Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

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ChrisGreaves
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Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

Please see also This Topic
Playing with an Acer Aspire3 Win11 laptop I noticed that I had but 1.5 GB free on Drive C:
Partition_01.png
Ladt night I was stymied by an message suggesting that I had unmoveable files. I had tried to (Computer, Manage, Disk Management) extend the boot partition (Partitione1 in the image above) and been thwarted, so I wisely went to bed, and started afresh this morning.
Partition_02.png
The sequence I followed was this:-

Code: Select all

Partition 2	Delete Volume	yielded 171 GB unallocated
Partition 1	Extend Volume	"None available"
Partition 2	New Simple volume	yielded 171 GB which I Quick-formatted
Partition 2	Shrink Volume to 50%	yields 86 GB and a Partition 3 of 86 GB
Partition 1	Extend Volume	this option unavailable
Partition 2	Delete Volume	
Partition 1	Extend Volume	I chose to extend to 150 GB (probably overkill) leaving an 86 GB data partition
As the screen shot shows, I am now happy. My drive C (r/c properties) shows 84 GB free.

I am puzzled by the number of steps i went through to achieve my goal.
In particular I am puzzled about Formatting.
Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?" I would have thought Win11 smart enough to see that there were, as yet, no user files present, apart from an empty directory file for the folder C:\

I am still playing, so for the next few days this laptop can suffer a few experiments yet.

Thanks, Chris
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John Gray
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by John Gray »

"Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?"
I would define a newly-formatted partition as one which has a file system thereon, with an empty folder structure (and thus no files whatever).
In fact, what you get by running FORMAT x: .
Then you can start adding folders and files, to your heart's delight!
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

John Gray wrote:
10 Jul 2024, 16:14
I would define a newly-formatted partition as one which has a file system thereon, with an empty folder structure (and thus no files whatever).
Thanks John. Me too!
But is that how r/c Manage, Disk Management sees it? It is that process which objects to shrinkage and expansion of disk partitions.
Cheers, Chris
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by John Gray »

You need to find whether your offending partition contains devious files of which you may not be aware, such as the Page File.
Something like TreeSize Free or some other file displayer, which you undoubtedly have!
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

John Gray wrote:
10 Jul 2024, 18:36
You need to find whether your offending partition contains devious files of which you may not be aware, such as the Page File.
Something like TreeSize Free or some other file displayer, which you undoubtedly have!
Thanks John.
I reasoned that by Deleting then Creating a new Simple Volume a day or two ago I would have a partition that was unused. Formatted, maybe, but had not been assigned a drive letter, and so had not been referenced by anything I'd done.
I doubt that even Win11 would suddenly decide to put a page file there; or System Restore.

This morning's 7-step process, outlined in my first post, is the only way (so far) that I was able to extend my system partition.

That worked, but I said to myself "Surely it shouldn't be that complicated?".
Cheers, Chris
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by John Gray »

The only real trouble I've had in the past is with extending the System Partition C:...
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Re: Unused vs Shrink Available 2 - Is a Formatted partition defined as "one with unmovable files?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

John Gray wrote:
10 Jul 2024, 19:04
The only real trouble I've had in the past is with extending the System Partition C:...
:going around in a circle:
John, that's what I am trying to do.
Did your trouble match mine?
Cheers, Chris
Fill your face with laughter, then there will be no room for tears.