How to Maximize VMWare disk (.Vmdk) Virtual Machine

@ This post I created as I had meet a diffculity after my VM get to full after installing my Winodws server 2008 R2 which apears to consume more disk space than what's planned during instllation.

To Maximize your Vm ware Vmdk file's follow this steps :

1- Using the VDiskManager :

1.Turn off the virtual machine;
2.Open a Command Prompt and go to:
C:\Program Files\VMWare\VMWare Server or C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation

or for 64-bit
C:\Program Files (x86)\VMWare\VMWare Server or C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation

3.Run this command to expand the virtual disk:
vmware-vdiskmanager -x 12GB "c:\My harddisk.vmdk" (in this case, 12 GB will be the new size). The file name can contain spaces because of the double quotes.

Note: Because this only expands the disk and not the partition, you'll need to resize the partition table as well. This can be done by 3rd party tools like 'Partition Magic', but also with 'diskpart.exe', a built-in tool of Windows. VMWare provides a list of tools on their web site: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004071

I prefer to use Microsoft diskpart.exe and that’s where this post is about

If your VM runs Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2
These versions of Windows ship with a more enhanced version of diskpart.exe that supports partition extension for bootable disks.

1.Power on your virtual machine;
2.Open a Command Prompt and type:
diskpart

3.Type:
list volume

Remember the volume number (#) of your volume!

4.Type:
select volume (the number from step 8)

5.Type:
extend

6.Your now finished! You do not have to reboot.

If your VM runs Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003 or Server 2003 R2
If your resized virtual disk is bootable, you cannot use diskpart from the virtual machine itself. Use a 3rd party tool or use another virtual machine. Here I describe how to use diskpart.exe with a 2nd virtual machine.

1.Add the increased virtual hard disk to a second virtual machine;
2.Power on this 2nd virtual machine;

3.Open a Command Prompt and type:
diskpart

4.Type:
list volume

Remember the volume number (#) of your volume!

5.Type:
select volume (the number from step 8)

6.Type:
extend

7.Turn off this 2nd virtual machine and remove the virtual hard disk from the virtual machine configuration. This won't delete the hard disk file from disk;

8.Your now finished! You can boot your VM with the resized disk. Windows automatically recognizes the new and correct disk and volume size.



please leave me a commnet if its working fine with you or not.