Expanding a VM-Windows partition

1. Power off the VM
2. Expand VMDK file to final size: One method is to use VIC, Edit settings, select Hard Disk, then change New Size.
3. The other is to login to ESX host and use command line tool /usr/sbin/vmkfstools –X #G pathtofile/file.vmdk, where #G is the final disk size and file.vmdk is the vmdk of the virtual server.
4. Edit settings of VM and mount the Gparted-livecd-*.iso to the VM.
5. Go into Options tab and change Boot Options to for entry into BIOS setup screen and make CD-ROM boot before the hard disk.
6. OK to close VM Properties.
7. Power on VM
8. Once within GParted tool, use the defaults until into the GUI
9. Click on current partition
10. Select Resize
11. Drag arrow to expand partition
12. Click Resize
13. Click Exit and Shutdown VM
14. Edit settings again to remove the Gparted ISO
15. Power on VM
16. Login via VIC console and Windows will find new hardware.Reboot the VM to complete process.

Reference: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=994