My backup hard drive was changed to "dynamic"

[Guest]

I upgraded my pc to a new mother board. Before starting that process, I used
Microsoft's backup utility to back up my C: drive in total to a removable
hard drive. When I installed the removable hard drive into my new pc it
never shows up under "my computer", but does show up in device manager
hardware. Looking at my removable drive under "computer management/disk
management" it show up now as a dynamic drive.

I've been told locally once a drive has been changed to a dynamic drive, it
cannot be reverted. Obviously, I am missing vital information I thought I
had taken proper actions to save.

Bottom line: Is there anyway to convert a dynamic drive to a basic NTFS
hard drive?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I upgraded my pc to a new mother board. Before starting that process, I used
Microsoft's backup utility to back up my C: drive in total to a removable
hard drive. When I installed the removable hard drive into my new pc it
never shows up under "my computer", but does show up in device manager
hardware. Looking at my removable drive under "computer management/disk
management" it show up now as a dynamic drive.

I've been told locally once a drive has been changed to a dynamic drive, it
cannot be reverted. Obviously, I am missing vital information I thought I
had taken proper actions to save.

Bottom line: Is there anyway to convert a dynamic drive to a basic NTFS
hard drive?

Your backup drive became dynamic when you partitioned it.
This can be quite unobtrusive - it's happened to me too. The
only way to revert to a basic disk is to repartition it.

 

[Guest]

Thank you.

And, of course I loose all my data?

Your backup drive became dynamic when you partitioned it.
This can be quite unobtrusive - it's happened to me too. The
only way to revert to a basic disk is to repartition it.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Indeed, unless you back it up somewhere else first.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand how I would backup a drive I cannot access via XP. I
never thought to look for it via DOS. I'm sure you understand it's the data
that's valuable to me, not having a formated drive. Would you tell me how
you would backup a dynamic HD.

Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

There is no DOS under WinXP and DOS would not be able
to access a dynamic disk anyway. To make the partition visible
under "My Computer" you must assign a drive letter to it. Click
Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. When you
right-click the "invisible" partition then you get the opportunity to
do this.

You can now back up your data to some other medium.

 

[Michael Cecil]

I've been told locally once a drive has been changed to a dynamic
drive, it cannot be reverted.

I don't know what out of touch person told you this but this is wrong.
There have been utilities that can revert dynamic drives back to basic
ones for 2-3 years now. Paragon Partition Manager 7 for one.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the pointer - I was not aware of the product. You might
add that the OP needs the Professional version which costs $100.00 -
see here: http://www.partition-manager.com/corporate/.

 

[Guest]

Thankyou very much. Their ad description implies exactly what I need for
recovery. The $100 price tag is not too much to pay considering the value of
my data.

Thanks for the pointer - I was not aware of the product. You might
add that the OP needs the Professional version which costs $100.00 -
see here: http://www.partition-manager.com/corporate/.

 

[Andy]

If you Google "convert dynamic to basic drive" there are some sites
that might help you.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Andy. I'll try it.

jb

If you Google "convert dynamic to basic drive" there are some sites
that might help you.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

If this was my dynamic disk and if its loss were a nuisance
rather than a disaster then I would have no hesitation in
using Paragon.

On the other hand, if its total loss were a disaster then I would
try every non-intrusive backup method I could think of before
using Paragon. The reason is simple: I have used partition
managers extensively and I have experienced the odd total
failure.

Thankyou very much. Their ad description implies exactly what I need for
recovery. The $100 price tag is not too much to pay considering the value of
my data.

 

[Kerry Brown]

If this was my dynamic disk and if its loss were a nuisance
rather than a disaster then I would have no hesitation in
using Paragon.

On the other hand, if its total loss were a disaster then I would
try every non-intrusive backup method I could think of before
using Paragon. The reason is simple: I have used partition
managers extensively and I have experienced the odd total
failure.

I concur with Pegasus. If this is valuable data and your only backup I would
try other methods before using a partition manager. I have also seen a
partition manager cause irrepairable harm. It should be the last thing you
try. Here are some links of things to try.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkb_cnc_klvo.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/dm_add_disk.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_rbre.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...xp/all/proddocs/en-us/dm_reactivate_disk.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...p/all/proddocs/en-us/sag_seconceptsunown.mspx

You could also try using an imaging program to clone or image the drive.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

http://www.norton.com/home_homeoffice/products/backup_recovery/ghost10/index.html

If none of the above work try a BartPe or Knoppix boot CD and see if they
can access the disk and copy data to CD or DVD.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

http://www.knoppix.net/

Only after trying the above would I try a partition manager to alter the
disk structure.

Kerry