A method for increasing the size of a primary swap partition on a computer system operating under control of a UNIX type operating system. The computer system includes a first storage device. The first storage device includes a primary swap partition. The method includes identifying whether a valid storage areas exists at a location on the first storage device such that the contiguous expansion of the primary swap partition is impeded and preparing the valid storage area, if the valid storage area exists, for allocation as an available storage area to allow contiguous expansion of the primary swap space. The method further includes booting the computer system to a single user mode, increasing the size of the primary swap partition without reinstalling the UNIX type operating system, and rebooting the computer system.