Solved Windows 7 installed on dynamic disk, how to convert to basic?

[Rixanu]

So, I was derping around with my partitions a while back, and I somehow managed to change my hard disk to a dynamic one. I've seen some tutorials on how to change back to dynamic, but none of them seemed to cover how to do it if your OS is installed on the dynamic disk. Is there any way to change back to basic without losing my data? If not, what's the best way of changing it back to basic? If I just run DBAN or something and reinstall Windows, will my new partitions be basic? Thanks.

 

[Arc]

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

Probably your installation will be lost .

In a single disk, if you try to make more than four primary partitions, it will be converted to a dynamic one .

 

[Rixanu]

Well, that explains the problem. I had tried to make another partition on top of my OS and HP's stupid other partitions. Since it looks like reinstallation is the only way, how to go about it? Can I just wipe my HD and reinstall Windows? Will doing this create basic partitions?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have no idea if HP bothers to include a Windows installation disk?

Can you still access the HP recovery options?

If nothing else, you can download a legal Windows 7 ISO file, burn it to a disk, install, and then activate with your existing product key. You would then be free of all that crap HP typically includes from the factory----if that matters to you.

 

[Rixanu]

Yeah, they didn't give me a disk. I do have a legal Windows 7 ISO burned to a disk all ready to go. I'd actually love to be free of all that HP crap. The only thing I want to know before I try is if I have to do anything besides wipe my HD and reinstall to get basic partitions.

 

[Arc]

I will tell ... you have nothing more to do.

The process will wipe the entire hdd. While partitioning again, make only one primary partition for C drive, and format the others as logical extended.

While installing windows in C drive, allow the installation disk to format that partition ... it will automatically create the 100 MB hidden system reserved partition out of it.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The only caveat is that if you delete all partitions and have not made any recovery disks, you won't be able to restore to "factory" condition should that ever be required.

You probably don't care about that, but HP may have a problem with it for warranty or support purposes. I don't know.

 

[gregrocker]

When you already have four primary partitions and try to create another, you are warned that you are about to convert to Dynamic - which is intended only to span a partition across multiple HD's.

The only way to convert HD back to Basic non-destructively is use a partition manager, and the only one of those which will not fail at all is free Partition Wizard bootable CD. However Dynamic<>Basic Conversion stopped being a free feature after v.4.2. For this reason, download this archived file to burn to CD using Windows Image Burner or ImgBurn: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

Then back up your files and follow the steps in this video tutorial: How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk with Partition Wizard?

However if you want to use this as an opportunity to get the vastly superiorhttp://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/151566-reinstalling-windows-7-a.html#post1300819 then run the steps in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM after wiping HD with Diskpart Clean Command as shown here: How to Clean or Clean All a Disk with the Diskpart Command

 

[Rixanu]

Argh, I would have tried Partition Wizard if I had read that post sooner. Anyway, I just wiped my hdd with DBAN and installed a fresh copy of Win7. Went off without a hitch; I've got a basic disk, and none of that extra HP crap. The only headache so far is restoring my steam games, but that's beside the point. Thanks for the help, everyone!

 

[gregrocker]

Here are tips to use in case you still need them: Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM