Solved Want to merger Unallocated space into C Drive

I did a clean install on my Alienware R13 desktop computer today. As background information, the issue I had with the installation was the fact that the C Drive wasn't shown when prompted to decide where to install Windows 11. I learned that the C Drive was set to RAID (in the bios) and was the reason I couldn't see it when asked where to install.

I found that I could change drive from RAID to AHCI and so the install completed without issues.

My problem is during the installation, I suspect I should have deleted ALL the partitions, but I didn't. I only deleted the 2 partitions created from RAID. I could only pick one to install so now I have 1TB of unallocated space, besides C Drive.

1. Is there utility in Windows that I can use to merge it with C Drive to extend the available space where Windows is installed?
2. Do I need to purchase a utility that will fix my issue?
3. Or lastly, do I need to reinstall Windows again, but delete all the partitions to create one large unallocated space?

I've posted an image from Disk Management and circled the space that I'm trying to address.

Greg

C: is on disk 1.

The 931.39 GB is on disk 0.

C: can be extended on its disk (disk 1) provided there is free space on disk 1.

Disk 0 can be converted from unallocated space to partitions and used as a storage drive.

zbook said:

C: is on disk 1.

The 931.39 GB is on disk 0.

C: can be extended on its disk (disk 1) provided there is free space on disk 1.

Disk 0 can be converted from unallocated space to partitions and used as a storage drive.

Click to expand...

I have D Drive for storage so storage is not an issue.

Granted I'm not savvy in this area, but disk 0 and disk 1 are part of the same physical drive.

My hope was to add the space from disk 0 to C drive.

@GregS


Your computer has TWO 1TB physical disks.. When RAIDed, they "acted" as one disk.
When you changed the setting in the BIOS to AHCI, you now see the "two" physical disks.

So... if I were you, I would reinstall Windows again, but this time, do it like this...



1. Make the USB stick install media. Make sure the setting in the BIOS is still set to AHCI.
2. Disconnect the 1TB 7200rpm hard drive..
3. Then install Windows to the NVMe drive.
4. You don't "need" to use the whole 1TB NVMe drive for Windows, but during install just let Windows do it's thing.
5. Then, when you get to the desktop (after install), use a 3rd party app like Minitool Partition Wizard, to make some partitions.
6. Maybe use 1/2 of the 1TB NVMe drive for Windows, then use the other half for a storage space (D:)
7. NOW hook up the 1TB 7200rpm drive. You can use Minitool to partition that as needed.

For example, look how I set up my drives...



D: is just for download.
F: is for copies of installed programs.
G: is for my backups of the Windows install.
H: is for music, pics, movies, etc.
I: is for my TV Series collection



TIPS...

The smaller your actual C:\ "partition", the faster your backups and restores will be. I have approx. 40GB "used space" on my 200GB C:\ partition. My backups take one and a half minutes, and my restores, only two and a half minutes.

The speed of the backups and restores makes the 3rd party backup software, very useful for doing things, like "testing" unknown software. If anything goes wrong... I can just restore from a backup in under three minutes.

On my system, I only install smaller things like 7-zip, Foobar2000 and VLC Media player on my C:\ partition.
I install larger things on my storage drive(s).









Best of all, I gave you ten reaction points, just for filling out your computer specs.
You can't believe how helpful that is for us, when you ask a question or post a problem.

GregS said:

but disk 0 and disk 1 are part of the same physical drive.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, no. Every disk is a separate, independent physical disk. However, you can group disks together using something like RAID or Storage Spaces, or third-party utilities like StableBit Drive Pool, etc.

Ghot said:

@GregS


Your computer has TWO 1TB physical disks.. When RAIDed, they "acted" as one disk.
When you changed the setting in the BIOS to AHCI, you now see the "two" physical disks.

Click to expand...

I went back and looked at the original specs when I ordered the PC and you are correct. There are 2 physical drives plus the hard drive.

I need to rethink about this and I'll look at your and others suggestions.

thanks again.

GregS said:

I went back and looked at the original specs when I ordered the PC and you are correct. There are 2 physical drives plus the hard drive.

I need to rethink about this and I'll look at your and others suggestions.

thanks again.

Click to expand...

No we can relax, knowing that you're going to do well with computers.
You have those rare talents called: patience and thinking ahead.

You're gonna be a "regular" soon. Welcome to the club. ^^



This is us relaxing...

An additional option is to use disk 0 for dual boot.

Ghot said:

You're gonna be a "regular" soon. Welcome to the club. ^^

Click to expand...

Hope you do not mind, I amended the above slightly :-D.

Welcome to the BEST club.