Converting Partition from Dynamic to Basic

[p1j]

Hi All,

Have a Win 2K3 partition on a running partition. Bought a new 500 GB HD to install Windows 2008 server on the machine.. before could have installed W2k8, created a few partitions and moved a lot of backup to the the partitions of new hard disk in Win 2003 (leaving first of the partition unused). Now when I am trying to install Windows 2008 thru a boot disk, it says Windows 2008 can not be installed on a dynamic partition.. Tried to find out ways to convert a dynamic partition to a basic one (and found references of diskpart), but all documentation mentions that I need to delete volumes and data of the dynamic disc before converting it to a basic partition. Unfortunately the new disk has a few partitions having a lot of back up.. Now my question is.. I have four partitions on the new disk of 100, 100, 150, 125 GBs each.. where first 100 GB doesn't have any data but rest three partitions have backup data... Can I just delete first partition/volume of 100 GB of the dynamic disk to convert it to Basic disk (thru disk part).. or do I need to delete all the partitions on the dynamic disk (need to move backup then to an alternative) to convert it to a basic disk

Please help.. Thanks in Advance

P1J

[sc302 Veteran]

Paragon partition manager will do this easily. Otherwise you can do it with free utilities by changing it on the bit level.

convert to basic is on page 3

http://www.paragon-software.com/export/sites/paragonsoftware.com/docs/PM11_Corporate_Full_Features_List.pdf

It is the only partition manager software that I know of that does this, I have used it to fixed botched servers and highly recommend keeping it in your tool bag of tricks to get you out of jams.

what you are looking for on the bit level:

"In the editor, go to the "01C0" line and the third bit should be a "42". Change that to a "07". **Note, a few machines have had this on the "01D0" line instead. I don't know what that means, so I wouldn't try it unless it is on a pure test box. ***** I assume partition 1 would be at "01C0", Partition 2 would be at "01D0", Partition 3 would be "01E0", and Partition 4 would be "01F0". I would assume that you would be required to change every partion on the drive back for this to work. However, I have not tested this. Do so at your own risk. "

paragon is point and click but it does cost 300 for the license. bit level is free, but can screw up the server much easier. take your pick. All bets are off if you are doing this with a mirrored partition (the only reason I see to have dynamic disks). You will have to break the mirror and do it with the one drive. I would even disable the other drive.

[p1j]

Thanks a lot..

when I change at the bit level, does it have any impact of file structure/mbr and existing content on that hard disk? Also will it cause any inconsistencies with existing windows registry etc to recognize it?

thanks again!

  On 22/09/2010 at 13:16, sc302 said:

Paragon partition manager will do this easily. Otherwise you can do it with free utilities by changing it on the bit level.

convert to basic is on page 3

http://www.paragon-software.com/export/sites/paragonsoftware.com/docs/PM11_Corporate_Full_Features_List.pdf

It is the only partition manager software that I know of that does this, I have used it to fixed botched servers and highly recommend keeping it in your tool bag of tricks to get you out of jams.

what you are looking for on the bit level:

"In the editor, go to the "01C0" line and the third bit should be a "42". Change that to a "07". **Note, a few machines have had this on the "01D0" line instead. I don't know what that means, so I wouldn't try it unless it is on a pure test box. ***** I assume partition 1 would be at "01C0", Partition 2 would be at "01D0", Partition 3 would be "01E0", and Partition 4 would be "01F0". I would assume that you would be required to change every partion on the drive back for this to work. However, I have not tested this. Do so at your own risk. "

paragon is point and click but it does cost 300 for the license. bit level is free, but can screw up the server much easier. take your pick. All bets are off if you are doing this with a mirrored partition (the only reason I see to have dynamic disks). You will have to break the mirror and do it with the one drive. I would even disable the other drive.

[sc302 Veteran]

no sir. it should not impact the existing file structure at all or registry. it should be similar to what paragon is doing (it needs to do this outside of windows also, via a boot disk or during a reboot prior to the os fully loading and mounting the disks).

[p1j]

Great.. will try and get back with the results!

  On 22/09/2010 at 14:32, sc302 said:

no sir. it should not impact the existing file structure at all.

[sc302 Veteran]

good luck.

[+BudMan MVC]

Keep in mind there is risk to doing such a thing.. Be it with a tool or changing the bit - which I have done in the past as test and works fine. But would be extra careful on a disk with production data. I would assume you have a backup?? I would never suggest anyone do such a thing without a valid backup of your critical data.

Sure it can be a time saver - but without a backup it could also be a job ender ;) If the worse case scenario happens..

[sc302 Veteran]

  On 22/09/2010 at 15:24, BudMan said:

Keep in mind there is risk to doing such a thing.. Be it with a tool or changing the bit - which I have done in the past as test and works fine. But would be extra careful on a disk with production data. I would assume you have a backup?? I would never suggest anyone do such a thing without a valid backup of your critical data.

Sure it can be a time saver - but without a backup it could also be a job ender ;) If the worse case scenario happens..

backup should go without saying.

[+BudMan MVC]

You would think so ;) But I find this is quite often not the case...

[spaceelf]

IIRC Testdisk can do it for you. Slightly less annoying than having to pay for it or edit manually.