Unable to select HD partition size

I have a single 250GB SSD.

I'm trying to partition my SSD (C: drive) and allocate 30GB for a dual boot of Linux. When I click "shrink volume" in disk management, the maximum allowed space is 10.5GB. My computer has 90GB free. Why can't I increase the size? Bitlocker is not enabled. This seems strange.

My alternative is to install linux onto a portable flash drive, but I don't want to deal with that.

Attached is my disk management viewer without already shrinking the volume. I can shrink for comparison if necessary

 

1) Visit Phoenix Software Updates

2) In the list, look for MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

3) Download and install it

4) Now try to edit the partition size, I suggest shrinking by leaving unallocated space after your C: Drive, then create a Linux Partition and install it there

 

Hi, thanks. Sorry, that last step wasn't clear to me. Are you suggesting in disk management I create the 10gb unallocated space before using your software? Or should I not even use disk management and simply use the program you suggested?

 

Right, just install the program I suggested. when you launch it, on the right you will find a popup ad, just click don't show again in the little box

Now, select Launch Program from the boxes that you get and you will see your partitions listed, right click on C: and choose resize

Now you will get a graphical bar to drag how much you want to shrink or you can simply enter a number below by entering the text, there is before and after, enter 30 GB in the after so it will shrink the disk but the free space will go after C: not before C:. as you know, before C: right now you have some system partitions so its best to shrink AFTER the C: partition to not disturb the Windows partitions setup that it created during its setup. Once you have that free unallocated 30GB after your C: Partition, right click on it and create a new partition, the program supports all partition types including those for Linux.

Be smart....be like Phoenix....

 

Did that and now my computer won't boot.
Chose 30gb

 

Computer doesn't have a disc drive, what options do I have?

 

did you do as I told you exactly? right click on C: and choose resize? then have the unallocated space after C:? it would reboot the system and do the shrink before getting into the OS. No way it can mess up your OS unless you did something wrong

 

Burn the Windows 10 ISO on a USB Flash Drive on another computer using this guide, it has everything step by step:

NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

Now when you're creating your partitions, make sure to leave 30GB unallocated rather than allocating everything to C:

while you're at the partition selection wizard in the Windows setup, delete the previous system partitions and create a new partition in the unallocated space

 

I manually dragged the portion, and when I was done, it showed 30gb unallocated after C

 

right then you hit apply and it asked you to reboot? I've used this program for years and have always successfully resized partitions that way

 

It gave me an error, and it said "cancel, restart, or retry." It said "if you restart, it will take care of the remaining process" or something along those lines. So, I restarted.

Anyway, if I have to re-install Windows, I don't have a Win10 Pro key any that's unused. Is that what I'll have to do?

 

what do you mean any that's unused? it's not like you use your key and it's done. you can use that same key which you had to install it on this same machine. Heck, if it was previously activated, you don't even need a key, the moment you go online, after a while it will activate automatically as your machine's hardware/Windows product key was registered with Microsoft

If you laptop has a Windows 10 product key built in, then the Windows installer will read the key automatically from the BIOS

Also see this:
How to select Windows Home or Pro when installing Windows 10

 

It's a desktop that I built from scatch. If I'm reformatting my HD I'll have to re-install Windows. I've tried re-using keys before and I'm prompted with an error

 

Ok you need to be more detailed if you want help. I cannot help you with these vague answers

If you previously purchased your Windows 10 Pro either online from a Microsoft store or from a store (retail box) then that key should activate just fine as many times as you want on the same machine. Heck you're even allowed 3 major hardware switches/computer switches by Microsoft before the key is black listed. I've reinstalled my OS more than 50 times in the past year and it activated every time the moment I go online. I don't enter my product key it activates using the HWID from Microsoft

You can always call Microsoft provided you have a legit key to get help with activation issues.

I don't know why you said my keys are not working, how many keys do you have? Where did you get them from?

 

ok thanks

 

In separate news, i reinstalled windows. Restarted the computer and its been at "Restarting" for nearly an hour. Doesn't say anything about Windows updates.

edit: did a hard restart, all good now.

 

awesome man! Glad you could figure it out. So did your Windows automatically activate when you went online? and did you leave the unpartitioned space for Linux now?

 

Yeah I got it working, thanks. Activated without an issue

 

Perfect man! I'm so glad you got it all sorted now. Cheers