Urgent - extending Window Volumes (out of space)

[James McMillan_4]

Hi

We have a Windows 2003 SP1 Server running Exchange 2003. Hardware is an HP DL380 G3 with Smart Array 5i - 3 x 72Gb in a RAID array.

There is one logical drive on the array, and one 'basic' disk (disk 0). This basic disk has the following partitions/drives, created in the following order:

C: (System), L: (Logs), D:(Data)

We have run out of space on D: which contains the Exchange databases. The Microsoft Article 225551 'Restrictions on Extending or Spanning Simple Volumes on Dynamic Disks' states that 'if the volume existed before the disk was upgraded to dynamic, it can never be extended or spanned no matter which file system it uses.'.

I created a VMWare Virtual Machine with Windows 2003 SP1. I originally created this VM and let C: take up the whole partition. I extended this by a few Gb with the VM tools, then created an 'L: partition, and a 'D:' partition (as per our live server). I then increased this disk once more so there was unused space on this currently, basic disk.

I then converted the disk to Dynamic, rebooted. Right-clicked on the D: partition, chose 'Extend'- it then allowed me to extend the volume - completely contrary to the documentation.

Does this rule only apply to system volumes (ie C:)??

I have exanded the array on our live server and now need to know whether to create a new logical drive, convert disk 0 to dynamic and attempt extending D:, or extend the logical drive and use Acronis Disk Doctor to extend the D: partition while in it's 'basic disk' form.

Hopefully the above makes sense..

Care to comment?

Cheers, James

[otto warlich]

Hello James,

Why convert to dynamic?
You can use diskpart.exe (w2k3) to expand the D: part.
You are right if youy want to extend C: or L: then you need Arcronis or an other tool to do this.
But with diskpart you can extend the last part of a disk, wheter it is dynamic or basic.

With regards,

Otto

[Scott_59]

Hi James;

Yes, if the volume was originally created on a basic disk then there won't be any extending via disk manager. Whether it's C: or D: or L: or...

I'll be checking into the diskpart suggestion.

In the past (on W2K Server boxes) we installed windows 2000, loaded Partition Magic onto it and extended the W2K server partition. It's a bit of work though.

We're also going to be backing up our E: drive, changing it to Dymanic and restoring. Works good on none OS partitions.

Scott

[James McMillan_3]

Thanks for replying all, but...

The thing I don't understand is - why did it work perfectly on my test setup?

"I created a VMWare Virtual Machine with Windows 2003 SP1. I originally created this VM and let C: take up the whole partition. I extended this by a few Gb with the VM tools, then created an 'L: partition, and a 'D:' partition (as per our live server). I then increased this disk once more so there was unused space on this currently, basic disk.

I then converted the disk to Dynamic, rebooted. Right-clicked on the D: partition, chose 'Extend'- it then allowed me to extend the volume - completely contrary to the documentation."

Cheers, James

[otto warlich]

Hello James,

You point at an MS article for Windows 2000 only.
The extention on a W2K with dynamic disk was in without an SP only possible once.
After some SP it was possible to do it more then once.
Windows 2003 can do it more then once.

With

Regards,

Otto

[Scott_59]

Is the space that you want to extend into listed immediately after the "original" space? ie right after D: in your case?

This might explain the difference.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841650/

Scott