Problem
You have Windows Server 2003 virtual machine running on VMware vSphere 4.x or 5.x and you need to expand one of the data drives (non-system) so you proceed with increasing the size of the VMDK, log onto the Windows Server to perform a refresh in Disk Management:
… then proceed with using diskpart to extend the drive but notice that the operation fails with the following:
C:\>diskpart
Microsoft DiskPart version 5.2.3790.3959
Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: FILE1
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 C System NTFS Partition 18 GB Healthy System
Volume 1 D Data NTFS Partition 80 GB Healthy Pagefile
Volume 2 E DVD-ROM 0 B Healthy
DISKPART> select volume 1
Volume 1 is the selected volume.
DISKPART> extend
The volume you have selected may not be extended.
Please select another volume and try again.
DISKPART>
Solution
While there can be various reasons why message:
The volume you have selected may not be extended.
Please select another volume and try again.
… would be displayed when an attempt is made to extend the drive, one of the reasons why is if you Windows page file stored on the volume:
To workaround this issue, move the page file off of the drive you’re trying to expand:
… then proceed with using diskpart to extend the volume:
C:\>diskpart
Microsoft DiskPart version 5.2.3790.3959
Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: FILE1
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 E DVD-ROM 0 B Healthy
Volume 1 C System NTFS Partition 18 GB Healthy System
Volume 2 D Data NTFS Partition 80 GB Healthy
DISKPART> select volume 2
Volume 2 is the selected volume.
DISKPART> extend
DiskPart successfully extended the volume.
DISKPART>
