Win2K Pro dynamic/basic disk question

[seanc]

Hi all,

I was fiddling around in W2K and now I've set my primary and only hard drive to a dynamic disk. I want to change it back because I want to repartition the drive to try Linux. Partition Magic doesn't recognize the drive because it's set as dynamic.

Any ideas on converting it back without deleting everything?

Thanks,
Sean

[Jim9999]

Nope. You need to back up your data and remove it so you can revert to a basic disk.

Ahhh, the knowledge gained after fiddling around <grin>

[lynchmob]

jim9999 is correct.No turning back when you change from basic to dynamic.There's a warning in the win2k Pro install guide.The dynamic option has to do with Active Directory.I think.

[seanc]

Drat!! Thanks for letting me know guys.

Sean

[doup93]

Lynchmob:

Actually, Dynamic Disks allows to create more volumes than a basic disk. Also, it is the only way in Win2K to create mirrors, stripes or Raid-5 volumes as these cannot be created on a basic disk in Win2K (But, Win2K will support these volumes when NT4 is upgraded to Win2K).

The only requirement for Active Directory on Win2K Server is that the database file containing the object of the AD be located on an NTFS partition.

[This message has been edited by doup93 (edited 07-26-2001).]

[lynchmob]

Thank for the clarification,doup93.I was spouting hearsay and not cold,hard facts.I take it that you cant do a simple raid1 with a basic drive in w2k?
Anyway,that's the last time I listen to the janitor at Staples. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
lynch

[This message has been edited by lynchmob (edited 07-27-2001).]

[Jav]

Here's another tidbit about Win2k and Dynamic Disks:

Although dynamic disks allow for mirroring, RAID and volume sets, you cannot Cluster a dynamic disk for use with Microsoft Cluster Services. (Win2K Advanced Server) You need to use basic disks.

Weird eh?