Solved Convert Dynamic to Basic disk

[Pie015]

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.

 

[theog]

Make sure you backup first.
Take look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

 

[whs]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[whs]

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.

 

[Pie015]

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

And...

 

[whs]

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Pie015]

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

 

[gregrocker]

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

 

[Pie015]

It worked thanks guys so much!!!

 

[gregrocker]

Good work.

If you had the bootable PW I'd suggest your rightclick>Resize C to the left to take up the Unallocated 10gb, however as stated using the installed version adds a bit more risk so you should first back up a Win7 backup image externally so you could start over if necessary, or borrow an external CD drive to boot PW from, or buy the latest version which will write to flash stick.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[Pie015]

Good work.

If you had the bootable PW I'd suggest your rightclick>Resize C to the left to take up the Unallocated 10gb, however as stated using the installed version adds a bit more risk so you should first back up a Win7 backup image externally so you could start over if necessary, or borrow an external CD drive to boot PW from, or buy the latest version which will write to flash stick.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

I cant resize my C: drive because the unallocated 10.00GB space was a data drive which had nothing in it but even did it did not affect my Win 7 installation

 

[gregrocker]

You can most certainly resize C to the left into that space as we've helped do here hundreds of times.

Using booted PW CD rightclick C, select Resize, drag left grey border all the way to the left, OK, Apply.

If you must use the installed version back up a Win7 backup image and/or your files first.