Basic vs Dynamic Disk

[AIANDAS]

Hi,
My OS disk is currently in Basic mode and based on what I need to do I may
have to convert it to Dynamic.
Since I am not familiar, what will happen if I convert this disk into
Dynamic mode? Will it affect the structure of the OS disk? Lose data etc?
I'll explain why I must do this, but first I need to know the risk with
this. Thank you.

 

[Bob I]

Start by going to Windows Help and look up
Change a basic disk into a dynamic disk

then read all the notes about what it does and the limitations, and what
will break and change.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi,
My OS disk is currently in Basic mode and based on what I need to do I may
have to convert it to Dynamic.
Since I am not familiar, what will happen if I convert this disk into
Dynamic mode? Will it affect the structure of the OS disk? Lose data etc?
I'll explain why I must do this, but first I need to know the risk with
this. Thank you.

Unless you have a strong reason to convert your disk to "dynamic", I
recommend you leave it at "basic". Many third-party support tools will not
work with dynamic disks, which means that you're really stuck in case
something goes wrong.

 

[AIANDAS]

It sounds like I may have a dilemma here then.
I need to clone my OS onto a dynamic disk and I get the following message
when I attempt to to convert the OS disk to dynamic:

"AFTER YOU CONVERT these disks to dynamic you will not be able to start
other installed OS from any volume on these disks. Are you sure you want to
convert?"

What does this mean?

From what I read on dynamic disks it sounds like they provide more features
and benefits, i.e., do not have to reboot when installing new programs among
other things.
I would like to go dynamic disk moving forward since I am running XP pro SP3.
The only other way I can think to have dynamic is to reinstall XP all over
again on the dynamic disk which I am not particularly keen on.
Thank you.

 

[Anna]

Unless you have a strong reason to convert your disk to "dynamic", I
recommend you leave it at "basic". Many third-party support tools will not
work with dynamic disks, which means that you're really stuck in case
something goes wrong.

AIANDAS:
Pegasus's recommendation is sound unless you have very good & sufficient
reason(s) to convert your HDD from Basic to Dynamic.

I can't tell you how many problems users have encountered as a result of
doing this. By & large there are precious few reasons calling for a HDD to
be created as a dynamic disk.

But if you still believe it's necessary or desirable to do so, first take a
look at the following...
Basic Storage Versus Dynamic Storage in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314343

and,

Microsoft TechNet article at...
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457110.aspx#EEAA

Anna

 

[Dennis]

I would like to go dynamic disk moving forward since I am running XP pro SP3.


That's not a reason. You're not missing out on anything - don't worry.

 

[AIANDAS]

Well the consensus here seems to be leave it be basic or else suffer the
consequences and that is the last thing I want right now.
I had enough trouble with a SATA card I bought in e-bay which in the end
turned out to be a dud let alone embark on something like this.
Thank you all!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,
My OS disk is currently in Basic mode and based on what I need to do I may
have to convert it to Dynamic.
Since I am not familiar, what will happen if I convert this disk into
Dynamic mode? Will it affect the structure of the OS disk? Lose data etc?
I'll explain why I must do this, but first I need to know the risk with
this. Thank you.

Read Pegasus's and Anna's reply. It's very likely a poor thing for you
to do. Why do you think you must do this?

 

[Randem]

Unless you are running mirroring there is no real reason to use dynamic
disk...

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