Changing a dynamic disk back to a basic disk in windows 7 & Windows server 2008 R2

Basic disks support only primary partitions, extended partitions, and logical drives. Basic disks have been supported in operating systems since MS-DOS, while dynamic disks have been supported in operating systems since Windows 2000.

Backup Operators or Administrator is the minimum membership required.

NOTE: The decision to convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk has implications that should be considered carefully.

            Before you convert disks, close any programs that are running on those disks.

To change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using the Windows interface

1. Back up all volumes on the disk you want to convert from dynamic to basic.
2. In Disk Management, right-click each volume on the dynamic disk you want to convert to a basic disk, and then click Delete Volume for each volume on the disk.
3. When all volumes on the disk have been deleted, right-click the disk, and then click Convert to Basic Disk.
   
   

Additional considerations

• The disk must not have any volumes nor contain any data before you can change it back to a basic disk. If you want to keep your data, back it up or move it to another volume before you convert the disk to a basic disk.
  
  
• Once you change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk, you can create only partitions and logical drives on that disk.
  
  

To change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using a command line

1. Back up all volumes on the disk you want to convert from dynamic to basic.
2. Open a command prompt and type diskpart.
3. At the DISKPART prompt, type list disk. Make note of the disk number you want to convert to basic.
4. At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk <disknumber>.
5. At the DISKPART prompt, type detail disk <disknumber>.
6. For each volume on the disk, at the DISKPART prompt, type select volume= <volumenumber> and then type delete volume.
7. At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk <disknumber>. Specify the disk number of the disk that you want to convert to a basic disk.
8. At the DISKPART prompt, type convert basic.

   Additional considerations

   • The disk must not have any volumes or contain any data before you can change it back to a basic disk. If you want to keep your data, back it up or move it to another volume before you convert the disk to a basic disk.
     
     
   • Once you change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk, you can create only partitions and logical drives on that disk.