Solved windows 8 cannot install on a dynamic disk?

[samjambo]

when i try to install windows 8 on a new volume it says that the volume is dynamic..am not sure what that means but can i work around it?
saw an article about converting a dynamic disk to a basic disk..now is it possible to just convert a partition(where i want to install windows 8) or do i have to convert the entire hard drive?
am sure right now you've figured out that am trying a dual boot.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sam,

An OS cannot be installed on a dynamic disc since it would be unbootable on a dynamic disc. I'm afraid that the whole HDD will need to be basic.

OPTION ONE in the tutorial below can help show you how to convert it if you do not want to lose anything on the disk.

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

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[samjambo]

when i was partitioning i had that in mind..make the partition a 'primary partition'(in other words like the partition c) but the option wasn't there..
has it always been like that? i remember installing a dual boot for xp and windows 7 by just creating a new simple volume..so i thought since it worked then it would work now..
is it safe to use that method brink?i can't make that one partition(the one i want to have windows 8 on) basic?..how was partition c made basic and the rest dynamic?
and how come drive c is DYNAMIC where windows 7 is...what sort of wizardly is this..

 

[Brink]

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing your full layout in Disk Management first.

 

[samjambo]

i also read another article by pc mag which suggests that you do not create a partition but let the windows 8 installer do it i.e let the installer create the partition out of the unallocated space.
i tried it but it didn't work but am guessing i have too many partitions..i've tried reducing them but it always exceeds 4...the only one i can remove now is the HP tools partition..am not sure if its a good idea to remove it..
here it is

 

[Brink]

Yep, you should have said no to converting it to dynamic. If you have not already, you should create a set of factory recovery DVDs, or saving recovery image to USB to be safe. This way you can use it to do a factory recovery of Windows 7 if something should go wrong converting the HDD back to basic.

HP PCs - Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 7) - c01867124 - HP Business Support Center
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Next, backup anything that you do not want to lose to be safe.

Afterwards, use OPTION FOUR in the tutorial below to convert the entire disk back to basic.

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

When everthing is back to how it was, then you could use METHOD TWO in the tutorial below to create a new extended logical partition to use to install Windows 8 on for dual booting with your Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/146694-partition-extended-logical-drives.html
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Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

 

[samjambo]

i think i will wait for a fully functional and full version of windows 8..its too dangerous..won't risk it..thank you brink

 

[Brink]

At least create yourself a set of factory recovery DVDs or USB, and backup anything that you do not want to lose to be safe.

Your computer will most likely not be able to boot into Windows the next time you restart the computer from a shut down or restart since it's on a dynamic disk.

 

[samjambo]

i've already messed up my partitions..HP tools won't recreate after i deleted..says i have exceeded the number of partitions..

 

[Brink]

After deleting what? Please post back with an updated screenshot of Disk Management.

 

[AddRAM]

I guess he restarted it.

 

[Brink]

I hope not.

 

[samjambo]

you see the 'media volume(K)'..its split into two..the bigger volume(281.87gb) plus the 103mb volume..but its still one volume..the 103mb partition was occupied by the HP tools partition(its a diagnostic volume created by HP's diagnostic UEFI)
the only way to recreate that HP tools partition is to reinstall the diagnostic UEFI.
but it won't recreate..says i have exceeded the number of partitions

i had the idea of converting one of the volumes to primary partition with EASEUS..but the option isn't there(they(easeus) say its there but on my software it isn't..and am using the exact same software)
here is the screenshot..haven't started anything..was asleep.

 

[samjambo]

also shawn,in one of your posts you said i should not have created a dynamic volume..did i have a choice?remember this is an OEM install of windows.
i just made partitions by shrinking the volume 'c'.
this is the error(see screen shot) am getting while trying to recreate the HP tools partition.
it already has 4..the system volume,the 'c' volume,the 'media(k) volume..remember the media volume is split into two although in the my 'my computer' window it appears as one volume..can i merge it?

 

[Brink]

Sam,

The most important thing right now is to get your disk converted back to basic. You can use the free program in the link below to create a bootable DVD with, boot from the DVD, and convert the disk back to basic.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...vert-os-basic-dynamic-volume.html#post1549946

 

[samjambo]

if i use that tool will it delete any of my data? will i still have the recovery partition and be able to restore the computer from it?
in other words will it change anything?

one last thing which i haven't understood..if the entire hard disk is dynamic how was hp able to install the windows 7 on 'c'..also when you say converting back to basic that means there was a time the entire HD was basic..who then converted it to dynamic?

 

[Brink]

Everything should be the same, but back to basic afterwards. I would still recommend to backup anything that you do not want to lose just to be safe though.

I'm afraid that you were the one responsible for converting the disk to dynamic when you tried to create a new primary partition/volume when you already had the max of 4. You most likely clicked on yes instead of no when you got the warning at step 10 in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

 

[samjambo]

"The operation selected will convert the disk to dynamic... are you sure you want to continue?"
i don't remember getting such a message..when i created the partition there were only 3 partitions..the 5th one was the HP tools which was created automatically
ok shawn..thank you..i'll get back to you when the HD is back to basic and on windows 8 dual boot..
thank you so much for your time and patience ..

 

[samjambo]

one last thing..when burning the partition tool should i unzip first?
also if am converting back to basic it means my partitions have to a maximum of 4..i have 4 already.ok lets say 5 since the 103mb partition appears as a separate volume..wil the partition tool delete one so that i only have the reqiured number of partitions on a basic HD?

 

[Brink]

Yep, you'll need to extract the PW folder from the ZIP file, then burn the contents in the PW folder to the DVD, or copy the contents of the PW folder to a USB flash drive, and boot from either one.