The DiskPart.exe utility cannot extend a logical drive in an extended partition in Windows Server 2003

When you use the Windows Server 2003 DiskPart.exe utility to extend a logical drive in an extended partition on a basic disk, you may receive the following error message after you select the volume and issue an extend command:

Note To extend a logical drive on a basic disk, there must be unallocated free space in the extended partition that immediately follows the logical drive. If the logical drive is the last logical drive in the extended partition, there must be unallocated free space that immediately follows the extended partition.

This problem is a regression from Microsoft Windows Server 2003. In Windows Server 2003, the DiskPart.exe utility does not consider the free space that follows an extended partition to be usable free space.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart Requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

To work around this problem, move the basic disk to Windows 2000, and then extend the logical drive. To acquire the Windows 2000 DiskPart.exe utility, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

The DiskPart.exe utility works correctly in Windows 2000 and can successfully extend a logical drive or an extended partition.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: