How to Extend C Drive on Windows Server 2012 (R2) Easily

C drive, also named as system drive, is an extremely important part of the (Server 2012) computer. Besides the operating system, many vital files, such as temporary files, browser caches, downloaded programs, applications, etc., are also saved on this partition.

As a result, the C drive might run out of space quickly as time goes by. Well, when your C drive is almost full and receives the low disk space alert, apart from free up space on C drive via move apps to another drive, delete unnecessary files, etc., most users might consider extending system C drive by adding more space to it from other volumes. For this task, you can make use of two tools: Windows native Disk Management and third-party partition manager. Continue reading and learn 2 ways to help increase C drive space Server 2012. 

How to Extend C Drive on Windows Server 2012 R2

This part will provide 2 ways how to extend C drive: using the professional extend partition wizard and the Server's built-in tool -Disk Management. Let's see how to extend volume of c drive from unallocated space.

Easily extend C drive on Server 2012 with partition software

To extend C drive quickly and easily, try the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. This Server partition software is compatible with both Windows Server and Windows PC. It breaks out the limitations of Windows built-in tools (Disk Management) and can do:

✦ Move partition to make unallocated space contiguous to the target volume;
✦ Extend volume with both the right and left contiguous unallocated space;
✦ Merge non-adjacent unallocated space into another partition;
✦ Allocate free space from one partition to another.

In addition to the above 4 amazing features, AOMEI Partition Assistant Server has another more advanced feature called “Extend Partition Wizard”, designed for easily extending NTFS system partition without data loss. Besides, it does not require you to reboot the system after extending C drive on Server 2012. There is a demo version for free download and trial.

Step 1. Install Partition Assistant Server Edition and open it. In the main interface, click “Tools” in the top toolbar, and choose “Extend Partition Wizard”.

Step 2. Here, select “Extend system partition” from the given two options. Click “Next”.

Step 3. Choose a partition from which you plan to take free unallocated space. Here we select D drive and hit on “Next”.

Step 4. In the following window, drag the slider bar to the right to free space, or you can enter a proper value into the Partition New Size box.

Step 5. This interface will give us the detailed information about the operation of volumes. Please choose "Proceed" to execute all these operations.

After executing all these operations, you can see the C drive becomes larger, and the system will not reboot.

How to extend C drive on Windows Server 2012 via Disk Management

Disk Management in Windows Server 2012 is a built-in tool for users to manage their disk partitions in a graphical interface. If there is an adjacent unallocated space after the C drive, you can directly right-click C drive, choose “Extend Volume” and follow the wizard to extend the Server OS drive. 

Warning: If there is no contiguous unallocated space, the “Extend Volume” option will be greyed out. In this situation, you have to first delete the partition after the system drive.

Here is how to perform it:

Step 1. Open Disk Management first. 

Press Windows+R, type diskmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open it.

Step 2. Next, you should delete an adjacent partition to generate unallocated space.

Right-click the E drive (which locates after C drive) and select Delete Volume.

Step 3. Then, extend the C drive with the unallocated space. 

Right-click the C drive and select Extend Volume.

Step 4. Follow the Extend Volume Wizard to extend C drive.

In the Extend Volume Wizard, click Next to extend C drive step by step.

Step 5. After that, the C drive has been extended.

Click Finish to close Extend Volume Wizard.

Although Windows Server 2012 Disk management can shrink and extend volumes, both of them come with restrictions:
▸ The “Shrink Volume” function can only make unallocated space on the right after shrinking a volume.
▸ The “Extend Volume” feature only functions when the unallocated space is directly behind the target drive you need to extend.
In brief, the “Extend Volume” option can only add the unallocated space to the left contiguous partition. Therefore, if you want to expand C drive on Server 2012, the only option is to delete the right adjacent volume. As shown above, to extend C drive, you have to delete E drive first. How tiresome! What's worse, it will lead to the disaster of data loss.

When Disk Management lets you down, try AOMEI Partition Assistant and extend C drive on Windows Server or Windows OS easily and quickly. It also supports Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 (R2).

Bonus Tip: How to free up space on C drive Windows Server 2012 R2?

Extending the C drive on Server 2012 is an effective way to solve Windows disk space shortage. But Windows Server 2012 disk full brings a lot of inconvenience, in addition to expanding the space you can also try the following methods:

• Delete unnecessary files
• Uninstall software that you have not used for a long time
• Change the location of the software
• Upgrade to a larger hard disk

In short, there are many ways to free up disk space. If you don't know how to do it, please download AOMEI Partition Assistant, which provides App Mover, Allocate free space, Clone Disk and other functions to help you solve the problem of insufficient space.

Complete Guide: Windows Server 2012 (R2) Hard Drive Keeps Filling Up

Summary

Much better and more versatile than Disk Management, AOMEI Partition Assistant Server can help extend C drive on Server 2012 or extend C drive Server 2012 R2 in several safe and easy ways. How convenient it is! Just several clicks and drags can increase C drive space on Server 2012! Meanwhile, it also supports cloning Server OS to SSD, cloning partition, converting (boot) disk between MBR and GPT without deleting partitions, etc.  

If you need to install it on multiple PCs and Servers, you can consider the AOMEI Partition Assistant Technician or Unlimited edition based on your needs. The Technician and Unlimited edition have a helpful function, Create Portable Version, enabling you to create AOMEI Partition Assistant to a removable device. Thus, you can connect the device to other computers and run AOMEI Partition Assistant from the device without installation.