I want to shrink C: drive by at least 30 GB but I can't go above 13GB using Windows 10 disk Management tool when 130GB is free
Why is the available shrink space so low even when 130 GB is free?
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Arush Verma
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The main reason for not being able to shrink the disk are that there are unmovable files on the disk at the time of trying to shrink the volume (as your screenshot says).
The most common "unmoveable" files are files which are locked during normal computer operation such as virtual memory/pagefile/system restore files as well as a few other files which may be open, but not running "in memory"
Having come across this myself previously on both server and desktop operating systems - I can say the most likely culprit is the pagefile.
To fix this:
Right-click Computer
Select Properties
Select Advanced system settings
Select the Advanced tab and then the Performance radio button
Select the Change box under Virtual memory
Un-check Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
Select No paging file, and click the Set button
Select OK to allow and restart.
Once your machine has rebooted and you know you have no page file (check at the root of C: with hidden and system files showing) - try a defrag and then try shrinking the volume again.
Don't forget to reset your pagefile back to its original size afterwards! Failure to do so will potentially cause significant performance issues with any machine.
Hope this helps,
Fazer87
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The Windows option to shrink space doesn't move existing data. Data that is at the end of the drive is blocking the shrink process. If your 1 KB text file was written to the end of the partition you wouldn't be able to shrink it at all. You can try to use a defragmentation tool, which does move existing data, or you could use a third party tool for the shrink altogether. Which is considered risky because you're possibly modifying the partition content without Windows knowing about it.
Seth
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