How to Safely Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

There are two types of disk storage options in Windows: Basic Disk and Dynamic Disk. Many users find themselves unsure which one to select when partitioning a drive. This article will explore three effective methods to convert a Dynamic Disk back to a Basic Disk without data loss.

How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk Without Data Loss

You can convert a dynamic disk to a basic one using the Windows Disk Management tool, but you'll need to delete all volumes and data on the dynamic disk, and the process is irreversible.

Then, can we convert dynamic disk to basic disk without losing data? Fortunately, the answer is YES. Below, we will introduce three practical methods to help you convert a dynamic disk to basic without any data loss.

Before diving into the specific tutorial for each method, let's first review some basic information about them:

The comparison table indicates that the first method is the most efficient and swift solution.

#1. Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk via Tool - Partition Master

These lines translated into English are:
• Free or Paid: Paid
• Read Time: 1 minute
• Tools: computer, Partition Master tool.

The third-party partition manager software, AOMEI Partition Assistant, enables you to switch from Dynamic Disk to Basic or vice versa with just a few clicks. With this tool, you can directly perform the conversion while preserving all volumes intact without any data loss.

How-to Guide: Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk with Partition Master Tool

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

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

Translate the following into English: < li >< strong > Convert Basic to Dynamic < /strong>: change a Basic disk to Dynamic. < /li> < li >< strong > Convert Dynamic to Basic < /strong>: change a Dynamic disk to Basic. < /li>

Step 3. Choose the target disk - Basic or Dynamic, make sure you've selected the right disk and click "Convert" to start.

0:00 - 0:18 Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk; 0:19 - 0:36 Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk.

After Partition Master applies the changes, you will see the dynamic disk has become basic in Windows Disk Management as shown below:

Then, you can use "Resize/Move partition" feature to resize partitions on the basic disk. Note that if you want to change a basic disk into a dynamic type, you can also apply this software for help.

If you like this versatile tool and successfully convert dynamic disk to basic disk, feel free to share this page with others who might need it!

#2. Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk using Disk Management

These lines translated into English are:
• Free or Paid: Free
• Read Time: 3 minutes
• Tools: computer, Disk Management.

Applies to: Experienced Windows users, deletion of partitions is inevitable, and data loss may occur.

As mentioned above, if you want to use the built-in Windows Disk Management to convert a dynamic disk to a basic one, you need to delete all volumes on the dynamic disk.

How-to Tutorial: Change Dynamic to Basic using Disk Management

Here's a free solution to convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using Windows Disk Management. It can be done in just three simple steps, as shown below:

1. Back up all volumes on the disk that you want to convert from dynamic to basic.

2. In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) each volume on the dynamic disk that you want to convert to a basic disk, and then click “Delete Volume”.

Delete dynamic volume

3. Click “Yes” to confirm the deletion.

4. When all volumes on the disk have been deleted, right-click the disk, and then click “Convert to Basic Disk”.

On some new operating systems, the disk will automatically become a Basic disk after you delete all volumes on the dynamic disk.

To convert a dynamic disk that has mirror volumes, you must break the mirrors before you can delete them.

Step 1. Right-click "My Computer/This PC" and select "Manage" -> "Storage" -> "Disk Management".

Step 2. Right-click the mirrored volumes and select "Break Mirrored Volume" or "Remove Mirror" to delete the mirror.

If the boot/system partition is on the mirrored volumes, you can only choose "Remove Mirror" to remove the mirror.

Please back up important data before performing this operation.

After selecting “Break Mirrored Volume” or “Remove Mirror”, the mirrored volumes will be converted to simple volumes. You can then delete them via the right-click shortcut.

Step 3. Convert the dynamic disk back to a basic disk by repeatedly deleting all volumes on the disk.

Then right-click the dynamic disk and choose “Convert to Basic” if needed. Once the dynamic disk is converted to a basic one, you can create new partitions on the disk to use it again.

#3. Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic using Command Prompt

These lines translated into English are:
• Free or Paid: Free
• Reading Time: 3 minutes
• Tools: computer, Command Prompt.

Applying Command Prompt to convert dynamic disk to basic is much more complex than using tools like Partition Master and Disk Management. Any wrong operation may lead to severe data loss or program malfunction.

Be careful while you are converting the disk to basic. Note that this operation will also delete your partitions and data. Make sure that you back up data in advance.

Step 1. Type cmd in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and select "Run as Administrator."

Step 2. Type diskpart and hit Enter to launch DiskPart.

Step 3. Type the following command and press Enter each time:

Translate the following commands into English:
1. list disk
2. select disk 1 (Replace 1 with the disk number of your dynamic disk)
3. detail disk
4. select volume 2 (Replace 2 with the volume number you want to delete)
5. delete volume 2

Delete volume using Diskpart

Repeat the process until you have deleted all existing volumes on the disk.

