Jul, 2010 by www.dynamic-disk.com      click here view more articles

Dynamic disk is a physical disk that provides some advanced features which basic disk does not. We can create simple volume, spanned volume, stripped volume, mirrored volume and RAID-5 volume on a dynamic disk. We need be aware of the following points if you plan to use dynamic disks to establish your storage system.

• Dynamic disks are not supported on Windows 7, XP, Vista Home Edition-based computers.
  
  
• Mirrored volumes or RAID-5 volumes can not be created on Windows XP, Vista and 7, but Server 2000, 2003 or 2008 allows you create these dynamic volumes.
  
  
• All of volumes on the same disk must be the same storage type. In other words, there are only basic partitions on a basic disk and dynamic volumes can only be contained a dynamic disk.
  
  
• Windows operating system does not allow be installed on a dynamic disk.
  
  
• You need first delete all dynamic volumes on it before you convert a dynamic disk back to basic one. If you want to know more information, please refer the three ways to convert dynamic disk to basic.
  

To create dynamic volume

Firstly, you need to convert basic disks to dynamic one. Then you will be allowed to create dynamic disk volumes. How to convert basic disk to dynamic one?

• Log on Windows as administrator privileges.
  
  
• Right-click My Computer -> Manage -> Storage -> Disk Management.
  
  
• In the lower-right pane, right click the basic disk which you want to convert to dynamic and then click “Convert to Dynamic Disk”. Below is a screen to help you clarify.
  
  

Warning: After you convert a basic disk to dynamic disk, the dynamic volumes cannot be changed back to partitions. You must first delete all volumes on the dynamic disk and then convert the dynamic disk to basic. You can only use third party software (like Dynamic Disk Converter) to convert dynamic disk to basic without loss of data.

How to create simple volume?

1. Right click the unallocated space and choose New Simple Volume as follows.

New Simple Volume

2. You will see the following dialog that tells you "This wizard helps you create a simple volume on a disk. A simple volume can only be on a single disk."


New Simple Volume Wizard

3. After next, please specify a volume size that is between the maximum and minimum sizes.


Specify Size for the Simple Volume

4. After next, please assign drive letter to easier access the volume.


Assign Drive Letter or Path

5. After next, to store data on this volume, you must format it.


Format Dynamic Volume

6. After next, please click Finish to complete the new simple volume.


Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard

How to create spanned, stripped and mirrored volume?

The processes are completely similar with creating simple volume, but the step 3 is the point you need to pay attention. Because these dynamic volumes require two dynamic disks at least, so you need to append more dynamic disks to suit the requirement of the setting up.

New Spanned Volume

After these operation steps, the four types of dynamic volumes have been created as follows.


Dynamic Volumes

How to create RAID 5 dynamic volumes?

RAID 5 volume need 3 dynamic disks at least, so you must have 3 or more disk to accomplish the operation. After you complete the steps that similar with the above, you will see the following a screen shot with RAID 5.

RAID 5 Dynamic Disk Volumes

Through the above instructions, you will preliminarily know related knowledge about dynamic disk volumes and the steps how to create them.

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