Windows 7: Convert dynamic disk of a laptop to basic disk w/o reinstalling win

Hello ,

I have a Dell laptop which came with Windows 7 installed and disk type was dynamic. I need to install Linux(not on a virtual machine) so I have to convert the disk from dynamic to basic .

The problem is that all methods require that I delete all volumes and re install Windows . I have a lot of tools and applications installed that will require a week to re install .

So , Is there a way to change the dynamic disk of my current laptop I am working on to basic disk without having to remove windows and re installing it ?

Or is there way to convert a single volume to basic so that I can install Ubuntu on it ?

According to this tutorial, no:

How to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

You can do this non-destructively with the free Home version of Easeus Partition manager, or v.4.2 of Partition Wizard which is the last version which offered it as a free feature.

Back up your files as there is some risk in partitioning operations. To be absolutely safest and have rescue capability, I would burn the v.4.2 PW boot disk: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live.

If there are more than 4 Primary partitions you'll need to delete one or convert it first to Logical before it will convert. If you need advice on this post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

You can have four Primary partitions, or three Primary and one Logical extended within which you can add as many Logical partitions as you want. As Dynamic disks are meant to allow partitions to span multiple HD's it is unlikely you laptop came this way, but a warning that it was about to convert must have been disregarded during partitioning operations.

In any case you must not have more than 4 dynamics before you start the conversion to primaries. And when you have 4 primaries back, you need to convert one primary to logical first before you can create additional partitions. That can be done with PW that Greg recommended. The controls are in the Partition tab > Modify..

Thanks for the replies.

Here is a screenshot of my disk :



Put please can you give me a more detailed description of what will I do

1 - I downloaded the CD .
2 - I will backup my data .
3 - I will burn it and boot from it .

4 - Will then I will be able to convert the partitions easily to basic partitions and create a new partition for linux easily without losing data or windows installation ?

This video will show you how to Convert what you have now to Basic after booting into PW CD: How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk with Partition Wizard?

As you have four partitions you don't need to make any changes before converting.

Once you convert take notice of how many Primary vs. Logical partitions you have. You can have a) 4 Primary, or b) 3 Primary and as many Logical partitions as you want.

In the future I would first convert one data partition to Logical if you want to add any more partitions. This will avoid having another accidental conversion to Dynamic. Use PW CD to do the conversion to Logical when needed.

You are lucky. You have only 4 partitions. I wonder how those became dynamic anyhow.

For the operation of PW, see picture. This is a picture of a later release, but 4.2.2. is similar. When you are done with 1., 2., 3., do not forget "Apply" which is on the bottom left of the window.

Nice video Greg. I did not know that this existed. Did you make that?

No, I'm not the tech video auteur that you are, Wolfgang.

Googling most any Partition Wizard function brings up a nice tute with video. Strangely here the tute is for v.7.0 while the video is still for v.4.2 which is the last time Dynamic conversion was in the free edition - downloads have been archived for us by Jonathan and Si.
partition wizard Home 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live
partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live

This time I went with the picture. I think it tells the story too. Now the OP has plenty of referral material.