Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 home
       #1

    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space


    Hi,

    I recently installed a new 500GB NVME SSD into my laptop. I installed windows 10 using the backup from my old SSD. After successful boot, I noticed that the total space on Windows explorer is lower than the drive capacity.

    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-whatsapp-image-2021-09-20-12.38.11-pm.jpeg

    Through disk management, we can see the unallocated space of 227GB

    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-whatsapp-image-2021-09-20-12.25.53-pm.png

    I then tried to use the function of 'Extend Volume' but noticed it was greyed out as shown above. After looking online, tools such as MiniTool Partition and AOMEI Partition Assistant were suggested so that I can merge both partitions but to no avail.
    I think it has something to do with the fact that the drive on both tools is stated to be Bitlocker Encrypted.

    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-whatsapp-image-2021-09-20-12.25.12-pm.jpg

    I then tried to unlock the drive so that I can merge both partitions but CMD states that the drive is not encrypted, Windows 10 settings states that bitlocker encryption is off

    CMD Screenshot
    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-cmd.jpeg

    Settings Screenshot
    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-settings.jpeg

    From my understanding of the issue, I have unallocated space on C drive that I cannot merge with the main partition due to the drive stating that it is encrypted even tho it doesn't seem to be. What can be done so I can Merge both partition to have 1 drive of 465GB total storage?

    Thanks in advance for help on this issue!

    DELL Inspiron 15 5000
    i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz
    16GB RAM
    64-bit
    Windows 10 20H2
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    Use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free. You have to move each of the three recovery partitions to the right side of the drive first. Then after you move the three recovery partitions all the way to the right, you will be able to extend C: drive into the unallocated space which will now be adjacent to C: drive.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    NavyLCDR said:
    Use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free. You have to move each of the three recovery partitions to the right side of the drive first. Then after you move the three recovery partitions all the way to the right, you will be able to extend C: drive into the unallocated space which will now be adjacent to C: drive.
    Thank you I was about to move the three recovery partitions all the way to the right and then merge the main drive and the unallocated space together.

    In regards to the encryption I went back to settings and turned it on. Is that sufficient to re-enable default protection on the drive?
    Also, is there a reason I have 3 recovery partitions on this drive and are they necessary?

    Thank you for your help!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,735
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    The large one is presumably factory reset. You can decide if you wish to keep that or not, depending on how old and out of date it may be.

    Of the other two, the smaller is probably obsolete and unused. You can check which one is in use.
    Unable to extend C drive with Unallocated Space-1.jpg
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    I never bother keeping recovery partitions. If I am concerned about factory software, I may make an image of them using Macrium Reflect. Then I run the command:
    Code:
    reagentc /disable
    then I delete the recovery partition(s). After the partition(s) are deleted, I run:
    Code:
    reagentc /enable
    The enable command above then puts the Windows Recovery Environment (WINRE) in a hidden, system folder on the root of C: drive.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 11,618
    Windows11 Home 64bit v:23H2 b:22631.3374
       #6

    vanchester90 said:
    ..........Also, is there a reason I have 3 recovery partitions on this drive and are they necessary?.........
    As you can see in the AOMEI Partition Assistant screenshot in your first post, the 990MB partition is the WINRETOOLS partition where winre.wim resides.

    The next 15.31 GB partition is the Factory Image with which your laptop is built.

    The next 1.37GB partition is Dell Support with which Dell applications run.

    fireberd in his post #5 here Advice on resizing new Dell Laptop NVMe drive partitions

    "One caution, Dell installs factory recovery on one partition, hardware diagnostics on another. Moving or deleting some partitions could affect these. May even affect the POST (Power On Self Test) as the Dell Support Assist is part of the POST. Not having these partitions could affect Dell support if ever needed,"

    Since you have moved all the three Dell OEM partitions to the end and expanded the C:, the original partition structure Partition 1: ESP, Partition 2 MSR, Partition 3 C:, Partition 4 WINRETOOLS, Partition 5 Image and Partition 6 DELLSUPPORT is maintained.

    If on an elevated Command prompt you type reagentc /info the location will point to partition4 as before.
    \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition4\Recovery\WindowsRE

    If turning on Device Encryption gets your disk encrypted, everything is OK.

    You can save the new recovery key for the C: drive Settings > Update & Security > Device Encryption. > Bitlocker settings.
    The key will also be available in your Microsoft account. ( You can log in to your Microsoft Account from any PC and get it in case you have lost the saved key.


    Last edited by jumanji; 21 Sep 2021 at 20:50.
      My Computer


 

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