Frequently Asked Question

Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012

This topic describes how to delete everything on a dynamic disk and then convert it back to a basic disk. Dynamic disks have been deprecated from Windows and we don't recommend using them anymore. Instead, we recommend using basic disks or using the newer Storage Spaces technology when you want to pool disks together into larger volumes. If you want to mirror the volume from which Windows boots, you might want to use a hardware RAID controller, such as the one included on many motherboards.

Warning

To convert a dynamic disk back to a basic disk you must delete all volumes from the disk, permanently erasing all data on the disk. Make sure you back up any data you want to keep before proceeding.

Changing a dynamic disk back to a basic disk

• Using the Windows interface
• Using a command line

Note

You must be a member of the Backup Operators or Administrators group, at minimum, to complete these steps.

To change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using the Windows interface

1. Back up all volumes on the disk you want to convert from dynamic to basic.
   
2. In Disk Management, right-click each volume on the dynamic disk you want to convert to a basic disk, and then click Delete Volume for each volume on the disk.
   
3. When all volumes on the disk have been deleted, right-click the disk, and then click Convert to Basic Disk.
   

To change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using a command line

1. Back up all volumes on the disk you want to convert from dynamic to basic.
   
2. Open a command prompt and type diskpart.
   
3. At the DISKPART prompt, type list disk. Note the disk number you want to convert to basic.
   
4. At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk .
   
5. At the DISKPART prompt, type detail disk .
   
6. For each volume on the disk, at the DISKPART prompt, type select volume= and then type delete volume.
   
7. At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk , specifying the disk number of the disk that you want to convert to a basic disk.
   
8. At the DISKPART prompt, type convert basic.
   

Value	Description
list disk	Displays a list of disks and information about them, such as their size, the amount of available free space, whether the disk is a basic or dynamic disk, and whether the disk uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition style. The disk marked with an asterisk (*) has focus.
select diskdisknumber	Selects the specified disk, where disknumber is the disk number, and gives it focus.
detail diskdisknumber	Displays the properties of the selected disk and the volumes on that disk.
select volumedisknumber	Selects the specified volume, where disknumber is the volume number, and gives it focus. If no volume is specified, the select command lists the current volume with focus. You can specify the volume by number, drive letter, or mount point path. On a basic disk, selecting a volume also gives the corresponding partition focus.
delete volume	Deletes the selected volume. You cannot delete the system volume, boot volume, or any volume that contains the active paging file or crash dump (memory dump).
convert basic	Converts an empty dynamic disk into a basic disk.

Additional considerations

• The disk must not contain any volumes or data before you can change it back to a basic disk. If you want to keep your data, back it up or move it to another volume before you convert the disk to a basic disk.
• Once you change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk, you can create only partitions and logical drives on that disk.

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