Resize Server 2003 NTFS partition without data loss or rebooting Server

What is NTFS File System?

NTFS (New Technology File System) is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

NTFS provides performance, security, reliability, and advanced features that are not found in any version of the file allocation table (FAT) file system. For example, NTFS guarantees volume consistency by using standard transaction logging and recovery techniques. If a system fails, NTFS uses its log file and checkpoint information to restore the consistency of the file system. NTFS also provides advanced features, such as file and folder permissions, encryption, disk quotas, and compression.

Comparing with FAT file system, NTFS has many advantages, so NTFS partition is widely used, especially for system partition. However, either NTFS or FAT partition will run out of space. Operating System runs much slower, even crash if there is little free space in the system partition, so you need to resize the NTFS partition as fast as possible.

Which tool to resize Server 2003 NTFS partition?

Many users like to search "Partition Magic Server", as Partition Magic is so famous, people want to use Partition Magic on Windows Server, but in fact, there is no Partition Magic Server edition for Windows 2003 Server and Partition Magic is no longer for selling.

As Partition Magic Server alternative, Partition Assistant Server Edition is an ALL-IN-ONE partition solution and the most convenient hard disk partition manager toolkit including Partition Manager and Extend Partition Wizard for Windows 7/XP/2000/Vista and Server 2008/2003/2000 (32 bit and 64 bit).

It allows users to Resize/Move Partition, Extend System Drive, Merge Partition, Split Partition, etc. It supports all hard drives recognized by Windows such as IDE, SATA, SCSI, Hardware RAID, USB external disks, Fire wire disks etc.

With Hot Resize feature, you can resize Server 2003 NTFS partition without rebooting.

How to resize Server 2003 NTFS partition?

- It is extremely easy to resize NTFS partition in Windows 2003 Server. You just need to drag and move on the disk map to shrink an existing data partition to get some Unallocated space, and then extend the NTFS boot partition with this space. No need to delete, format partitions or rebuild the Server.

- Any operations you do on the Server will be listed in the "Operations Pending" column and no changes will take place on your partitions before you click "Apply".

Step by step tutorial to resize Server 2003 NTFS partition

Step 1, Launch Partition Assistant Server, you'll see all disks and partitions that connected to your Server, the free space, used space and other parameters of each partition.

Step 2, After selecting a data partition, it will be shown below "Move and Resize" with two green double-headed arrows, put the mouse cursor over the left green arrow, when it changed to be a larger black arrow, drag leftwards. Some Unallocated space will be created behind the system partition.

Step 3, Select the system partition, you'll find that there is some free space behind it, drag the right green arrow rightwards to hold this free space.

Now, the system partition has been extended, click "Apply" on the toolbar to proceed.

Partition Assistant Server is not only a tool to resize partitions, but also a toolkit for you to better maintain your Server and improve its profermance.

For enterprise users, Partition Assistant Unlimited Edition allows unlimited usage within one company to save your time and money.