Solved How to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk?

[osandakj]

Hello,
I'm using Genuine Windows 7 HP SP1 x64 OEM version in my Acer Notebook.
Nowadays I have a trouble with my primary disk drive.

I Used 3rd party partition management software to shrink my "C" drive. The operation outside the windows wasn't successful and I faced a disk check after that. BTW It goes fine and my whole HDD becomes a dynamic disk. I want to convert it back to basic. But the convert option is inactivated in third party partition management softwares and even disk management utility. So how do I convert it back to basic?

I tried a clean custom windows installation, but I have following errors.

I'm unable to create, delete, extend any volumes here. All options are inactivated (gray) The only option available is "format"

And I was unable to continue Installing windows in the different drive. Then it gives me the bellow error;

Now what can I do to get my HDD back to the previous state?

Please help me.

Thanks in advance before.

 

[whs]

What a mess. First you have to reduce the total number of partitions to 4 - better even 3. Then do this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

If you end up with 3 primary partitions, then you can create an extended partition under which you can define up to 120 logical partitions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/146694-partition-extended-logical-drives.html

Note: the 'System Reserved' has to be primary. All others can be logical.

 

[osandakj]

What a mess. First you have to reduce the total number of partitions to 4 - better even 3. Then do this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

If you end up with 3 primary partitions, then you can create an extended partition under which you can define up to 120 logical partitions.

Note: the 'Sysrtem Reserved' has to be primary. All others can be logical.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Oky. I have all 6 volumes for now. That 14GB system partition contains data from OEM and the 100 MB "system reserved" partition was automatically created by windows. According to your guidelines, I can delete "E" and "F" volumes.

BTW the problem is that the tutorial you linked has shown the way to convert extra dynamic disk to primary. But in my case, I have one disk and no apps are allowing me to convert it. So I'm stuck at the conversion.

Any suggestions?

Thanks before

 

[whs]

BTW the problem is that the tutorial you linked has shown the way to convert extra dynamic disk to primary. But in my case, I have one disk and no apps are allowing me to convert it. So I'm stuck at the conversion.

Sorry, I don't follow. Can you explain that problem some more.

Before you delete E and F, make sure you save the data.

 

[osandakj]

BTW the problem is that the tutorial you linked has shown the way to convert extra dynamic disk to primary. But in my case, I have one disk and no apps are allowing me to convert it. So I'm stuck at the conversion.

Sorry, I don't follow. Can you explain that problem some more.

Before you delete E and F, make sure you save the data.

It was all my bad. I just confused with the partition wizard program.
Conversion is done for now, But with another BIG issues :shock:

My OEM Reserved 14GB recovery partition becomes an unallocated space after the operation outside windows :sarc:

Once progress is on the way, my system rebooted several times and finally I got the error message "No Bootable device, Insert bootable media and press any key" So I put Win 7 HP x64 disc into my optical drive and reinstalled windows under custom option without formatting "C" drive.

 

[whs]

That was not a smart move. We could have easily fixed the "No Bootable device" problem. You probably lost all your files now - unless you have an image.

 

[osandakj]

That was not a smart move. We could have easily fixed the "No Bootable device" problem. You probably lost all your files now - unless you have an image.

Yea, Sounds bad I just have a backup of drivers and some apps. All other OEM related things such as windows 7 activation, office starter oem licence and almost all utilities that isn't available to download from the web are gone And the worst thing is OEM windows image and the recovery app outside windows also gone.

Hmm anyway, all of the above are oky. I can order some backup discs

BTW "No Bootable device" is no longer appearing after POST. With the fresh installation, everything becomes oky but the recovery partition

 

[whs]

Well, you live and learn. If something is not 100% clear, don't click on it.