dynanic vs basic disks

[zigipha]

As part of my work on copying files from a laptop, i tangentially came
across the topic of dynamic vs basic disks.

I am looking for some validation/verification of the following:

From my reading, it seems that basic disks are more "portable" (i.e.
recognized by more OSs and usable in more situations) but any changes
to partitions need to be done outside of the OS; while dynamic disks
have more flexibility (change partitoin size in the OS, etc) but are
limited to xp professional, vista business(nothing with a "home" in
the name of the os).

I am not sure how I wound up with a dynamic disk (maybe its the
default windows uses when installing a new disk), but it seems to me
that for the average home use, basic disks is the way to go
1. Move a disk from computer 1 to computer 2: basic is more flexible
(dynamic will limit the destination computer)
2. Move a disk from internal to external enclosure: can only be done
with basic disks
Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Ruskai]

As part of my work on copying files from a laptop, i tangentially came
across the topic of dynamic vs basic disks.

I am looking for some validation/verification of the following:

From my reading, it seems that basic disks are more "portable" (i.e.
recognized by more OSs and usable in more situations) but any changes
to partitions need to be done outside of the OS; while dynamic disks
have more flexibility (change partitoin size in the OS, etc) but are
limited to xp professional, vista business(nothing with a "home" in
the name of the os).

I am not sure how I wound up with a dynamic disk (maybe its the
default windows uses when installing a new disk), but it seems to me
that for the average home use, basic disks is the way to go
1. Move a disk from computer 1 to computer 2: basic is more flexible
(dynamic will limit the destination computer)
2. Move a disk from internal to external enclosure: can only be done
with basic disks
Thoughts?

You have to explicitly set a disc as dynamic.

The only reason to do so is to use software RAID options. It does wreck a
whole lot of compatibility, including with some of Microsoft's own tools
(trying to restore a complex dynamic disk setup from backup is a major
headache).

 

[Tony]

As part of my work on copying files from a laptop, i tangentially came
across the topic of dynamic vs basic disks.

I am looking for some validation/verification of the following:

From my reading, it seems that basic disks are more "portable" (i.e.
recognized by more OSs and usable in more situations) but any changes
to partitions need to be done outside of the OS; while dynamic disks
have more flexibility (change partitoin size in the OS, etc) but are
limited to xp professional, vista business(nothing with a "home" in
the name of the os).

I am not sure how I wound up with a dynamic disk (maybe its the
default windows uses when installing a new disk), but it seems to me
that for the average home use, basic disks is the way to go
1. Move a disk from computer 1 to computer 2: basic is more flexible
(dynamic will limit the destination computer)
2. Move a disk from internal to external enclosure: can only be done
with basic disks
Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

When you think "dynamic disks", think "software RAID", mostly. Also think
"more trouble than it's worth, certainly for a standalone "Personal
Computer". If you like to tinker though, have at it! (Have your data safe
elsewhere while you tinker!). When I first setup, recently, my new SATA
desktop drives with a PCI RAID card, I thought "wow, pretty much made my
aging desktop PC snappy again". Then when I started having reliability
problems with the drives I was getting and had to use just a single drive, I
noticed that most of the usable day to day snappiness was still there:
because the new drives perform better (surely because of the platter
density, as they are the same RPM as the old drive and my motherboard
doesn't support NCQ nor SATA II and I don't think a single drive can
saturate a 1.5 Gb/s bus anyway).

Remember that with MS Dynamic Disks, the Windows system partition cannot be
striped (nor mirrored?) so there will be no performance gain from that.
Also, consider how striping drives will complicate your backup and restore
process. If you really want RAID 0 (reliability) or RAID 1 (performance), I
suggest you buy a GOOD RAID card or a new motherboard that supports RAID (I
prefer the latter at this time and am waiting till nice processors come down
to about $100, but it's my job to evaluate this stuff... I prefer
simplicity). Note that you should have a spare drive on hand in case one of
your RAID 0/1 array drives fails (most cards support hot spares). RAID is
not a substitute for backup or imaging.

All in all, most should not waste time with RAID (it's for servers!) and
rather invest that time in obtaining or evolving a robust backup and imaging
solution. SSDs (fast and reliable) are not as far as they appear (here now
if you are rich).

