Here, we will show you how to use GParted in Windows Server 2003 to resize Server 2003 partition step by step as an example. Besides,a better Server partition manager will also be shared.
GParted(Gnome Partition Editor) is a free partition editor for graphically managing your disk partitions, allowing you to create, delete, move, resize, clone partition and more. This program can be used on x86 and x86-64 based computers running Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X by booting from media containing GParted Live. Why you would need to install this program on your Windows Server 2003 even though it has the built-in Disk Management tool?
The most important reason can be the Windows Server 2003 native Disk Management does not enable users to resize (extend or shrink) one partition. From the above screenshot of Server 2003 Disk Management, we can know there are no “Shrink Volume” and “Extend Volume” options. However, the disk partition (especially the system partition) is easy to get full and slow down the computer performance. The it will be imperative to extend partition. So most Windows Server 2003 users ask GParted for help to resize partition.
As mentioned above, the GParted has to be booted from media containing GParted Live. So, first of all, you have to download GParted ISO files and burn it to a CD/DVD/USB drive. Then boot your Windows Server 2003 from the bootable media and take the following steps.
Step 1. Once you boot to GParted, you’ll see the below screen. Choose “GParted Live (default setting)”.
Step 2. When being asked “what keymap to use”., you can just select “Don’t touch keymap”.
Step 3. In the subsequent screens, choose the default language, mode and other settings and press Enter.
Step 4. Then the GParted window will open. Then right click the partition you want to resize and choose “Resize Partition” from the drop-down menu.
Step 5.Then drag the slider to the right to extend the selected partition. (To shrink it, you just drag the slider to the left side.)
Step 6. Then click on the “√” icon on the toolbar to execute the operation.
The above shows how to extend Server 2003 partition via GParted. But sometimes, you might find you cannot drag the slider to the right side to extend the aim partition (as shown in the picture, no free space in the preceding or following side can be added into the partition).
Why? That’s because the GParted can only extend a partition when there is a contiguous free space adjacent to it (either right side or left side). In this situation, you have to use its “Move Partition” feature: move the middle partition in the way of the target partition and the unallocated space to the right side.
Drag the partition to the end.
Then the partition you want to extend and the free space are adjacent. Now repeat the above steps to expand the partition.
The GParted makes up the limitations of Windows Server 2003 Disk Management and allows users to resize partition, but it requires too many preparations like creating a bootable media that contains GParted Live. Besides, when it comes to enlarging one partition in Server 2003 via GParted, there must be an adjacent free space.
To get around of all hassles, you can turn to another more powerful Server partition manager: AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. This software works well on all editions of Windows Server 2012 (R2), 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025 and all Windows PC. It does not need to boot from some bootable media as long as you can boot into Windows Server successfully.
★★★To extend partition in Windows Server (2003), it provides two better solutions than GParted. One is “Merge Partitions”: directly add non-contiguous unallocated space into an existing partition. Another one is “Allocate Free Space”: directly assign some free space from one partition to another. Both methods can expand Server 2003 partition by 3 steps. ★★★
If there is no unallocated space, switch to the “Allocate Free Space”.
1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. Right click the partition, which has free space, and select “Allocate Free Space”.
2. Here, you can input the free space you want to transfer to the destination drive and click “OK”.
3. Click “Apply” and “Proceed” to commit the pending operation.
If there is unallocated space but not adjacent to the target partition, use the “Merge Partitions”.Choose one method based on your disk partition layout.
Now, you should get a comprehensive understanding of GParted in Windows Server 2003, as well as how to resize Windows Server 2003 partition using GParted. If you fail to extend Server partition using GParted program, the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server is a perfect alternative. Additionally, it is also able to clone Windows Server to SSD/HDD, convert dynamic disk back to basic one without removing volumes, securely erase SSD, recover lost partitions and more.