Windows convert to dynamic disk

Updated on Feb 18, 2025 Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting Convert Simple Volume to Primary Partition Step 1. Install and open EaseUS Partition Master on your Windows computer; Step 2. Select the disk...Full steps The simple volume is dynamic storage which functions as a primary partition in Windows NT 4.0 and its older versions, can only be created on a dynamic disk.The primary partition is a partition which can be used to boot an Operating System, can only be created on a basic disk with MBR or GPT partition table under all Windows systems.Hence, simple volumes are based on dynamic disk while primary partitions are based on basic disk. To convert simple volume to primary partition, it equals to a switch from dynamic disk to basic disk. How to Convert Simple Volume to Primary PartitionAs we know, Windows Disk Management allows users to convert a basic disk to dynamic disk, but you cannot convert the dynamic disk back to basic disk directly unless you delete the volumes first. That is to say, as long as you choose Windows Disk Management to convert to basic disk, you must create a hard drive backup if data is concerned.It's not available to Convert dynamic disk to basic in Windows Disk Management as shown below.In this case, third-party disk management alternative software - EaseUS Partition Master will save your energy to change the simple volume to primary without deleting or removing any data. It provides a "convert to basic disk" feature to complete this task with easy clicks without any data loss. 3-Step Tutorial to Convert Simple Volume to Primary Partition with Easeus Partition MasterThe following is a step-by-step instruction for you to try with dynamic disk converting software - EaseUS Partition Master Professional.Step 1. Install and open EaseUS Partition Master and go to Disk Converter.Step 2. Select the disk conversion mode that suits your need: Convert Basic to Dynamic: change a Basic disk to Dynamic. Convert Dynamic to Basic: change a Dynamic disk to Basic.Step 3. Select the target disk - Basic or Dynamic, confirm you've select the correct disk and click "Convert" to

Should I convert to dynamic disk?Frankly speaking, converting basic to dynamic disk will improve the performance for your Windows operating system. But there are some situations you could not convert to dynamic disk:♦When downgrading your Windows operating system;♦Multi-boot environments (converting will cause problems If you have more than one operating system);♦Unknown partitions like OEM partitions (it’ll be inaccessible after converting to dynamic disk).♦Your Windows operating system not support dynamic disks.Except for these situations, you could consider to convert basic to dynamic. But before converting, you must have enough understanding of the two disk storage types: Basic disk, Dynamic disk.Basic VS Dynamic diskThe basic disk means a disk that contains partitions, like primary partitions, logical partitions. It supports both Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition styles. Basic disk volumes consist of one set of contiguous extents on a single disk. Basic disk is the storage types most often used with Windows.Dynamic disks has the ability which basic disks not supported to create volumes that span multiple disks like spanned and striped volumes, and is capable of creating fault-tolerant volumes like mirrored and RAID-5 volumes. It also supports both MBR and GPT partition styles.The most important thing is Dynamic disks offer greater flexibility for volume management, because a database used to track the information about dynamic volumes and other dynamic disks in the computer. Besides, dynamic disk is compatible with all Windows OS from Windows 2000 to Windows 10. You could create volumes up to 2000 dynamic volumes on a system (recommended number is 32 or less).How to convert to dynamic disk without losing data in Windows 7/8/10/11?If you want to convert basic disk to dynamic disk in Windows 10/8/7, the Disk Management and AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional will help you out.Disk ManagementFor majority of people, Disk Management would be your first choice to convert. The steps listed below:Right click This PC, choose Manage to enterComputer Management.Choose Disk Management under Storage.Right click the basic disk and choose Convert to Dynamic Disk.Then follow the prompted information to convert.Some limitation of Disk Management that you should be aware of: If you want to convert dynamic disk to basic disk, the option Convert to Basic Disk is greyed out sometimes. In order to convert dynamic to basic disk , you have to delete all the partitions on dynamic disk. Thus, all the data will be wiped out or have to be

Need to back up data and then restore the data after converting. The process can be a lit bit complicated and cumbersome. What’s more, if the dynamic disk contains OS, you won’t be able to delete system volume when the system is running.Thus, if you want to convert boot dynamic disk into basic without losing data or want to complete conversion effectively and simply, it’s recommended to apply AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. This software’s built-in tool, AOMEI Dynamic Disk Converter, allows you to convert dynamic disk to basic disk without deleting any volumes. Besides, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional supports you to convert system MBR disk to GPT without data loss, perform Windows hard drive bootable clone, etc.It can work under Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, XP, and Vista. When you are a Server user, please employ AOMEI Partition Assistant Server, which can be used under Windows Server 200/2019/2016/2012 (R2)/2008 (R2)/2003, and so on. Now, see how to use it to convert dynamic disk into basic without volume deletion in Windows 11/10/8/7.Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Click “Convert” in the top toolbar, and choose “Dynamic Disk Converter”.Step 2. Choose one between Convert a dynamic disk back to basic disk and Convert any dynamic disk volume to basic partition and click Next.Step 3. Select the dynamic disk that you want to convert to a basic disk. Then, click Next and Proceed.Step 4. When the conversion is completed, click OK to restart your computer, and then you can see that the disk has been converted to basic.Further reading: About basic disk and dynamic diskAll the above content has demonstrated how to convert dynamic disk into basic using CMD or third-party software AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Here will show you the differences between dynamic and basic disk and when you can convert disk between basic and dynamic.► Basic disk, a kind of storage type, supports GPT and MRB partition styles. It is most commonly used with Windows and supported by all Windows operating systems from MS-DOS to Windows Server 2019. It can contain primary partition, extended partition, and logical partition, which are called

Backed up to other locations. It’s an annoying thing and time-consuming.AOMEI Partitoin Assistant ProfessionalAOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is more reliable and flexible way to convert disk between basic and dynamic without losing data. It’s a comprehensive and powerful dynamic or basic disks and dynamic volumes management software for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10.It allows you to resize, extend, shrink, create, and delete dynamic volumes. You could move volume slice, and add drive to RAID, etc. Just a few clicks to convert to dynamic disk via its built-in tool, AOMEI Dynamic Disk Manager, refer to these text after downloading it:Important: Please backup all the data on your basic disk in case your data lost because of some unexpected things.1. Install and fire up AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, click Dynamic Disk to access its Dynamic Disk Manager wizard. Click “Convert” in the top toolbar, and choose “Dynamic Disk Converter”.2. Tick the Basic disk (Disk 2), and then hit OK.3. View the change of Basic disk, press Commit to convert to Dynamic disk.4. Press Proceed to commit the pending operation of converting Basic to Dynamic disk.5. Then you will see the task progress is completed after few seconds.Tip: The operation could not erase your data on basic disk.After this, you could install Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 on dynamic disk. Obviously, the problem “Should I convert to dynamic disk” should have an answer in your mind. You could also convert dynamic to basic disk with this software, first of all, you have to backup all the critical data on dynamic disk, and then delete all volumes on dynamic disk and choose Convert to Basic Disk to revert. After that you could create new logical partitions on it. The converting operation will reboot your Windows 7/8/10/11 PC to take effect.