Basic Disk and Dynamic Disk
There are two types of computer hard disks: Basic Disks and Dynamic disks. Basic disks are the commonly used storage media with Windows. They contain partitions like Primary partitions and Logical drives which are typically formatted with a file system. Dynamic disks offer the ability to create fault-tolerant volumes that may even span multiple disks – which Basic disks cannot. Most home personal computers are configured using Basic disks. However, IT professionals usually prefer to use Dynamic disks, as they offered more functionality and increased reliability and performance. While Home editions of Windows support Basic Disks, Enterprise/Pro/Ultimate versions of Windows operating system support Dynamic Disks as well. Microsoft has listed the operations that can be performed on each of these types. Operations that can be performed on both, Basic and Dynamic disks: Operations that can be performed only on Dynamic disks:
Convert a Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk in Windows
Before you start this process, you should know that there could be data loss as a result of this operation, so it is imperative that you first take a backup of your data to an external hard disk. So proceed only if you know what you are doing and be careful.
1] Using UI
In Windows 8.1, open the WinX Menu and select Disk Management. Right-click on the Disk and select Convert to Dynamic Disk. You will be asked to once again confirm the Disk and click on Convert later on. The process will start, and the Disk will be converted to a Dynamic disk.
2] Using Command line
Open an elevated command prompt, type diskpart and hit Enter. Next, type list disk. Make a note of the disk number of the disk you want to convert to Dynamic. Now type select diskn and press Enter. Next type convert dynamic and hit Enter. Read: How to create Mirrored Volume for Instant Hard Drive Backup in Windows.
Convert Dynamic disk to Basic disk
1] Using Disk Management
To change a Dynamic Disk to a Basic disk, using Disk Management, right-click each volume you want to convert to a basic disk, and select Delete Volume for each volume on the disk. When all volumes on the disk have been deleted, right-click the Disk, and select Convert to Basic Disk. The operation will start.
2] Using CMD
Open an elevated command prompt and type diskpart and hit Enter.
Next type list disk and note the disk number, of the disk you want to convert to basic. Now type each of these and hit Enter, one after the other:
Type select disk
