Dynamic to Basic & reload Windows

RogerR said:

AllanP said:

RogerR said:

You might try Partition Wizard.

Looks interesting, but the cost is a bit over my head.

If you can't afford free, you are really poor!

Partition Wizard Home Edition Free!

Oops didn't look far enough.
Tried it; no dice.

Why don't you try reformatting and reinstalling 7, then shrinking space for linux, then installing in that. Choose simple volumes, not dynamic - how did it get dynamic in the first place? Did you try spanning or striping disks?

Frostmourne said:

Why don't you try reformatting and reinstalling 7, then shrinking space for linux, then installing in that. Choose simple volumes, not dynamic - how did it get dynamic in the first place? Did you try spanning or striping disks?

Check my first post on this topic. I don't have a Win7 disk; as per normal non provided. All I can do is restore to original. Or I could buy, borrow or steal a copy and the Win7 key enclosed will authenticate.
I think it got to dynamic after I shrunk and re-partitioned.
I've actually found a Linux (Suse 11.2) that will recognize the partition that I made for Linux. It won't alter or modify which is fine. I'm just a little apprehensive about losing whatever dynamic uses for MBR as Suse will take over boot and I may want to get Windows boot back.

If you reinstall 7, and then shrink, it should be fine.

I would have to do an HP restore including 7. If I did that again (third time @ 4 hrs a crack) how would I stop it from changing disk to dynamic after shrinking?

Are you given an option to change to dynamic? If so, refuse. Leave the volume as simple.

Frostmourne said:

Are you given an option to change to dynamic? If so, refuse. Leave the volume as simple.

I didn't notice. I may have another go this week-end. I'm actually considering buying a 7 and using it; then up grade my XP on my PC. Thanks for your replies.

Regards, Allan

Allan P, I am not sure about the dynamic disks and the MBR policy on them, so am not sure if the recovery disk can sort it but normally it is not a problem to rebuild the boot or even have both booting. I tend to put linux at the end of disk, and when I boot up my laptop , I first enter grub say, then when choosing windows, I get the winboot menu, where I can still choose to boot linux. But as I said, I am not sure about dynamic disks.. I am meddling now with a custom home recovery system but my scripts clearly say dynamic disks are not* supported and so one is on one's own for the testing! :)

Yes that's how I have it on my PC: XP, Fedora, Ubuntu and Suse. I think I'm going for it and If it doesn't work out, buy a 7 start from scratch. Thanks again.