Basic vs Dynamic volume

Have a play with Disk Management in Computer Management, here are a few questions if somebody can enlighten me

1) What is the major difference between Dynamic and Basic Volume
It seems Dynamic volume can let you change the size of the volume up or down when there is an adjacent unused physical space, without impairing the files already stored. However Partitions (Basic Volume) can only be extended, and will always requires reformating.

Is there anything else I missed?

2) It seems that Dynamic Volume has a lot more overheads, so it may be a little slower and actual file stored will be less, any opinion on that?

I did notice one of the Dyname Volume started to show massic missing storage space, e.g. Used Space of 30GB only has 7GB realy files on it, absolutely no hidden files there because I created the volume. This happens after shrinking and expanding it up and down a couple of time, BUG?!! If so it is a serious one.

3) Dynamic Volume must be used for Mirroring?

Another reason to avoid dynamic disks

"Do not store the image on a dynamic disk – a system image stored on a dynamic disk will provide limited functionality during restore. Specifically, the restore will be supported only if the partitioning on the source disk has not been changed. Therefore if your hard disk failed and is replaced with new hardware, you will not be able to restore the image. "

Source

So it looks like that the consensous is not to use Dynamic Volume for the disk containing the OS?

So then, what are Dyamic Volumes good for? Why do we have them at all?

Dynamic volumes are used to span a partition across multiple HD's.

Do not use it for an OS partition. It is normally considered ruined, but we use a method to convert it non-destructively here and need to do so about once a week.

Congratulations for being the first in recent memory to ask before acting.

gregrocker said:

Dynamic volumes are used to span a partition across multiple HD's.

Well, it can be used for a lot of things. For eaxmple spanning a partition across multiple nonadjacent spaces on the same harddrive, like the OP said.