Solved hard disk changed to dynamic type after using disk management

[Arc]

Christin at first you burn the PW iso that greg supplied in a blank CD. Then boot from it.

When asked, chose 1 as resolution. Then delete F and G partitions. And then convert the disk to basic.

Now, from the basic disks, you can make more than four partitions (tht is already there), if those are formatted as logical. Make logical partitions, as you require.

For backing up the data of F and G, you may use an external drive, that is the best way.

If you want to know anything more, ask us.

 

[bigmck]

Arc -- What is the purpose of a Dynamic Drive. Why would anyone want to use it? Thanks,

 

[Arc]

Arc -- What is the purpose of a Dynamic Drive. Why would anyone want to use it? Thanks,

Hello Jim, you may have a nice explanation here : How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk with Partition Wizard magic partition manager? .

The dynamic disk can contain about 2000 dynamic volume with the functions like that of the primary partitions on the basic disk. In some versions of Windows, several independent dynamic disk can be joined together to form a Spanned Volume, and data can be splitted into several hard disks called Stripped Volume to improve the performances, or to make mirror partitions of multi disks to form mirrored volume.

Wondering why it is a problem, despite of all its goodness ? Coz it is difficult to boot from a dynamic disk. So if your disk on which the boot information (system reserved partition) is stored is converted to a dynamic one (more than four primary partitions makes a disk to dynamic, remember that the system reserved partition is not visible in explorer) , you will not be able to boot your PC.

That is why we want to avoid dynamic disks.

 

[bigmck]

That is why we want to avoid dynamic disks.

I know why to avoid them and what they do to a PC. I was wondering if they have any value. It would seem if they have no value, they would not be on a PC.

 

[Arc]

Yes they have great values . Using dynamic disks, you can spread a partition beyond a physical disk's size limit. Though I dont know anybody who experienced it

 

[ignatzatsonic]

That is why we want to avoid dynamic disks.

I know why to avoid them and what they do to a PC. I was wondering if they have any value. It would seem if they have no value, they would not be on a PC.

I think I've read that they are most often used in corporate environments, but even then are most often used as a short-term strategy when more traditional drives are not immediately available. Apparently, they are quite complex and subject to failure, so are not normally used over the long term.

There appears to be little to no use for them in a standard home PC situation.

 

[gregrocker]

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

 

[christin91]

For backing up the data of F and G, you may use an external drive, that is the best way.

hey arc thanks very much for detailed explanation.
But I don't have an external drive & I really don't want to lose my movies collection.
Is it possible that I move the movies in my F drive & softwares in G drive to C drive & then delete the 2 extra drives and then convert C drive to basic?Will I lose the movies?
Please help.

 

[Arc]

Christin , conversion to dynamic to basic may be a destructive to data. But as Greg says that it will not loss your data , you may try it.

How big your movies collection is ? You may plan to buy a couple of blank disks and back them up ?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Do what Greg told you to do. PW is safe. But you never know!! Always backup... not only now you're in trouble

 

[christin91]

How big your movies collection is ? You may plan to buy a couple of blank disks and back them up ?

I have 120GB of movies.
also u said conversion may be destructive,does it means that my C drive will be at risk?

 

[Kaktussoft]

You can use FREE easus partition manager to do it!
Free convert dynamic disk to basic disk without data loss under windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8 and Server 2000/2003/2008 32 bit and 64 bit.

Nothing is at risk.... but you never know

 

[ignatzatsonic]

For backing up the data of F and G, you may use an external drive, that is the best way.

hey arc thanks very much for detailed explanation.
But I don't have an external drive & I really don't want to lose my movies collection.
Is it possible that I move the movies in my F drive & softwares in G drive to C drive & then delete the 2 extra drives and then convert C drive to basic?Will I lose the movies?
Please help.

You have enough space on C to hold the entire contents of G and F.

You could make a folder on C called Gtemp and another called Ftemp and then just copy from F and G to those new folders on C.

Then delete F and G.

Then convert the remaining partitions to basic with Partition Wizard.

Then remake F and G as 2 logical partitions inside an extended partition. Then move the stuff back from Ftemp and Gtemp.

I'm assuming F and G contain only data and not installed programs of some type.

Ideally, you would like to put the contents of F and G onto a totally different drive, but you say you have no such drive--so you make do with what you have.

 

[gregrocker]

I would use the PW Boot disk because is is known to never fail while all other Partition managers or their boot disks can fail with data loss. Easeus only offers conversion free in the installed version I believe.

 

[Arc]

How big your movies collection is ? You may plan to buy a couple of blank disks and back them up ?

I have 120GB of movies.
also u said conversion may be destructive,does it means that my C drive will be at risk?

I believe on what Greg said, If you convert the data using the method stated by him, moving your movies to C, you will not loss any data.

Even if you loss, Kaktussoft just one week ago guided one user to recover an entire hdd filled of data

 

[christin91]

Are those the ones you added that caused it to convert to Dynamic?

If so then they must be deleted first after backing up your data. You can only have four Primary partitions or three Primary and unlimited Logical on a Basic disk.

hey Greg I have almost 120GB of movies in my F drive & really don't want to lose it.I also don't have an external drive.U said earlier that while converting to basic I won't lose any data.
Is it possible that I move the movies to C drive & then delete F and G drive & then convert C to basic?Will I lose my movies?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Is it possible that I move the movies to C drive & then delete F and G drive & then convert C to basic?Will I lose my movies?

Did you read post 33?

Your data is always at risk when you start fiddling with partitions.

It's a risk. You get to decide if it is worth the risk.

The safest procedure is to backup to a second drive.

You say you can't do that.

Your remaining choices are to back up to C or not backup at all.

Take your pick.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I would use the PW Boot disk because is is known to never fail while all other Partition managers or their boot disks can fail with data loss. Easeus only offers conversion free in the installed version I believe.

Indeed not in the "boot from CD" version.... unless you have the full (not free) version.

WinPE bootable disk and Linux bootable disk are only available in Full Edition. Check WinPE bootable disk VS Linux bootable disk.

 

[christin91]

Even if you loss, Kaktussoft just one week ago guided one user to recover an entire hdd filled of data

can u please tell me the link where Kaktussoft provided hdd recovery?

 

[bigmck]

can u please tell me the link where Kaktussoft provided hdd recovery?

There is no need to worry about recovering before it is lost. Just follow directions that you have been given and you will be in good shape. If the data does get lost, then you can worry about that link later. Good luck