Step-by-step guide to solve AOMEI Partition Assistant Error Code 1030: The program detected the Paging File (pagefile.sys) is on your target partition.
Partitioning a hard drive is a delicate operation. You are essentially asking your computer to tear down walls and rebuild them while the house is still standing. Software like AOMEI Partition Assistant is designed to make this seamless, but sometimes, Windows refuses to cooperate. One of the most common hurdles users face is Error Code 1030.
The message usually reads: "The program is moving data, but the operation is stopped by the system or other programs. Please retry or choose Restart Now to enter PreOS mode."
Seeing an operation stop midway can be terrifying. You might worry about data loss or corruption. However, Error 1030 is actually a safety measure. It simply means AOMEI Partition Assistant tried to modify a section of your hard drive, but another program—or Windows itself—was holding onto that section tightly and refused to let go.
In this guide, we will explain exactly why this "tug-of-war" happens and provide three proven methods to bypass the error and complete your partition resizing safely.
To resize, move, or merge partitions, AOMEI Partition Assistant needs "Exclusive Access" to the drive.
Think of it this way: You cannot replace the tires on your car while you are driving down the highway. Similarly, partition software cannot modify a drive if Windows is actively reading and writing files to it.
Error Code 1030 appears when the software attempts to lock the drive to make changes, but another process says, "No, I am using this."
Common culprits include:
Antivirus Software: Real-time scanners often lock files to check them, blocking the partition manager.
Running Applications: Web browsers, office documents, or background updaters.
System Files: The Windows Pagefile (virtual memory) or Hibernation file, which are constantly in use by the OS kernel.
If the partition you are trying to manage is a data drive (e.g., Drive D: or E:) and not your main system C: drive, you might be able to fix this without a reboot.
Close All Visible Apps: Save your work and close every open window on your taskbar.
Check the Task Tray: Look at the bottom right of your screen. Close background apps like Steam, OneDrive, or Discord.
Disable Antivirus Temporarily: Right-click your antivirus icon and select "Pause Protection" or "Disable for 1 hour." Antivirus software is the #1 cause of Error 1030 because it aggressively locks files.
Retry the Operation: Go back to AOMEI Partition Assistant and click "Retry."
If the error persists, or if you are trying to resize your C: Drive (System Drive), Method 1 will rarely work because Windows itself is the program blocking the operation. You must proceed to Method 2.
Since you cannot repair the engine while driving, the solution is to pull over and turn the engine off. In computer terms, this means using PreOS Mode (Pre-Operating System).
PreOS is a lightweight environment that loads before the full Windows operating system starts. In this mode, your antivirus, background apps, and Windows kernel locks are not active. The disk is free to be modified.
How to enter PreOS Mode:
When Error 1030 pops up, the dialog box usually offers two buttons: "Retry" and "Restart Now".
Select "Restart Now".
Your computer will reboot. Instead of loading your standard Windows desktop, you will see a black screen with white text or a basic AOMEI interface.
Do not panic. This is normal. The software is now running in "Native Mode."
The operation that failed previously will restart automatically. Since Windows isn't running to block it, the resizing or moving process should complete smoothly.
Once finished, the computer will restart again and load Windows normally with your new partition layout applied.
Pro Tip: If the software asks you to reboot into Windows PE (WinPE) mode, accept it. WinPE is a more graphical version of PreOS and is equally effective at bypassing Error 1030.
If Method 2 fails—perhaps your computer hangs during the restart or refuses to enter PreOS mode—you can operate manually using a bootable USB drive. This completely isolates the hard drive from the operating system.
Steps to Create Bootable Media with AOMEI:
Insert a blank USB flash drive into a well-running PC. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant.
In the left-hand menu (or "Tools" menu), click "Make Bootable Media".
Follow the wizard to create a WinPE USB drive.
Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or F12).
Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.
Once the computer boots from the USB, AOMEI Partition Assistant will launch immediately.
Then you can run resize/move or you can recover your lost data.
In the main console, you could view the whole partition configuration. In this demonstrator, there is an unallocated space behind the C drive. Then, right-click the partition (here is the C: partition) you want to extend and select "Resize /Move Partition".
In the pop-up window, position the mouse pointer on the right border of the partition and drag the border rightwards to extend the partition. Then click "OK". (If there's no unallocated space beside the partition, you cannot drag the border).
Normally, when you see Error 1030, the software hasn't actually touched your data yet; it stopped before making changes because it detected it couldn't do so safely. By moving to PreOS or WinPE mode, you are simply providing the software with the clean, unlocked environment it needs to ensure data integrity during the move. If there is still any problem, please feel free to contact our AOMEI Support Team.
Error Code 1030 in AOMEI Partition Assistant is not a sign of a broken disk or faulty software; it is a notification that your drive is currently too busy to be modified safely.
For Data Drives: Try closing background apps and disabling antivirus.
For System Drives: The most reliable fix is allowing the software to "Restart into PreOS Mode."
By allowing the software to operate outside of the Windows environment, you bypass the "exclusive access" restrictions and ensure your partitions are resized safely and accurately.
♦ Q: Will entering PreOS mode delete my files?
A: No. PreOS mode is simply a different environment for running the software. It does not delete data; it only allows the partition operation to proceed without interference.
♦ Q: Why does the operation take so long in PreOS mode?
A: If you are moving a partition, the software physically moves data from one sector of the hard drive to another. Depending on the speed of your drive (SSD vs. HDD) and the amount of data, this can take time. Do not force shut down the computer.
♦ Q: Can I use this to fix "Error 1004" as well?
A: Yes. Error 1004 implies the file is locked, similar to 1030. Booting into PreOS mode or using Bootable Media is the standard fix for almost all "File Locked" or "Access Denied" errors in partition management.