I get asked about this subject alot and thought I would share how this is typically done with everyone. The process requires the aid of a "Helper-VM" I will address that in another blog later on.

This is a simple way to extend a system disk without having to purchase a third part tool. Some admins will create a new partition out of the free space. This process will allow you to utilize that free space for your current System disk C:.

1. Shutdown the guest VM that needs to be resized.
2. Go to “Edit Settings” on that guest VM
3. Select the Hard Disk that needs to be expanded and Type in the New Size of the disk then click OK.
4. Take note of the “Disk File” location in the Top Right.
5. Go to “Edit Settings” on the VM guest “Helper-VM”
6. Add the Disk needing to be extended
a. Click Add
b. Select Hard Disk, Click Next
c. Select “Use an Existing Virtual Disk”
d. Browse to the VMDK file in step 4.
e. Click Next
f. Click Next on the Specify Advanced Options
g. Review settings and click finish
7. Click OK.
8. Power on the “Helper-VM”
9. Open the Console to the Help-VM and go to disk management
10. Verify that the disk has a drive letter and that it sees the new free space. Also the partition will not expand if it is labeled (System) if this is the case the VM will need to be rebooted. After the reboot it should say (Active)
11. Now open up a command prompt
12. Type in diskpart.
13. Type the following:
DISKPART&gt; list volume
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 D CD-ROM 0 B Healthy
* Volume 1 E NTFS Partition 20 GB Healthy
Volume 2 C NTFS Partition 20 GB Healthy System

DISKPART&gt; select Volume 1
Volume 1 is the selected volume.

DISKPART&gt; extend
DiskPart successfully extended the volume.

DISKPART&gt;exit

14. Verify that the disk extended
15. Shut down the “Helper-VM
16. Remove the Disk that was added in step 6
17. Power on the original VM
18. After the machine comes online verify that disk size and then reboot the VM.