Table of Content
    Windows Data Recovery - Standard

    How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk without Losing Data


    Table of Content

      Summary: Do you want to know how you can easily convert dynamic disk into basic disk without losing data? Read this post to get detailed information on this topic.

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      Convert Dynamic disk to basic without losing data for free

      In Windows OS, there are two types of disks—Basic and Dynamic. The fundamental difference between the two is that former is the default disk type used by Windows OS while the latter is used (by professional and IT experts) to create volumes that span multiple disks and more complex fault-tolerant (mirrored and RAID-5) volumes.

      Check Disk Management tool for Dynamic and Basic disk

      Most importantly, Windows Home editions do not support dynamic disks. Thus, you cannot access an internal or external hard drive that has turned into a dynamic disk volume.

      You can revert and convert dynamic hard drive to basic, but the conversion process erases all the data permanently from the drive, which leads to data loss.

      Did you accidentally converted a Basic Disk to Dynamic

      So in this post, we have explained how to convert dynamic disk to basic disk, without losing the data in Window 10/8/7. The process is quick, easy, and anyone can follow it with the help of step-by-step instructions given below.

      How to Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk without Losing Data?

      It is a two-step process to convert dynamic disk to basic without losing your critical (and inaccessible) data—

      1. Recover data from a dynamic disk
      2. Convert dynamic disk to basic with Disk Management tool

      Step 1: Restore Data from a Dynamic Disk

      As the dynamic disk is inaccessible, you need a software that can restore data from such drive partition(s). This should be done before converting dynamic disk to basic, as it involves deletion of a dynamic disk volume that results in permanent data loss.

      So before you convert dynamic disk to basic, recover data by following these steps:

      Stellar
      • Select the ‘All Data’ under Everything or select the specific file type(s) and click ‘Next.
      Stellar
      • Choose Location from where you want to recover data
      Stellar
      • Click ‘Scan
      Stellar
      • After the scan, results are displayed in the left ‘Tree view’ pane. Click on a folder to display recovered files and sub-folders
      Stellar
      • Click on a file to preview it or click the file check box to select it. Use the search box to locate critical files quickly
      • After selecting the necessary files, click ‘Recover’. A new dialog box appears
      • Click ‘Browse’ and choose a save location on a different drive
      Stellar
      • Click ‘Start Saving’ to save the recovered files.

      After the data is restored from the dynamic disk, head to the next step, and convert dynamic disk to basic without data loss.

      Step 2: Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic

      There are two different ways to convert a dynamic disk into a basic disk. Use either the Disk Management tool (UI tool) or Command Prompt (command line—DiskPart) in case the Disk Management tool fails. We have discussed both ways down below.

      Invalid Dynamic disk to basic conversion without data loss

      #Way 1: Convert Invalid Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk by using Disk Management

      • Press Win + R and type diskmgmt.msc
      • Click OK
      • Right click on Dynamic volumes and delete all the dynamic volumes one by one
      • After all dynamic volumes are deleted, right-click on the Invalid Dynamic Disk and choose ‘Convert to Basic Disk.

      #Way 2: Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic by using Command Prompt

      • Run command prompt, type diskpart and hit the ‘Enter’ key
      • Click ‘Yes’ to grant admin privilege when prompted. A new command prompt window appears
      • In the new diskpart command prompt window, type list disk and press ‘Enter.’
      • Note the disk number of the dynamic disk you want to convert to basic.
      • Now type the following command suffixed with disk number (in sequence) and hit ‘Enter’ after each command

      select disk <disknumber>
      details disk <disknumber>

      • Then select volumes by typing

      select volume= <volumenumber>

      • Then type

      delete volume

      • After deleting volumes, again type

      select disk <disknumber>

      • Specify the disk number of the disk that you want to convert to a basic disk and finally, type

      convert basic

      • Hit the ‘Enter’ key. The dynamic disk will be converted back to basic.

      Final Thoughts

      We discussed basic and dynamic disks, their usage, and the two-step process to convert dynamic disk to basic in Windows 10/8/7 without losing the data. To use a dynamic disk, get Windows Pro/Enterprise/Ultimate edition, as Windows Home editions do not support dynamic disk.

      Also, the two-step process we illustrated uses a Windows data recovery software, i.e. Stellar Data Recovery which comes handy in most common data loss situations. The software can restore accidentally deleted data and files from a corrupt or formatted drive.

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      About The Author

      Isha Rikhi

      Isha is a technical blogger and data recovery expert. She has experience in Windows data recovery. She writes about technical tips and tutorials.

      7 comments

      1. “Hi,
        I have used stellar Free edition and the recovery rate was quite good, so I am thinking to buy the paid subscription!”

      2. Is it possible to do the reovery of an invalid disk with the free version of Stellar Data Recovery – Standard or do you have to pay after the scan to do the save?

        Thanks in advance,

        1. Hello Jannes

          We would like to inform that with the help of Stellar Data Recovery Professional version of the software we can recover the data from Invalid Disk also.

          Kindly download the demo version of the software from below link:

          Download software

          Please refer the below link to recover the data from invalid/last formatted drive or disk.

          Read More

          Please get back to us for more information.

      3. Dear sir/madam, I have issues with harddrive, it is showing invalid drive
        Is it possible to recover data after converting it to basic drive

      4. Great Post! I followed your Instruction to convert disk mgmt and reactivate the Invalid disk got succeeded. Thank you!

        1. Hello Peggy,

          Thanks for sharing your experience.

          Please also follow us on facebook, twitter and youtube.

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