....

I assume you can still boot, Win8 & Linux O.K

Dave

[m654321]

...Re. dual boot win8.1/LL2.4... yes, working iwith UEFI fully enabled (crikey, LL boots really quickly in UEFI!) but a bit of a long story... I am now back where I started setting up binding of DATA subdirectories to My Home Directories... taking on board goldfinger's advice about putting the EFI partition in the fstab file... getting there and will get back to that thread soon.

Thanks Rob
Mike

[Wirezfree]

Great News...

Hope you have kept good notes..!! 
Just in case you ever need to start from scratch..!!  :o


With the various threads, the notes could be a good "How To..."


Dave