Can I delete dynamic volumes on a GPT or MBR disk? Your guide is here [2024 Tutorial]

By

Sherly 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 19, 2024

GPT and MBR are two different ways of storing partition information on a disk. Each partition style has its specific features.

GPT stands for Globally Unique Identifier Partition Table, which uses the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). The GPT partition style is available in Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later.

MBR stands for "Master Boot Record." The Master Boot Record is the partition style used on all x86 and x64-based computers that run Windows. The Master Boot Record (MBR) uses a standard BIOS partition table to describe the location of partitions on the disk.

Key points for removing Dynamic Disks from a GPT/MBR disk:

The key to avoiding data loss is to back up your disk first. If you do not have a backup, or skip this step for the sake of time, the “Erase” command will erase the disk, causing permanent data loss.

Before deleting a dynamic disk on GPT/MBR disks, you should first back up all volumes on the disk. 2. Use system backup or partition backup. You can save the backup to a local disk, external hard drive, or any network location. 3. For Windows dynamic disks and GPT partitions, bare-metal backup is also supported. After booting from the bare-metal media, select "Utilities" > "Advanced" > "Backup Whole Disk." When you want to restore the disk, you can recover each disk separately from the "Full Recovery" option in the recovery menu.

Can I delete dynamic volumes on a GPT or MBR disk?

If you delete the MBR/GPT partition, your computer will no longer be able to access the hard drive. As a result, you won't be able to boot into Windows when you restart. You can create a bootable disk to access an unbootable operating system.

Reasons for deleting dynamic volumes on GPT/MBR disks:

However, GPT/MBR disks also have some drawbacks, so there may be reasons to delete dynamic volumes on them, such as:

- GPT is not supported for booting an operating system on older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 or XP. - To free up space on a dynamic disk. - During the installation of Windows, people often delete the disk partition style. - To resolve issues with insufficient disk space or to adjust partition sizes. - To reset the file system or clean up a partition. - To convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk.

Below are tutorials on how to delete dynamic volumes on GPT or MBR disks, which should be helpful for your purpose.

[[2]](#2) Free up space by deleting dynamic volumes on GPT/MBR disks

If you want to delete one or all of the existing volumes to free up more space or to use the entire dynamic disk space, try the methods below for help.

Guide 1: Delete Dynamic Volume with Free Partition Manager

is a trustworthy free partition manager that lets you delete existing dynamic volumes on GPT or dynamic disks for free. Grab it now and promptly use it to erase the target volume. This top-notch third-party free tool makes it easy to delete disk partitions, or even wipe out all partitions in one go.

Here's a simple guide to deleting a dynamic volume:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and then click "Manage Partition".

Before deleting any partitions on the disk, make sure you have backed up important data.

Step 2: Choose to delete a partition on the hard drive or delete all partitions.

• Delete a single partition: Right-click on the partition you wish to delete, then select "Delete."
• Delete all partitions: Right-click on the hard drive from which you want to delete all partitions, then select "Delete All."

Step 3: Click OK to confirm the deletion.

Step 4: Click Run the xx Task, and then click Apply to save the changes.

0:00 - 0:26 Remove a single volume; 0:27 - 0:53 Remove all partitions.

Guide 2: Delete Dynamic Volumes on GPT or MBR Disk with Disk Management

Here are some ways to do that.

Step 1. Right-click on the "Windows Start" icon at the bottom left and select Disk Management.

Right-click Start to remove the partition

Step 2: Right-click on the partition you want to delete and select Delete Volume from the context menu.

Click "Delete Volume from Menu":

If you have backed up your data, click Yes to continue.

If you want to delete all partitions, repeat this process for any other partitions that exist on the disk.

Guideline 3: Delete Dynamic Volumes on GPT or MBR Disk with DiskPart

The Diskpart commands can be complicated for beginners, and a simple typing error can cause severe data loss. Back up your files before you use disk partitioning commands.

Step 1: In the taskbar search box, type “Command Prompt,” right-click “Command Prompt” in the results, and then select “Run as administrator” from the drop-down menu.

Step 2. Type "diskpart", then press Enter. Click "Yes" to open "Disk Management."

Step 3: Type list disk, and press Enter.

You'll immediately see a list of all available hard drives and USB drives on your computer. The order of the disks will be the same as in "Disk Management." You can also open "Disk Management" to easily identify the correct hard drive.

Step 4: Type select disk 2, and press the Enter key.

Replace the number 2 with the disk number of the GPT/MBR disk on your computer. Make sure you've selected the correct disk from which you want to delete the partition.

Step 5: Type list partition, and press the Enter key:

Since you selected a hard disk in Step 4, you will see a list of all partitions on that drive here.

Step 6. Type select partition followed by the number of the partition you want to delete, and press Enter.

(7) Type delete partition/volume, and press the Enter key.

Select and enter

The specified partition has now been deleted.

Step 8: Type “exit” in the last type field to close the Partition Disk window.

Delete Dynamic Volumes on a GPT or MBR Disk to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

The following guide will show you how to delete dynamic volumes on a GPT or MBR disk in order to convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk.

