Can you convert basic disks to dynamic disks in Windows 11? Yes, and here's a guide on how.

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Written by

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Last updated on April 22, 2024

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Introduction

There are two types of hard disk drive (HDD): basic and dynamic. The basic disk is the most common form of computer hard drive and is the storage medium you're most likely to encounter when using Windows. File systems are often used to organize the contents of partitions, such as primary partitions and logical drives. Dynamic disks, on the other hand, can create fault-tolerant volumes that span multiple disks, something not possible with basic disks.

So, what's the fuss all about? In certain scenarios, depending on your usage of a Windows computer, it makes sense to upgrade a Basic disk to Dynamic. You might find that a Basic disk doesn't offer you many of the features you need. This article will highlight some key reasons and show you how to convert a Basic disk to Dynamic in Windows 11.

Can I convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk?

Yes, you can comfortably convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk to enhance the performance of your operating system. The primary reasons for doing this include:

• Dynamic Disks allow you to store data across multiple hard drives, creating what is known as a “striped volume.” Because they allow multiple hard drives to read and write data at the same time, striped volumes can increase overall disk performance.
• Switching from Basic Disk storage to Dynamic Disk storage will speed up your Windows operating system.
• Dynamic Disks allow you to create volumes that span multiple drives, which is very useful. Because unallocated space can be combined in a spanned volume across multiple drives, this method allows you to use your available disk space more efficiently.
• If you are using dynamic disks, the only way to build fault-tolerant volumes (RAID-5 or Mirrored Volumes) is with RAID-5 or Mirrored Volumes.

How to Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk in Windows 11? [3 Methods]

This section will introduce three methods to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk. But before proceeding with the steps for each method, it's essential to back up your data to an external hard drive or storage device. This step is necessary as there is a risk of data loss with this operation.

#1. Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk in Windows 11 Using Disk Conversion Software In the Windows 11 operating system, you might need to convert your basic disk to a dynamic disk to take advantage of advanced storage features. Here's how to do it using disk conversion software: 1. **Choose suitable software**: First, download and install a reliable disk management tool, such as tools Todo Backup, AOMEI Backupper, or MiniTool Partition Wizard. 2. **Install and launch**: Follow the software's installation wizard to complete the setup, then run the program. 3. **Disk scan**: Upon opening the software, it will automatically scan all disks on your computer. Locate the basic disk you wish to convert. 4. **Select the disk to convert**: From the list of disks, choose the one you want to convert to a dynamic disk. 5. **Start the conversion**: Within the provided options, find "Convert Disk" or a similar option. Click on it and confirm your selection. 6. **Backup data**: Before proceeding, it's highly recommended to back up important data since the conversion process might result in data loss. 7. **Execute the conversion**: After backing up, follow the software's instructions to perform the disk conversion. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the disk. 8. **Verify the result**: Once the conversion is complete, restart your computer and use the "Disk Management" tool to confirm that the disk is now marked as a dynamic disk. Please note that dynamic disks do not support simple volume expansion and cross-disk mirrored volumes. Make sure you understand these limitations before converting and decide based on your needs. If unsure, consulting a professional or opting for alternative storage solutions might be a safer choice.

Partition Master Professional is one of the most effective ways for hard drive partitioning and disk conversion. Its disk conversion function allows you to easily convert between basic disk and dynamic disk with only a few simple steps.

Here's a simple way to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk using this software in Windows 11:

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

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

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

Step 3: Choose the target disk – Basic or Dynamic. Make sure you have selected the correct disk to convert and then click “Convert” to start.

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

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This software is particularly useful for tasks that many default disk management utilities don't support, such as disk maintenance, partitioning, cloning, and migration operations. Here are some impressive features you might also love to use while managing disk space in Windows 11.

Some of its key features include:

• Support for merging non-contiguous partitions.
• New, user-friendly interface developed.
• Support for resizing partitions with the NTFS file system.
• Well-designed and easy-to-use disk management software.
• Extensive partitioning capabilities (including creation, splitting, merging, expansion, and shrinkage).
• Disk cloning and system migration tools (with SSD optimization).
• Professional disk layout tool for modifying multiple partitions simultaneously.
• Bootable media creator to launch Partition Master before Windows starts from a bootable media library.
• Includes professional cleaning and disk maintenance utilities.

#2. Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk in Windows 11 Using Disk Management

Disk Management is a built-in feature of Windows OS. You can use it to convert dynamic disk to basic disk for free. However, it can only convert an empty dynamic disk to basic disk. Thus, you have to delete all data on the dynamic drive.

(Note: If there is important data on the dynamic disk, it is recommended that you back it up before erasing.)

Here are the steps to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk using Disk Management in Windows 11:

Step 1: First, press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the "Run" window.

Step 2: Type diskmgmt.msc, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Once the Disk Management window is open, right-click on the basic disk you want to convert and select "Convert to Dynamic Disk." Close the Disk Management window, and repeat this process if necessary.

Step 4: A dialog box will pop up. From the drop-down menu, select “Basic Disk,” and click “OK.”

#3. Transforming the Base into Dynamic via CMD

With Windows 11, you can also use the Command Prompt (CMD) to convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt by searching for it in the Start menu and clicking on it.

Step 2: Open the Command Prompt and type diskpart, then press Enter.

Step 3: Type list disk in the search box, and then press Enter. Note the number of the disk that you want to change from "Basic" to "Dynamic."