Step 4. When you've deleted all volumes, type the following command and press Enter after each one:

Translate the following commands into English: ```markdown
• select disk 1 (Replace 1 with the disk number of your dynamic disk)
• convert basic
``` Translation: ```markdown
• select disk 1 (Replace 1 with the disk number of your dynamic disk)
• convert to basic
```

Step 5. Type exit when the process is complete.

After this, your disk is now a basic disk, and you can recreate partitions to save data on it.

With the help of these reliable methods, you can convert dynamic disk to basic without losing data effortlessly. Next, let's learn the features of the two disk storage types.

What Is Basic and Dynamic Disk?

A Basic disk refers to a disk initialized for fundamental storage. Typically, it comprises partitions, encompassing primary and logical volumes, utilized for storing files. These partitions are formatted with a file system, conventionally NTFS.

Dynamic disk is more like a disk that has been initialized for dynamic storage. It provides features that basic disk does not.

Basic vs. Dynamic: Which Is Better?

Some of you might be unfamiliar with the distinctions between Basic and Dynamic disks. Here's a comparison table to help you understand their differences and choose the appropriate disk type: | Feature | Basic Disk | Dynamic Disk | | --- | --- | --- | | Purpose | Designed for home and small office use, simple disk management | Aimed at larger organizations and advanced users, offering more advanced features | | Disk Limitations | Maximum of 4 primary partitions or 3 primary plus 1 extended partition | No limit on the number of volumes (called Logical Disks) | | Volume Types | Primary and Extended partitions | Simple, Spanned, Striped, Mirrored, RAID-5 Volumes | | Resizing | Limited; can only shrink or expand a volume if unallocated space is available | More flexible; can resize volumes without moving data (extend or shrink) | | Performance | Generally lower due to less efficient use of resources | Potentially higher due to features like striping and mirroring | | Backup and Recovery | Easier to backup and restore since it's a simpler structure | More complex, may require specialized tools for backup and recovery | | Compatibility | Widely supported by most operating systems and tools | Not supported by all OS, especially older ones; may cause issues during OS installation | | Fault Tolerance | None built-in | Mirrored and RAID-5 volumes provide fault tolerance | | Conversion | Can be converted to Dynamic without data loss, but not vice versa | Requires data migration to convert from Dynamic to Basic | This table should give you a general idea of the pros and cons of each disk type. Choose based on your specific needs, whether you're looking for simplicity, performance, or advanced features.

As per this comparison table, the main differences between Basic and Dynamic disks lie in the OS they support, the number of partitions allowed, partition types, and their usage scenarios. It is clear that Dynamic disks are primarily utilized for large-scale storage, whereas Basic disks are more suitable for regular data storage.

For a secure and efficient conversion from Dynamic to Basic disk, you can fully trust the Partition Manager software as demonstrated in Method 1 above. It ensures the security of your data and maintains its integrity throughout the process.

Conclusion

On this page, we compared Basic disk with Dynamic disk and provided 3 practical solutions to help Windows beginners, experienced users, and even professionals efficiently convert Dynamic to MBR.

If you are looking for an all-in-one efficient solution to convert dynamic disk to Basic without data loss, let Partition Master tool assist you.

"Common Questions about Converting Dynamic Disk to Basic"

Here are some frequently asked questions about converting a dynamic disk to basic, and you'll find additional information in this section.

< strong >1. Can you convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without losing data?

Indeed, there are three ways to convert a dynamic disk to a basic one. You could back up your data to another hard drive and then delete all volumes before converting it.

**2. How can I change the dynamic to basic?** To change the dynamic to basic, follow these steps: 1. Access the settings menu: Locate and open the settings menu on your device or application where you want to make the change. This is usually represented by a gear icon. 2. Find the language settings: Scroll through the options until you find the "Language" or "Display Language" section. 3. Select "Basic" or "Simple": Within the language settings, look for an option labeled "Basic," "Simple," "Easy," or "Basic Mode." Click on it. 4. Confirm the change: Depending on the platform, you may need to confirm your selection by tapping "Apply," "OK," or "Save." 5. Restart if necessary: In some cases, you might be prompted to restart the application or device for the changes to take effect. After completing these steps, the interface should switch to a more straightforward, basic version, with fewer advanced features or a simplified layout.

A dynamic disk is more flexible than a basic disk. Basic and dynamic disks mainly differ in operating system, number of partitions, partition types, and usage. It's clear that dynamic disks are primarily used for large-scale storage, while basic disks are better suited for standard data storage.

Converting a basic disk to a dynamic disk is a one-way operation. After you convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk, you cannot convert it back to a basic disk without deleting all volumes on the disk.