Disk conversion: basic to dynamic

You would want to convert a basic disk to dynamic in the following cases:

  • If you plan to use the disk as part of a dynamic disk group.
  • If you want to achieve additional disk reliability for data storage.

If you need to convert a basic disk to dynamic:

  1. Select the basic disk to convert to dynamic.
  2. Right-click on the selected volume, and then click Convert to dynamic in the context menu. You will receive a final warning about the basic disk being converted to dynamic.
  3. If you click OK in this warning window, the conversion will be performed immediately and if necessary, your machine will be restarted.

    Please note: A dynamic disk occupies the last megabyte of the physical disk to store the database, including the four-level description (Volume-Component-Partition-Disk) for each dynamic volume. If during the conversion to dynamic it turns out that the basic disk is full and the size of its volumes cannot be decreased automatically, the basic disk to dynamic conversion operation will fail.

Should you decide to revert your dynamic disks back to basic ones, e.g. if you want to start using an OS on your machine that does not support dynamic disks, you can convert your disks using the same menu items, though the operation now will be named Convert to basic. 

  System disk conversion

Acronis Disk Director Lite does not require an operating system reboot after basic to dynamic conversion of the disk, if:

  1. There is a single Windows 2008/Vista operating system installed on the disk.
  2. The machine runs this operating system.

Basic to dynamic conversion of the disk, comprising of system volumes, takes a certain amount of time, and any power loss, unintentional turning off of the machine or accidental pressing of the Reset button during the procedure could result in bootability loss.

In contrast to Windows Disk Manager the program ensures bootability of an offline operating system on the disk after the operation.

Disk conversion: basic to dynamic