Step 4: Select “Disk” from the drop-down menu and press Enter.

Step 5: After selecting the disk, type convert dynamic, and then press Enter.

Step 6: When the conversion is complete, type exit in the text box and press Enter to finish the disk conversion.

And you're done! Close the Command Prompt window when it's finished. This is also a simple way to do it without losing any data.

Additional Tip: How to Extend a Partition Without Converting to Dynamic Disk

If your use of Windows on your computer demands it, you might consider converting a basic disk to a dynamic disk, thus gaining access to features not available with a basic disk.

In this part of the article, we will introduce how the Partition Master tool can help you extend a partition without converting it to Dynamic Disk format. We have a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to use the best software for the job.

Firstly, let us tell you that before you start the process, you need to download this software on your computer or laptop.

AOMEI Partition Assistant features two options that make it easier for you to expand a partition. The "Allocate Space" option lets you extend a partition within the same drive. Also, the "Expand C Drive with Second Hard Disk" feature allows you to span the system partition across multiple disks. Let's take a look at the steps to successfully carry out the operation:

Step 1. Right-click on the D: drive with enough free space, and select "Extend Volume."

Step 2: Select the target partition - C drive, and then drag the partition panel to the right to add the free space of D drive to C drive. Then click “OK” to confirm.

Click on the “Perform Tasks” button and then on “Apply” to start the process of transferring free space from Drive D to Drive C.

Conclusions

Converting a basic disk to a dynamic disk can enhance the performance of your Windows operating system, and this article demonstrates three different methods to achieve this in Windows 11. Transferring a basic drive to a dynamic one offers users more flexibility, as it doesn't involve partition tables but instead relies on LDM (Logical Disk Manager) or VDS (Volume Disk Services) to record information. We hope this guide is both informative and easy to understand!

Frequently Asked Questions about Converting to Dynamic Disk in Windows 11 1. What is a Dynamic Disk? A Dynamic Disk is an advanced disk type in the Windows operating system that offers more features than a Basic Disk, such as Spanned Volumes, Striped Volumes, Mirrored Volumes, and RAID-5 Volumes. 2. Why convert Windows 11 to a Dynamic Disk? Converting to a Dynamic Disk allows you to take advantage of its advanced storage capabilities, like creating large volumes across multiple disks and improving data redundancy and fault tolerance. This is especially useful for users or server environments requiring greater storage flexibility and data protection. 3. How do I convert to a Dynamic Disk in Windows 11? You can follow these steps: a. Open "Control Panel" > "Administrative Tools." b. Select "Disk Management." c. Right-click the disk you want to convert and choose "Convert to Dynamic Disk." d. Follow the prompts to complete the conversion process. 4. Can all disks be converted to Dynamic Disks? Not all disks are suitable for conversion. If the disk contains a system partition or boot partition, or if it already has simple volumes, it might not be convertible. Ensure you back up important data before attempting the conversion. 5. Will I lose data during the conversion? Yes, the conversion may result in data loss. Therefore, back up all crucial files and data before proceeding. 6. Can I convert a Dynamic Disk back to a Basic Disk? Yes, you can use the Disk Management tool to convert a Dynamic Disk back to a Basic Disk. However, this will also lead to data loss, so ensure you have backed up your data first. 7. Does Dynamic Disk support all Windows 11 features? Most features are supported, but certain hardware drivers or older software versions might not be compatible with Dynamic Disks. Verify that your system and applications can work with Dynamic Disks before converting. 8. How is the performance of a Dynamic Disk? Performance is generally similar to a Basic Disk; however, in scenarios like Mirrored Volumes, read/write speeds might be slightly reduced due to data redundancy. 9. Do I need specialized knowledge to manage Dynamic Disks? For regular users, Dynamic Disks might require some learning and understanding. However, Windows 11's Disk Management tool provides an intuitive interface that makes managing and configuring Dynamic Disks relatively straightforward.

In this section, we list some questions related to converting basic disk to dynamic disk in Windows 11. If you have the same doubts, please pay attention and find the answers here.

What will happen if I convert to dynamic disk?

After you convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk, the target disk looks much the same. However, if you convert two or more disks to dynamic disks, you can combine those disks into one disk.

When you convert the system disk from basic to dynamic, the operating system is unable to load and boot from the source disk. Hence, you encounter the problem of Windows fails to start on dynamic disk.

2. Does Windows 11 support dynamic disks?

Yes, Windows 11 supports dynamic disks. In Windows 11, there are two types of computer hard disk drives: Basic disks and Dynamic disks.

Please note that the system disk for Windows 11 must be a basic disk, but data drives can be dynamic disks in Windows 11.

< strong > 3. Can I convert a basic disk to a dynamic disk?

To convert basic disk to dynamic disk without losing any data, you can use the Partition Master tool and apply the disk conversion function recommended on the above page.

However, if you want to convert a data disk from basic to dynamic without using disk conversion software, you can try the following steps:

1. First, back up all data on the disk to an external hard drive.
2. In Disk Management, right-click on all existing partitions on the target basic disk.
3. After deleting all partitions, right-click on the basic disk and select "Convert to Dynamic Disk."

How can I convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Windows 11?

To convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Windows 11, launch Partition Master and follow the steps outlined here:

In the Partition Master tool, click on "Disk Converter." Select "Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk." In Windows 11, choose the target dynamic disk you want to convert to a basic disk, and then select "Proceed." Click on "Perform 1 Task" to save the changes.