I installed Zorin alongside Windows on a 1 TB SSD, but I originally allocated only about 36 GB to Zorin. After using it for a while, I'm confident I want to keep it and would like more room for coding projects and Steam games. I'm planning to clear out the large Windows partition. Can I expand the existing Zorin partition without damaging either operating system or making the computer unbootable?
3 Answers
With that layout, deleting the Windows partition will leave free space at the beginning of the drive, separated from Zorin by the EFI partition. You can’t simply extend Zorin into that space. A live GParted environment can move the EFI partition and then move or expand Zorin, but it’s a more involved operation than a normal resize. Make a verified backup first, keep the computer plugged in, and don’t interrupt the process. Afterward, you may need to repair or verify the bootloader.
If you no longer need Windows, the safest and simplest option may be to back up your files, reinstall Zorin using the whole SSD, and restore your data. If you want to preserve the current installation, use a bootable live Linux USB with GParted rather than trying to resize the Linux partition from within Windows. Also check whether your Steam library and projects need a separate filesystem before committing to the layout.
It depends on where the unallocated space ends up. A partition is easy to expand when the free space is directly after it, but your layout matters. Windows Disk Management also generally can’t resize a Linux filesystem, so you’ll likely need to boot from a Linux live USB and use GParted. Back up important files first, because moving partitions can take a long time and an interruption could cause data loss.
My current layout from left to right is about 894 GB NTFS for Windows, then a 513 MB EFI partition, then the 35.6 GB Zorin partition, followed by an 853 MB recovery partition. I still need to remove the Windows partition.