Tony

 

[Rod Speed]

As part of my work on copying files from a laptop, i tangentially
came across the topic of dynamic vs basic disks.

I am looking for some validation/verification of the following:

From my reading, it seems that basic disks are more "portable"
(i.e. recognized by more OSs and usable in more situations)
Correct.

but any changes to partitions need to be done outside of the OS;

Not correct.

while dynamic disks have more flexibility
Correct.

(change partitoin size in the OS, etc)

And can have more than one physical drive in the dynamic disk and RAID etc.

but are limited to xp professional, vista business(nothing with a "home" in the name of the os).

Its a bit more complicated than that, but thats the basic idea.

I am not sure how I wound up with a dynamic disk

Usually someone set it up that way, often unknowningly.

(maybe its the default windows uses when installing a new disk),
Nope.

but it seems to me that for the average home use, basic disks is the way to go
Correct.

1. Move a disk from computer 1 to computer 2: basic is
more flexible (dynamic will limit the destination computer)

And recovery is easier, as you discovered.

2. Move a disk from internal to external enclosure: can only be done with basic disks
Correct.

Thoughts?

I avoid those, they just make my head hurt.

Thanks in advance!

Even if we tell you to go and shove your head up a dead bear's bum ?

 

[Stephen]

As part of my work on copying files from a laptop, i tangentially came
across the topic of dynamic vs basic disks.

I am looking for some validation/verification of the following:

From my reading, it seems that basic disks are more "portable" (i.e.
recognized by more OSs and usable in more situations) but any changes
to partitions need to be done outside of the OS; while dynamic disks
have more flexibility (change partitoin size in the OS, etc) but are
limited to xp professional, vista business(nothing with a "home" in
the name of the os).

I am not sure how I wound up with a dynamic disk (maybe its the
default windows uses when installing a new disk), but it seems to me
that for the average home use, basic disks is the way to go
1. Move a disk from computer 1 to computer 2: basic is more flexible
(dynamic will limit the destination computer)
2. Move a disk from internal to external enclosure: can only be done
with basic disks
Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

For dynamic disks, windows stores the info needed to access them on
another drive. I found that out when I re-formatted one and lost
access to the other one.

Stephen

 

[zigipha]

Not correct.


And can have more than one physical drive in the dynamic disk and RAID etc.


Its a bit more complicated than that, but thats the basic idea.


Usually someone set it up that way, often unknowningly.


And recovery is easier, as you discovered.


I avoid those, they just make my head hurt.


Even if we tell you to go and shove your head up a dead bear's bum ?

Yes even if you tell me that lol

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Joep]

For dynamic disks, windows stores the info needed to access them on
another drive. I found that out when I re-formatted one and lost
access to the other one.

You can make a single disk dynamic. So where's that info stored then?

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Stephen

For dynamic disks, windows stores the info needed to access them on
another drive. I found that out when I re-formatted one and lost
access to the other one.

You can still import a drive even without previous knowledge of the
drive, there are just a couple extra steps.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Joep"

You can make a single disk dynamic. So where's that info stored then?

Each and every dynamic disk has enough information to understand the
structure and to allow Windows to figure out which volumes belong to
which set even if the disks are moved to another computer in the wrong
order.

In addition, the layout data is stored in the registry, but you most
definitely can move dynamic disks to new machines, import them and gain
access to the data.

 

[Joep]

In message <[email protected]> "Joep"


Each and every dynamic disk has enough information to understand the
structure and to allow Windows to figure out which volumes belong to
which set even if the disks are moved to another computer in the wrong
order.

Each disk contains *all* info. It's not on another disk, it is not 'just'
enough, each disk contains a complete LDM database.

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> "Joep"

Each disk contains *all* info. It's not on another disk, it is not 'just'
enough, each disk contains a complete LDM database.

Funny, that's *exactly* what I juts said. I didn't even use the word
"just"

 

[Joep]

Funny, that's *exactly* what I juts said. I didn't even use the word
"just"

No you didn't. Anyway, my question 'where is it stored then' wasn't really a
question. It was making a point to poster that stated " For dynamic disks,
windows stores the info needed to access them on
another drive."