Basic Disk vs Dynamic Disk: Features, Differences, and Conversion

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 19, 2024

What is a basic disk?

Basic disks are the most common partition type used in Windows operating systems. The partition table or logical drive handles all data on the hard disk partition.

Basic disks are the traditional storage model, similar to what was used with MS-DOS. For example, your operating system is installed on a hard drive configured as a basic disk. In addition, each new disk is created as a basic disk by default, unless specified otherwise.

A basic disk's simple volume is a partition. If you format a partition on a basic disk, you can later modify or extend it. Also, you can resize or extend the partition after it is created, although there are limits to how large you can make it. The maximum size of a partition is the amount of space available on the hard disk.

Each partition is independent and cannot share or span information with other partitions. Disks can use one of two partitioning styles: Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT). There is a limit to the number of partitions that can be created on a basic disk, depending on the partition style used by the disk.

A basic disk with the GPT partition style allows you to create up to 128 primary partitions. A basic disk with the MBR partition style can have a maximum of four partitions, for example, four primary partitions. Or, it can have three primary partitions and one extended partition, which can contain multiple logical partitions. Additionally, basic disks support the use of the

What is a Dynamic Disk?

Windows 2000 introduced dynamic disks. This new technology allows for more flexible data management, such as fault-tolerant volumes.

Dynamic disks use a special type of volume called a dynamic volume. You can span, convert, and extend dynamic volumes even after you create them. Additionally, you can expand a volume across noncontiguous areas on one or more physical disks. The maximum size of a dynamic disk might vary.

Dynamic disks use the Virtual Disk Service (VDS) or a hidden Logical Disk Manager (LDM) database. They also support MBR and GPT.

There are five different types of volumes on a dynamic disk: Simple, Spanned, Striped, Mirrored, and RAID-5. A simple volume is a single dynamic volume. A spanned volume is a single dynamic volume that spans multiple disks.

A striped volume is a single dynamic volume that spans multiple disks. A mirrored volume has two copies of its data, providing fault tolerance. A RAID-5 volume is a fault-tolerant dynamic volume that stores data across rotating disks. It cannot be mirrored or extended.

There can be up to 2000 dynamic volumes on a disk. It doesn't matter whether your dynamic disk uses the MBR or GPT partition style. However, it's recommended that you have 32 or fewer dynamic volumes.

Differences Between Basic Disks and Dynamic Disks

If you're having trouble deciding between dynamic disk and basic disk, it's time to compare the two. Both types of disks are used to store information, but they differ in how they're used.

A basic disk is the initial type of disk that has been around since the DOS era. Data on these disks is tracked using either GPT or MBR. These partition styles only allow for primary partitions and logical partitions. After creation, they cannot be altered directly without third-party tools – one of the reasons why partition size is limited by the hard drive space.

Basic disks are the most popular storage method for several reasons. They have dual multi-boot capabilities, they're easy to use, and they protect your data. Fortunately, you can convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk without losing any data.

On the other hand, Dynamic Disk is a special type of storage that Windows computers use. Originally developed for Windows NT, Dynamic Disks have been available since Windows 2000. They use the LDM and VDS database, as well as MBR or GPT, to track volumes.

On MBR partitions, the database occupies the last megabyte (MB) of space. On GPT partitions, it occupies a reserved (hidden) 1-MB disk space.

Dynamic Disks allow you to create volumes with different space configurations. You can easily resize Dynamic Volumes and move them around. Using a database, your computer can create new Dynamic Disks and repair damaged ones.

Dynamic volumes are available for use by users with varying levels of technical expertise. There are five types of dynamic volumes: simple, spanned, striped, mirrored, and RAID-5. However, they do not support multibooting.

By connecting multiple areas, you can form a dynamic volume without boundaries. Also, it can be divided into multiple sections for easier data management. You don't need to restart the operating system to modify the volume or make backups to prevent data loss.

Unfortunately, you can't directly convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk. You must delete them first, which, to prevent data loss, requires a third-party tool.

How to Convert Basic Disks to Dynamic Disks (2 Methods)

You will learn how to effectively convert a basic disk to dynamic disk. One way is by using third-party partition management software, and the other is by using Disk Management in Windows 10/8.1/8/7.

Method 1: Convert to Dynamic Disk with Partition Master Tool

tools Partition Master is a tool that lets you partition and manage data drives on Windows operating systems. Users can convert basic disks to dynamic, or vice versa, without losing data. It easily resizes partitions, creates, moves, deletes, merges partitions, wipes disks, and changes drive letters. Its user-friendly interface makes any partition management task a breeze. The tools disk management tool is compatible with all Windows systems, from Windows 2000 to Windows 10.

Step 1. Install and launch Partition Master, then go to Disk Converter.

Step 2. Choose the disk conversion mode that suits your needs:

• Convert to Dynamic Disk: Converts a basic disk to a dynamic disk.
• Convert to Basic Disk: Converts a dynamic disk to a basic disk.

Step 3: Select the destination disk - Basic or Dynamic. Make sure you have selected the right disk, then click "Convert" to start the conversion.

0:00 - 0:18 Convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk; 0:19 - 0:36 convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk.

Method 2: Convert to Dynamic Disk via Windows Disk Management

Windows Disk Management provides basic tools for disk management to beginners. Apart from all the basic features, you can also convert a basic disk to dynamic disk.

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to convert your basic disk to a dynamic disk in Disk Management:

Step 1: Right-click the Windows Start button and select “Disk Management” to open it.

Right click to open the disk management menu:

Step 2: The drive should show up in the Disk Management tool.

Step 3: To convert the basic disk to dynamic, right-click on the disk and select "Convert to Dynamic Disk."

Step 4. In the new window, select the disk you want to convert. Click “OK.”

Step 5: Check that everything is correct. Click “Translate” to confirm the conversion.

Step 6: Disk Management warns you that after the conversion, you will no longer be able to boot an operating system from any volume on these disks, except the current boot volume. Proceed with the boot process. When it's done, your basic disk will have become a dynamic disk.

Click _Yes_ in the warning dialog:

How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk

“Disk Management” does not allow you to directly convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk. You will notice that the option to convert a dynamic disk is unavailable.

So you might have to go through a time-consuming process to convert it. Users of Windows must delete all volumes on a dynamic disk and then convert it to a basic disk – which results in data loss.

To convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk, follow these steps:

Step 1. First of all, back up all your data before converting dynamic disk to basic disk.

Step 2. Run Disk Management with administrator privileges. Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.

Step 3. Delete all volumes on the dynamic disk that you want to convert. Right-click each volume and click Delete Volume.

Step 4: Right-click the disk and select "Convert to Basic Disk."

Conclusions

This guide explains the difference between basic disks and dynamic disks. Dynamic disks are more flexible, but they cannot be directly converted back to basic disks. Also, you can create multi-boot partitions only on basic disks. Therefore, dealing with both types of disks can become problematic without the right tools.

We learned how to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk, and vice versa. Be aware that when using the Disk Management tool to convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk, you cannot avoid data loss. You will have to erase everything.

The problem with hard drives is that they're not easily expandable or convertible once formatted. If you have a hard drive with a lot of unused space, you can't always just add to that space. You need a third-party tool.

With Partition Master tool, you can convert a basic disk to dynamic disk and vice versa with only a few clicks. Now, utilize the unallocated space on your hard drive. Download it now and resize or alter volumes without losing any data!