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What is a good, free program that will move data so that a new partition can be added to the end of a hard drive, please

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First post, by Kerr Avon

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I have a Windows 10 laptop that can't be updated to Windows 11, so I am going to install Linux on it and dual boot. I will use Windows 10 for games (offline only, but I never play online anyway), and use Linux for web browsing and work documents.

The laptop's D: drive is a 2 TB SSD drive, with no partitions and around 250GB free, and I want to add say a 50 GB* to the end of the drive. The thing is, I don't know if any data has been stored in the last 50 GB of the drive (I've heard that SDD drives don't store everything as near to the front of the drive as they can, they stores things everywhere to save wear and tear on earlier areas of the drive), so I'm looking for a free, reliable program (either a Windows program, or a boot-from-USB type program) that will allow me to convert the last 50 GB of the D: drive to a separate E: partition, and that will first automatically move any pre-existing data from the area of the D: drive that will later be the E: drive.

* Also, will a 50GB partition be enough for Linux? I'll only be using a web browser, Libre Office, e-mail, and maybe a good music player.

Reply 1 of 3, by feda

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You don't need a special program to do that, just use Disk Management included with Windows. Shrink the existing volume by 50 gigs, it will handle any data that needs to be moved. If something cannot be moved, it should tell you.
The Linux installer will then be able to use that unallocated space to make a boot partition and a home partition.

50 gigs should be enough for starters.
I've got Kubuntu, and after installing a bunch of software, Wine and Steam Proton it's about 25 gigs.

Reply 2 of 3, by Kerr Avon

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feda wrote on 2025-12-12, 17:13:

You don't need a special program to do that, just use Disk Management included with Windows. Shrink the existing volume by 50 gigs, it will handle any data that needs to be moved. If something cannot be moved, it should tell you.
The Linux installer will then be able to use that unallocated space to make a boot partition and a home partition.

That's great mate, thanks.

50 gigs should be enough for starters.
I've got Kubuntu, and after installing a bunch of software, Wine and Steam Proton it's about 25 gigs.

Understood, thanks.

Reply 3 of 3, by eM-!3

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It's likely that you can use your Linux installation media for this task. GParted is well known tool GUI tool on Linux but many installers have this option included as part of installation process.
Windows has plenty good partition tools. I use DiskGenius Lite. I was using MiniTool Partition Wizard for many years. Who knows, maybe even MS Disk Management could do it. In worst case scenario it could do it when booted from WinPE or WinRE.

If you're unsure about it it's good to make a backup of your disk.

50 GB should be more than enough.

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