converting dynamic to basic partiton

  • Thread starter Thread starter r.viraat
  • Start date Start date
R

r.viraat

How to convert the dynamic partiton to basic without the data
loss.?........Is there any way to do that? Can any partiton software do
this without data loss....Pls help me.....
 
There is software that can do this. You would be a fool to do this without
first backing up the system. As you have a backup you don't need the
software. Delete the partition, recreate it as a basic partition, and
restore the data.
 
Steve N. said:
Nope. It is in fact possible using dksprobe, I've done it, works fine.

http://faq.arstechnica.com/link.php?i=1806
Click to expand...


That is performing the same actions as of a partition editor (there are
others than just Microsoft's dskprobe). The procedure is simply having
you change the partition type that is recorded in that partition's entry
in the partition table (see
http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/partitions/partition_types-1.html). You are
changing from the "42" partition type identifier ("Windows 2000 dynamic
extended partition") to the "07" partition type identifier ("Windows NT
NTFS"). As noted in the article to which you linked, this procedure
CANNOT be used if any of the features of dynamic partitions were used,
like extended a partition across volumes. Why would you define dynamic
partitions unless you wanted to use one of the features of dynamic
partitions? Unless you are spanning, mirroring, or striping then there
is no point in creating a dynamic partition.

The procedure you noted does NOT convert from a dynamic to basic
partition. All it does is change the identifier for the partition in
the partition table in the MBR. If you created a dynamic partition but
never used it (i.e., it is still empty) then you can use the "convert
basic" command in the DISKPART program (after using the select commands
to pick the volume and partition). It does the same thing by simply
changing the partition type identifier used for the partition in the
partition table, and there is no data to lose because it is empty.
 
Vanguard said:
That is performing the same actions as of a partition editor (there are
others than just Microsoft's dskprobe).
Click to expand...

Yes, but dskprobe is included with a proper OS CD, i.e free.

The procedure is simply having
you change the partition type that is recorded in that partition's entry
in the partition table (see
http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/partitions/partition_types-1.html). You are
changing from the "42" partition type identifier ("Windows 2000 dynamic
extended partition") to the "07" partition type identifier ("Windows NT
NTFS").
Yeah.

As noted in the article to which you linked, this procedure
CANNOT be used if any of the features of dynamic partitions were used,
like extended a partition across volumes.
True.

Why would you define dynamic
partitions unless you wanted to use one of the features of dynamic
partitions? Unless you are spanning, mirroring, or striping then there
is no point in creating a dynamic partition.
Click to expand...

People do it "accidentally" all the time. They have no knowledge of what
a "Dynamic Disk" is, much less the practical uses if it. I've seen cases
where attaching a slave disk to a Win2K/XP box the OS would only accept
the disk if it was configured as a Dynamic Disk (no other disks were
"Dynamic", btw).
The procedure you noted does NOT convert from a dynamic to basic
partition. All it does is change the identifier for the partition in
the partition table in the MBR.
Click to expand...

Yeah. And it works on a single logical "Dynamic" disk on a single
physical disk, which is probably the most common condition.
If you created a dynamic partition but
never used it (i.e., it is still empty) then you can use the "convert
basic" command in the DISKPART program (after using the select commands
to pick the volume and partition). It does the same thing by simply
changing the partition type identifier used for the partition in the
partition table, and there is no data to lose because it is empty.
Click to expand...

I have personally coverterd a Basic Disk to a Dynamic Disk and then used
dskprobe to edit the MBR to revert back to a Basic Disk with no data
loss at all.

If it's the only logical disk on the physical disk there should be no
problem. I think that's what the OP was asking about, but thank you for
your comments, which are detailed and correct.

Steve N.
 
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