Resolved Which option for expanding C partition is best?

Which strategy for adding extra space to my C partition would be best? You can see the hard drive here.

(1) Transfer all my files on D (my data partition) to an external drive (plenty of space there); then eliminate my D partition, and then expand the C partition at least 30 gigs. All that is left of the (former) D partition would then be merged with the 30 gigs of unallocated space to a NEW D partition. At that point, I’d simply copy the files from my external drive back onto my laptop’s new D partition.

(2) Turn the unallocated 30 gigs into a new partition, E. Shrink the D partition (I am using only 82 of 190 gigs space on that D partition), then move that extra space onto E. Move my files on D onto E, then reformat D into unallocated space. Then extend the C partition as much as I want, and then whatever is left, move back onto the new partition (E).

I can simply buy Acronis for $40 and have it move my 30 gigs of unallocated space onto the C drive, but I’m thinking of saving a bit of cash here (it’s not like I’d ever use it again; the demo version won’t do this). Which of these approaches would be the best (however you want to define the term: quickest, least likely to leave room for error, etc.) for me?

One of the things I can do with the extra space here is store more System Restore points. I currenlty only have 2 restore points from within the past few days, as well as one from 2011 when I first installed Windows.

 

FWIW, Windows' disk manager says that it can free up 113 gigs on the D partition, shrinking it to 80-plus gigs. So option (2) is definitely doable.

 

Oh well. I already did this with EasUS partition master. I added the 30 gigs of unallocated space to my D partition, shrunk the D partition and made sure that the new free space was right next to my C drive, and then added new space to my C partition.

This was incredibly easy, and that program was free.

 

EaseUS is a great partition tool.

 

Made a believer out of me. I couldn't believe how easy this was. Free is also nice.