How To Resize Primary Windows Partitions Using Only Free Tools

Resize Windows Partitions!

This article will explain how to adjust the size of two primary partitions on Windows. All of these changes were performed on Windows and did not require a Live CD or any other recovery tools. I was able to perform these steps without data loss, but, as with anything this complex, data loss is a real possibility. Please back up your important data before trying this process.

Visual explanation of the following steps. Partition sizes are shown as an example. Each cell is 50GB.

1. Use Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) to shrink your DATA partition to the smallest possible size. You may need to use Disk Defragmenter first to physically push all of your data together.
2. Use Disk Management to split the new unallocated space into two new partitions. This step seems silly, but it’s the only way to start your DATA where you want it. The first partition is a buffer. You will need to calculate its size so that the second partition starts where you want it. The second partition is where you will copy your DATA partition to. The second partition needs to be at least as big as the current size of DATA. You can leave these partitions as unallocated space.
3. Use MiniTool Partition Wizard to copy your DATA partition to the second unallocated partition. This is the only free software I found that allows copying of partitions. Also use MiniTool Partition Wizard to set the copied partition as Primary (not Logical).
4. Use Disk Management to change your old DATA partition to a new drive letter.
5. Then use Disk Management to change your new DATA partition to the old drive letter.
6. Restart your computer and ensure that the new DATA partition works.
7. Use Disk Management to delete your old DATA partition.
8. Use diskpart to EXTEND both of the remaining partitions. Put simply, list disk, select disk x, list partition, select partition y, extend, select partition z, extend.

Congrats, you now have resized your partitions on Windows!