Basic and dynamic disk in windows xp. Urgent help required..

jnpandya · 10-10-2004, 02:29 PM

I had 20 GB hdd installed running Windows XP and then the 80 GB drive was added. Then i used Disk Manager available in Computer Management to partition the new hard disk.

I wanted to use my 20 GB hdd for another computer, so I removed it and made the 80 GB hard disk as primary master. Now when I try to install the opterating system from the bootable cd, it shows "Dynamic Disk" and does not show any partition or drive letter on the 80 GB disk and it shows zero free space.

How can I convert the Dynamic Disk into a Basic disk? If it is not necessary, then what should be done to install the operating system on the dynamic disk without disturbing my partitions and data?

enoonmai · 10-10-2004, 04:01 PM

D00d, be really careful with these things. Did you choose Dynamic disk when using the diskmgmt snap-in? If you're a home user, ALWAYS choose basic. If you're running Windows Server 2003, its OK (?) to use Dynamic volumes.
What you need to do is boot off the WinXP CD, enter the Recovery Console and then format the dynamic volume (whatever drive letter you gave the volumes) and then restart and reinstall.
For more info, check out this and this
Next time, be careful.

jnpandya · 14-10-2004, 11:11 AM

So, there is no other way to recover the data from dynamic disk without connecting to another computer running WinXP?

[deXter] · 14-10-2004, 10:42 PM

You can use a WinPE or a BartPE based bootCD. These CDs are live XP-on-CDs.

Try searching for Winternals ERD Commander 2003 or any Bootable cd that is based on WinPE or BartPE. Download, install/burn and boot off the CD. You should be able to access all your files and do whatever you want to..

djmykey · 15-10-2004, 07:12 AM

ya wi xp disk management sux if u dont know what ur doin i also did da same thing and my data went off my new hdd. but i got it back frm a fren. so always use 3rd party utils or apna simple fdisk. and then only partition a hdd coz the xp thing is too complicated to understand.

jnpandya · 20-10-2004, 11:59 AM

Hi [deXter],

I solved my problem using the first hard disk. But I was curious to see Windows XP live on CD after I saw Knoppix and Gnoppix versions in linux. You were the first for me to give this kind of information. So just out of this curiosity, I downloaded the BartPE builder.

On running the builder, initially it did not continue saying that it will require SP1. I copied all the files from my Windows XP installation CD to HDD and updated the source using the SP1. Then used the same to create the ISO file. The file was created successfully.

I burned a CD and booted from that. After booting normally and even showing the Windows XP boot screen, the system hangs. I am using P-III 550 (512 kb cache) with 256 MB RAM on intel i810 motherboard. Will the CD require an advanced machine or should it work on my PC also?

Another question I wanted to ask:
I have downloaded the Ultimate Boot CD 2.4 also. It is written in the help that one can add other modules to the utilities given in the cd. How can I add some files if I don't have any option for choosing to add files to a cd burnt with ISO file?

10-10-2004, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
jnpandya Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Gujarat Posts: 55	Basic and dynamic disk in windows xp. Urgent help required.. I had 20 GB hdd installed running Windows XP and then the 80 GB drive was added. Then i used Disk Manager available in Computer Management to partition the new hard disk. I wanted to use my 20 GB hdd for another computer, so I removed it and made the 80 GB hard disk as primary master. Now when I try to install the opterating system from the bootable cd, it shows "Dynamic Disk" and does not show any partition or drive letter on the 80 GB disk and it shows zero free space. How can I convert the Dynamic Disk into a Basic disk? If it is not necessary, then what should be done to install the operating system on the dynamic disk without disturbing my partitions and data?

10-10-2004, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
enoonmai Wise Old Owl Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Parked diagonally in a parallel universe Posts: 1,304	D00d, be really careful with these things. Did you choose Dynamic disk when using the diskmgmt snap-in? If you're a home user, ALWAYS choose basic. If you're running Windows Server 2003, its OK (?) to use Dynamic volumes. What you need to do is boot off the WinXP CD, enter the Recovery Console and then format the dynamic volume (whatever drive letter you gave the volumes) and then restart and reinstall. For more info, check out this and this Next time, be careful. __________________ Face it, kid! Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something significant - Calvin A64 3000+@2.4G/Asus A8V-DLX/1G DDR400/BBA X800 XT PE/320G HGST SATA2 Playing FEAR XP/LSW2

14-10-2004, 10:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
[deXter] Broken In Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mumbai Posts: 180	You can use a WinPE or a BartPE based bootCD. These CDs are live XP-on-CDs. Try searching for Winternals ERD Commander 2003 or any Bootable cd that is based on WinPE or BartPE. Download, install/burn and boot off the CD. You should be able to access all your files and do whatever you want to.. __________________ Yes, I\'m back. Not 24x7 yet, but pretty soon. Please be a bit considerate (don\'t bombard me with PMs and all) as I need to some time to Synchronize my brain with the forum. Any inconvenience caused is regretted.

15-10-2004, 07:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
djmykey Let the music play..... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pune Posts: 665	ya wi xp disk management sux if u dont know what ur doin i also did da same thing and my data went off my new hdd. but i got it back frm a fren. so always use 3rd party utils or apna simple fdisk. and then only partition a hdd coz the xp thing is too complicated to understand. __________________ Long back, a person who sacrificed his sleep, forgot his family, forgot his food, fogot laughter were called "Saints" But now they are called.."IT professionals"

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14-10-2004, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
jnpandya Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Gujarat Posts: 55	So, there is no other way to recover the data from dynamic disk without connecting to another computer running WinXP?

20-10-2004, 11:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
jnpandya Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Gujarat Posts: 55	Hi [deXter], I solved my problem using the first hard disk. But I was curious to see Windows XP live on CD after I saw Knoppix and Gnoppix versions in linux. You were the first for me to give this kind of information. So just out of this curiosity, I downloaded the BartPE builder. On running the builder, initially it did not continue saying that it will require SP1. I copied all the files from my Windows XP installation CD to HDD and updated the source using the SP1. Then used the same to create the ISO file. The file was created successfully. I burned a CD and booted from that. After booting normally and even showing the Windows XP boot screen, the system hangs. I am using P-III 550 (512 kb cache) with 256 MB RAM on intel i810 motherboard. Will the CD require an advanced machine or should it work on my PC also? Another question I wanted to ask: I have downloaded the Ultimate Boot CD 2.4 also. It is written in the help that one can add other modules to the utilities given in the cd. How can I add some files if I don't have any option for choosing to add files to a cd burnt with ISO file?