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11 June 2024  Ashley S. Miller  Specialist of Customer Service Dept.
 

Summary
Understand how disk partitions slow your computer and learn effective methods to fix the "cant extend volume" issue in this concise guide.



Table of contents

table iconI. What is the reason why Windows cannot expand the volume?
table iconII. How to solve the problem that Windows cannot expand the volume?
table iconIII. Recover lost partition data with Renee Undeleter
Windows cannot extend the volume

I. What is the reason why Windows cannot expand the volume?

When expanding the volume in Disk Management, the “Extend Volume” option is grayed out, preventing successful expansion. Possible reasons include:
● There is no unallocated space on the hard disk drive.
● Windows cannot expand to FAT or other partitions. Because the Extend Volume option in Disk Management is only available for RAW or NTFS partitions.
disk manager, Extend volume
Now that we understand why the volume can’t be expanded, let’s explore some common solutions.

II. How to solve the problem that Windows cannot expand the volume?

1. Create unallocated space

You cannot expand a volume without unallocated space on your hard drive. First, delete an empty or useless partition or shrink an existing one to create unallocated space next to the target volume. Steps are as follows:
Step 1: Run the computer, press the (Windows+X) keys at the same time, and select the (Disk Management) option.
open windows disk management
Step 2: Right-click the partition, select the (Delete Volume) option, and click the (OK) button.
disk manager, delete volume
Note: Deleting the volume will clear all its data. Please back up the data in the partition before deleting it to avoid data loss. If data loss occurs due to the lack of a backup, refer to the third part below for recovery attempts.
Step 3: Once the volume is deleted and becomes “unallocated,” you can extend the previous partition. Right-click the target partition and select the “Extend Volume” option.
Extend volume Windows
Adjust the target volume size in the volume expansion wizard interface, then click Next > Finish to expand the partition.
Extend volume Windows

2. Convert FAT partition to NTFS format

The extended volume function in disk management does not support the FAT file system. Even with unallocated space behind the target partition, the extended volume operation cannot be performed. As shown in the figure below, the extended volume option for the FAT32 partition is grayed out, indicating the volume cannot be extended.
extend volume greyed out windows
Before formatting to convert the FAT partition to NTFS, back up your data. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the (Windows+X) keys on the keyboard at the same time. Then in the pop-up list, select the (Disk Management) option.
open windows disk management
Step 2: Right-click on the FAT partition and select the (Format) option.
right click to select format sd card in disk management
Step 3: Select the file system: NTFS. Then check the (Perform a quick format) option, and click (OK).
quick Format
After changing the partition to NTFS, right-click it, select “Extend Volume”, and follow the instructions to complete the process.
Extend volume in Windows
Two conventional methods to solve the issue of Windows not expanding the volume involve deleting the volume or formatting the partition, which may cause data loss. If you haven’t backed up your data, it’s recommended to use professional data recovery software. I recommend using Renee Undeleter. This software is not only comprehensive but also user-friendly. Let’s explore its functions and usage steps below.

III. Recover lost partition data with Renee Undeleter

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is specialized software for restoring various data files. It helps retrieve lost data when files are accidentally deleted, the recycle bin is emptied, or disks/storage are formatted. The software includes four modules: Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation, addressing all potential data loss issues comprehensively and conveniently.
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Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan;

Supported file types Image, video, audio, text, email and so on;

Image creation Create a partition image to read and back up data;

Supported devices SD card, SDHC, SDXC, USB flash drive, hard disk and computer.

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Multiple scan modes Fast partition/whole partition/whole disk scan;

Supported devices SD card/USB/hard disk.

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2. How to recover lost partition data with Renee Undeleter?

Step 1: Download, install, and run Renee Undeleter. Select the “Whole Disk Scan” option. Note: Avoid installing on the disk that needs data restoration to prevent data overwriting.
select whole disk scan in renee undeleter
Data Recovery Function:

  • Fast Partition Scan – Quickly retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion or emptying the recycle bin.
  • Whole Partition Scan – Recover files from inaccessible or formatted partitions.
  • Whole Disk Scan – Analyze partition information and fully scan the entire disk.
  • Image Creation – Create an image of a partition to back up its current state.
Step 2: Select the disk to be scanned (where the deleted or formatted partition is located), then click Next. Choose the default setting on the advanced setting interface.
select a disk to recover in renee undeleter
Step 3: The software will analyze the disk device. Once complete, a “Select the partition you want to scan” prompt will appear. Choose the desired partition. After scanning, preview the files in the right preview window, select the files to restore, and click the Recover button in the lower right corner.
select taget files to recover with renee undeleter
Step 4: Select the target folder, click Browse to choose a different disk for saving the recovered files, then click Recover to start the file recovery process. Wait patiently.
recover files from whole disk scan with renee undeleter