Guideline 1: Convert dynamic disk to basic disk without losing data

AOMEI Partition Assistant, featuring disk conversion function, is an intact solution that you can fully rely on to convert dynamic disk to basic disk on GPT or MBR without losing any data. Download it to convert dynamic disk to basic disk safely and efficiently. It will protect all your data and content during the process.

You can meet your needs through these steps:

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

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

• Convert basic to dynamic: Convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk. • Convert dynamic to basic: Convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk.

Step 3: Select the destination disk type - "Basic" or "Dynamic". Check that you have selected the correct disk and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

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

Guideline 2: Remove All Dynamic Volumes on GPT/MBR and Switch to Basic Disk via Disk Management

Step 1: First, back up all volumes on the disk that you want to convert from dynamic to basic.

2. Right-click each volume that you want to convert from a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Disk Management, and then click Delete Volume.

Step 3: Select Yes to confirm the deletion.

4. After you delete all volumes on the selected disk, right-click the disk, and then click Convert to Basic Disk. After you delete all volumes on a dynamic disk, the disk is automatically converted to a Basic disk.

Guideline 3: Delete Dynamic Volumes on GPT/MBR with DiskPart and Convert to Basic Disk

Step 1: First, back up all volumes on the disk that you want to convert from dynamic to basic by using Diskpart.

Step 2: Open a Command Prompt, and type diskpart.

3. At the Diskpart prompt, type list disk. Note the number of the disk that you want to convert to a basic disk.

4. Type `select disk` followed by the disk number and press Enter.

Step 5: Type detail disk, and press Enter.

Step 6: Type select volume followed by the volume number, and then type delete volume for each volume that appears on the disk.

Step 7: Select the disk that you want to convert to Basic disk.

Step 8: Type convert basic.

This allows you to use the clean command in Diskpart to remove all existing volumes on a dynamic disk. Diskpart also makes it easy to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk.

Final Award

GPT and MBR are two different methods to store partition information. It's easy to delete dynamic volumes on a GPT or MBR disk. To prevent severe data loss, backup is necessary, so always back up your files before deleting partitions and make sure you're deleting the right drive. Partition Master is the simplest solution for deleting dynamic volumes on a GPT or MBR disk, regardless of how you want to use the disk space. Apply it to instantly remove the target volume.

Frequently Asked Questions on Deleting Dynamic Volumes on GPT/MBR Disks (UTF-8 Encoding)

Here are translations of the given sentences into American English: 1. **What are dynamic volumes?** - Dynamic volumes are advanced disk management features in the Windows operating system that let you create, extend, and combine volumes on basic disks. Unlike simple volumes, dynamic volumes support spanned across multiple disks and offer advanced features like mirroring, striped sets, RAID-5, and spanned volumes. 2. **What's the difference between GPT and MBR disks?** - GPT (GUID Partition Table) is a modern disk partition style that replaces the traditional MBR (Master Boot Record). GPT provides more partition numbers and larger disk size support and is more stable, especially in large storage configurations. MBR disks are limited to a maximum of four primary partitions or three primary partitions plus one extended partition, with a maximum disk capacity of 2 TB. 3. **How do I delete a dynamic volume on a GPT disk?** - To delete a dynamic volume on a GPT disk, usually, you'd use the "Disk Management" tool: 1. Right-click the Start button and choose "Disk Management." 2. Find the dynamic volume you want to delete, right-click it, then select "Delete Volume." 3. Confirm the action, and the dynamic volume will be deleted, freeing up the space as "Unallocated." 4. **How do I delete a dynamic volume on an MBR disk?** - The process for deleting a dynamic volume on an MBR disk is similar: 1. Launch "Disk Management." 2. Select the dynamic volume you want to delete, right-click it, and choose "Delete Volume." 3. Confirm the deletion of the dynamic volume. 5. **Are there risks associated with deleting dynamic volumes?** - Yes, deleting dynamic volumes can result in data loss. Make sure to back up important data before deleting, as this process cannot be undone. 6. **How do I recover a dynamically deleted volume?** - If you accidentally delete a dynamic volume, try using data recovery software to restore lost partitions and files. Note that this isn't always successful and may be slower. 7. **How do I recreate a dynamic volume after deletion?** - After deleting a dynamic volume, you can create a new one in Disk Management by selecting "New Dynamic Volume" and following the wizard's instructions. Exercise caution based on your specific situation and always back up important data before performing any operation that could lead to data loss.

1. How do I delete a dynamic volume using CMD?

Open the Command Prompt, type Diskpart, then enter. Next, type Select Disk, followed by List Partition. After that, type Select Partition and finally Delete Volume. Lastly, input Exit to close the prompt.

2. Can GPT disks be dynamic?

Yes, a GPT disk can be dynamic, as dynamic disks can utilize the GPT partition style when supported.

3. Which is better: Dynamic Disk or Basic Disk?

Dynamic disks are better than basic disks because they offer greater flexibility.

4. Can I convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without losing data?

A dynamic disk cannot be converted to a basic disk if it contains partitions. To do this, you must delete all volumes and data on the dynamic disk.