Server 2003, ProLiant DL360 G4, DiskPart partition resize problem

[shuckie]

Hello everyone

I have recently replaced the 36GB disks in the above server with 72GB disks as the data volume is running low on space. I expanded the array using the HP Array Configuration Utility, and DiskPart appeared to extend the data partition OK as the new size is shown on the lower Disk Management graph. However, both the upper section of Disk Management and all Windows Explorer/My Computer windows show the original (non-extended) partition size?

I was able to resolve a similar issue on another server by expanding the array to the maximum available size and extending the partition again, however this is not an option in this situation as I have already used the maximum available sizes for the array and partition. I've also been able to resolve similar issues with other servers previously by simply rebooting the server in question, however this is not resolving the problem in this instance.

I tried the solution suggested at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/235376 for a similar problem, hoping it would resolve the situation even though the solution was intended for a different version of Windows, however nothing has changed following a scheduled reboot.

The only other solution I have been offered in the past is to use a third party disk management tool to resize the partition, however I don't have a budget for this and my colleagues advise me I am unlikely to persuade anyone with a budget to pay for such software!

I have had no useful response to similar threads that I've posted on other sites and am really baffled by this problem which seems to appear on different servers.

I would be grateful if someone else who has experienced the same problem could advise me how they resolved it, especially if they were able to do so without having to buy any further software!


Thanks

Mike

[MartinG_1]

Hi,

I cannot imagine what kind of problem you have as my experiences with first extending the array configuration utility and then expanding with diskpart where always successful.

But you could use NTbackup or ASR (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779908(WS.10).aspx) to backup that partition or volume, recreate it and restore the files or system.

I just hope that you have separate volumes for system/data.

regards

[MartinG_1]

Sorry, the link is broken:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779908(WS.10).aspx

[shuckie]

Hi Martin

Thanks for replying to my thread. I didn't want to delete and re-create the partition, but in the end that is what I had to do before I received your reply as the disk space was critically low and I had no other option.

On the plus side a colleague was able to recommend a different server on which the data could be stored before I wiped the existing partition, so the re-created partition is now sitting empty until it's needed for something else!

[Brian M Welch]

One tool I've found to be quite useful is GPARTED. It's a bootable Linux distro that boots right into a partition manager interface. (extend, shrink, resize, etc..) Perhaps that can help you out?

[shuckie]

Hi Brian

Thanks for the suggestion. Where's the best place to obtain GPARTED? Are there any guarantees regarding no data loss if it is used to shrink a partition which contains data?

[shun_1]

he guys, check this http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/sbs-server-low-disk-space.htm

[Techguys]

There is step by step guide how to extend partition on Server 2003 with Diskpart
http://www.partition-magic-server.com/extend-partition/diskpart-server-2003-to-extend-partition.html

[shuckie]

I had to move the data elsewhere then delete and recreate the partition as previously stated.

I am closing the thread as I logged it a while ago and didn't realise that it was still open.