Dynamic to Basic & reload Windows

[AllanP]

It can't be ages ago as I have had the laptop for under two weeks. If you are correct though and it wouldn't choose dynamic as default that means I chose the option to convert unknowingly; wouldn't be the first time I screwed up lol. Maybe I'll try one more HP restore.

 

[AllanP]

for the record, shrinking a disk , should NOT convert it automatically to a dynamic in any way!!! you must of chosen it ages ago.. and ye dynamic are quite difficult to work with. I do not see th epoint of having a dynamic disk except for specialized purposes.

For the record you are half right. I did a total HP (Win 7 included) restore to original. I then shrunk the C patition; all fine so far, but as soon as I went to re-partition the new space I was confronted with "this will change disk to dynamic" (words to that affect). I ceased the partitioning and deleted an "HP restore partition" at the end of the disk management bar and made two more partitions out of the new space; and remained basic partitions without a hitch. So I guess this is solved; partially anyways.

Regards, Allan

 

[solar]

I see.. Well this might be some kind of symptom due to a mbr disk can only have 4 primary partitions. That system partition of the measly 200 mb or so takes up a slot... I always install windows 7 (C on it (by formatting the partitions before choosing wher eot install win 7) OR in my case, I use that system partition as my custom recovery partition.. I think. Lol i am a bit busy on somethign else atm.

Realized my program is running into some dependency problems in wimpe... so I might need to choose java or so after all to run the program I am working on sigh.

 

[gregrocker]

You might try Partition Wizard.

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

Partition Wizard is free and works best with Win7.

The CD version is a great tool to have around - makes my Paragon PM seem like junk.

 

[iseeuu]

for the record, shrinking a disk , should NOT convert it automatically to a dynamic in any way!!! you must of chosen it ages ago.. and ye dynamic are quite difficult to work with. I do not see th epoint of having a dynamic disk except for specialized purposes.

For the record you are half right. I did a total HP (Win 7 included) restore to original. I then shrunk the C patition; all fine so far, but as soon as I went to re-partition the new space I was confronted with "this will change disk to dynamic" (words to that affect). I ceased the partitioning and deleted an "HP restore partition" at the end of the disk management bar and made two more partitions out of the new space; and remained basic partitions without a hitch. So I guess this is solved; partially anyways.

Regards, Allan

I see.. Well this might be some kind of symptom due to a mbr disk can only have 4 primary partitions. That system partition of the measly 200 mb or so takes up a slot... I always install windows 7 (C on it (by formatting the partitions before choosing wher eot install win 7) OR in my case, I use that system partition as my custom recovery partition.. I think. Lol i am a bit busy on somethign else atm.

Realized my program is running into some dependency problems in wimpe... so I might need to choose java or so after all to run the program I am working on sigh.

Hey folks!

I found this thread interesting and informative. Could I add my two cents worth? Since the 7 RC, the "system reserved partition" has been only 100 MB. I like this feature as it allows me to change partitions on my system without breaking the boot manager. Vista, 7, and Linux will all install to a "Logical" partition so the "only 4 primary partition limitations" is not as limiting. The Linux distros I have worked with allow one to skip the Grub installation and use the 7 boot manager menu instead. If you prefer Grub and do NOT have an install DVD, 7 will burn a "Repair CD" you can use to restore the Windows boot code in the MBR should you want to go back the the Windows boot manager.

I find GParted easy to use and free. See the link under my sig. Also, here is a tutorial on how to correct the boot code in the MBR: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

Also, the Windows 7 Disk Management allows for converting a simple to dynamic. I am not sure because I have not use the dynamic setup whether it will also convert from dynamic back to simple?

Thanks.
Robert

 

[solar]

hi iseeu... well dynamic disks are a bit overkill for average users. They are useful but create mroe complications when one runs into these kind of boot problems, partition management and the like.

When I mention the partition limiatation is because I like to partition my harddisks a lot in case of sector failure in a part and still recover the other partition's data. Also, containing the linux partitions all in one logical partition can lead to what I'm saying , total linux data loss with logical partition fails.

Anyway, about the boot sector, I do not like wasting a primary partition slot on 1-200 mb simply because I do not find it difficult to reassign a boot system to any other partition tbh.

 

[AllanP]

Solved: Sort of. Seeing as I started this thread and if you have an HP laptop that has it's disk partitioned with a small System files part., Windows part., HP Restore part., HP tools part and you want to shrink and re-partition; be careful as it will change disk from basic to dynamic if you shrink and make more partitions. I had to delete the HP restore partition to accomplish more basic partitions. This could apply to other laptops too I suppose. Maybe I didn't explain that too clearly, but I hope you get the picture. This whole problem wouldn't be a problem if I had the Windows 7 install dvd. Also make sure you create HP restore dvd's.
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/