Problem reverting Dynamic to basic drive

mwald · January 4th, 2009, 01:35 PM

I bought a new WD 500 gig drive. Accidently initialized it as a dynamic drive. I want to partition it so I need to revert it back to basic. The drive has been formatted though I have no storage on it. There is only one volume. I follow the instructions: delete the volume, but when I then right click on the volume, it does not give me the option to Convert to Basic Disk. What do I need to do? I don't want to purchase a program to fix this problem. I have tried to use the utility from the wd disk and it tells me to follow the instructions I just posted. I'm running XP Pro.

Steve R Jones · January 4th, 2009, 02:18 PM

Is there an option to Delete Partition(s) ?

mwald · January 4th, 2009, 02:20 PM

no option to delete partition. Appreciate the help

zepper · January 4th, 2009, 02:34 PM

Use the WD tools to wipe the drive (often called Zero Fill) and then repartition and format. You could also use Derek's Boot & Nuke (AKA DBN) to wipe the drive as well. It' a free download. I DL most of my free software tools via http://www.majorgeesks.com . I'm fairly sure that you can find other drive wiping and partitioning tools there as well.

.bh.

mwald · January 4th, 2009, 02:40 PM

Zepper,

The WD disk has a Data Lifeguard Tools with four options: View Installation Tutorial, Set Up Your Hard Drive, Utilities, and Hard Drive Information. I do not see the "Zero Fill" option.

mwald · January 4th, 2009, 02:47 PM

Zepper,

Checked into Majorgeeks.com and comments I read regarding the Boot & Nuke option concerns me since I have two other hard drives on the computer and comments state it would wipe all drives.

EXreaction · January 4th, 2009, 03:08 PM

When you run any kind of disk nuker it is a good idea to unplug any extra storage drives you have.

fpantovich · January 4th, 2009, 03:25 PM

Maybe try one of the disk management tools on Hiren's Boot CD? Use this thing all the time and love it

Hiren's BootCD 9.7 - www.hiren.info

Awesome all around utility disk with plenty of disk management utilities to choose from...may even want to give one of their partitioning tools a go to partition your drive...

Have you tried actually doing the "Delete volume" and then try bringing it back in? Just curious..

zepper · January 5th, 2009, 01:08 AM

The WD Tools calls Zero Filling "High Level Formatting". so it should be under the formatting menu. Some tools also mistakenly call it low level formatting which an end user shouldn't be able to do on PATA or SATA drives - I believe the drive's BIOS prevents true LLFing. Haven't been able to do that since the days of MFM/RLL drives...

.bh.

larysee · November 16th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Windows disk management can be able to fulfill a conversion about basic disk to dynamic disk, but it can not be reverted. If you want to convert back to basic, you need to delete all volumes on the dynamic disk.
If you don't want to purchase a program, Here is some detailed two ways to revert back to Basic Disks at Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk without loss of data