Resize Windows 7/Vista Partition with GParted | Guide

Resizing Windows Vista Partitions with GParted Live CD

For those seeking more control over their Windows Vista partition size, the GParted Live CD presents a powerful solution. This bootable Linux CD provides direct access to GParted, a robust Linux utility specifically designed for partition management.

However, it’s crucial to understand that resizing the boot or system partition can render your system unbootable without subsequent repair. Therefore, possessing a bootable Windows Vista installation DVD is a prerequisite, as it will be essential for recovery if issues arise.

Preparing and Using GParted

Begin by downloading the GParted Live CD image and burning it to a CD. Booting from this CD will present you with a list of available hard drives.

Typically, the first drive listed corresponds to your boot drive, but verification within the 'Flags' column is recommended to confirm its identity.

To initiate the resizing process, right-click on the desired partition and select "Resize/Move" from the context menu.

You can then adjust the partition size either by entering a new value in the "New Size" textbox or by interactively clicking and dragging the partition boundaries on a graphical representation.

Once the desired size is set, click the "Resize/Move" button to queue the changes.

Applying Changes and Potential Issues

It's important to note that these changes aren't immediately implemented. You can continue modifying other partitions as needed.

When all adjustments are complete, click the "Apply" button to initiate the partition resizing process.

The duration of this process is dependent on the volume of data involved and the speed of your computer; it can take a considerable amount of time – exceeding 30 minutes in some cases.

Upon completion, eject the Live CD and reboot your computer.

In many instances, the system will fail to boot, displaying an error message indicating a problem with the boot process.

File: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Status: 0xc0000225
Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.

Repairing Windows Vista After Resizing

Insert your Windows Vista installation DVD and ensure your computer boots from it.

At the welcome screen, select the "Next" button.

On the subsequent screen, click the "Repair your computer" link located in the lower-left corner.

The system recovery options dialog will appear, prompting you to "Repair and restart" – choose this option.

If you choose to view details, the error message will likely indicate "Windows Device: Partition=Not found," confirming that the issue stems from the resized partition.

The computer will reboot, and Windows Vista may appear in the boot list with a modified name, signifying that it has been recovered.

Upon initial startup, Vista will automatically initiate a disk check. Allow this process to complete uninterrupted, as it's crucial for system stability.

After the disk check concludes, the system will reboot, restoring Windows Vista to its fully functional state.

Final Steps

If desired, you can utilize a utility like VistaBootPro to rename the Windows Vista entry in the boot list to its original designation.

Important Note: Always back up your critical data before undertaking any partition resizing operations, as data loss is a potential risk.