Convert Dynamic to Basic disk

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  1. Pie015
    Posts : 28
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #1

    Convert Dynamic to Basic disk


    I'm trying to install Windows Vista on a separate 50GB partition which is dynamic (A brownish-yellow color in Disk Management) but Windows Vista doesn't accept this unlike 7 so I'm trying to convert it to a Basic Partition (Blue in DM) anybody knows how to do this. Please tell me, P.S I cant format my main hard disk, only the partition TIA

    More Info:
    I was partitioning when I clicked some I dont know but it turned yellow I but I didnt really care because I didnt know what it ment so i didnt care but I now I cant convert them.
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  3. theog
    Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       New #2

    Make sure you backup first.
    Take look at this tutorial:
    Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk
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  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #3

    Your problem probably was that you had 4 primary partitions when you tried to create an additional partition. I suggest you post a full snip of your Disk Management so that we can give you best advice what to do.
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  6. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #4

    Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD v. 4.2 or lower to get Convert Dynamic>Basic still as a free option: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

    This converts the entire HD so you'll need to remove all but 3 Primary and one Logical extended (with as many subpartitions as you want) or 4 Primary which is the limit on Basic Disks.
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  7. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #5

    Greg. He probably has to remove the newly created partition. But then, instead of "removing" more partitions, could he no just convert one of the primaries to logical - e.g. C: -- that is the reason why I asked for a Disk Management snip so that we can see how bad his problem is.
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  8. Pie015
    Posts : 28
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Here is a photo of my DM side by side with My Computer




    And...

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  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #7

    This is interesting. You have only 3 partitions on Disk0. How did you get yourself into the Dynamics bind.
    Try what Greg posted with Partition Wizard.
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  11. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #8

    Is that a Win7 Recovery partition and Installation on C which you now want to overwrite with Vista? Why?

    If this is the case then I would make my Win7 Recovery Disks and wipe the entire HD using Diskpart to convert it back to Basic, since The Recov Partition won't run after Vista install anyway. SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    If you instead want to Dual Boot Vista with Win7, then try the non-destructive Conversion using PW 4.2 CD, rightclick C to Resize making space for a New Logical partition upon which to install Vista, same as here: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

    However I would wipe the HD since the Recov partition isn't going to run anyway and the 100mb System Reserved was cut out as the boot partition by C which now holds the System boot files, and is useless too.

    Normally we see split disks Basic/Dynamic when a manufacturer retains Primaries because they need to boot - 100mb to boot Win7 and Recov to take Active when it's hotkey is triggered at boot.
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  12. Pie015
    Posts : 28
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    I tried the Partition Wizard .iso but I have a laptop, so I tried to put on my 3.72GB usb by using the bootable USB way, but when I boot from it, the message says: "Remove disks or other removable media and any key to restart" Any ideas? P.S this is on my C: drive and I lose any data
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  13. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #10

    You should be able to convert using PW 4.2 installed version here: partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live

    We normally link to the ISO so you'll have bootable rescue media in case of failure, which is why data should be backed up. We haven't had a case of failure that I recall during this operation or any bootable PW operation, but it can fail and using the installed version is not quite as safe - plus you don't have the bootable media for rescue.

    What I'd do is first write the Win7 ISO to flash stick if you dont' have a disk drive or already have the installer on stick - so you have rescue repair media. Use this tool with Win7 in Dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3
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