When Microsoft is trying hard to improve its operating system performance, it has improved the built-in disk management tool a lot. Through comparing Windows XP with Windows 7 we can get a conclusion. Windows XP built-in disk management tool realizes creating partition, deleting partition, formatting partition, setting active partition, changing partition drive letter, and managing resources, but it has no other functions more than these. However, Windows 7 built-in disk management tool has more comprehensive functions. Besides the above functions, Windows 7 built-in disk management tool can extend partition, compress partition, and create mirrored volume and other dynamic disk management functions. The following picture is all functions of Windows 7 built-in disk management tool.
For most common computer users, the most practical functions of Windows 7 built-in disk management tool are "Extend Volume" and "Shrink Volume". With these two functions, we can easily change partition size and change partition mode. However, these functions all have certain limitation – we can only compress or extend partition backwards but not forwards. Therefore, we can't extend partition with the unallocated space compressed from the front partition.
Then how can we realize extending partition with unallocated space compressed from front partition? At this time, we need the professional partition magic – MiniTool Partition Wizard. This software is very flexible to extend or shrink partition, realizing management operations that built-in disk management tool can't do. Next, there is a demonstration of detailed operating process.
MiniTool Partition Wizard changes partition size in Windows 7
Firstly, visit http://www.resize-partition.com to download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard. After installing, launch it to enter main interface:
In main interface, we can check condition of all partitions in the computer. To shrink partition J:, we need to select it and then click "Move/Resize" button:
In this interface, drag partition handle border to shrink partition J:, If we shrink this partition forwards, we still need move partition location after shrinking so that we can put unallocated space to the location behind partition J:. Then we can go on extending next partition.
In this interface, we can find that unallocated space is in front of partition K:. Select partition K: and then click on "Move/Resize" button:
In this interface, drag partition handle border to extend partition K:. After setting, click "OK" button to return to main interface:
In main interface, we can see that through shrinking, moving, and extending operation with MiniTool Partition Wizard, we have successfully changed partition sizes of partition J: and partition K:. But this is only the preview effect, and we need to click on "Apply" button to finish all operations.
With this demonstration, we can clearly find out that MiniTool Partition Wizard is so much more flexible than Windows 7 built-in disk management tool. Despite of flexibility, MiniTool Partition Wizard still has many other functions to manage partition. In "Operations" bar, there are multitudinous management functions. For detailed information, please visit the website.