Option to Upgrade Basic Disk to Dynamic on Laptop Not Available (232463)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q232463 SYMPTOMS
When you try to use the Windows Disk Management (Diskmgmt.msc)
console to upgrade your laptop or portable computer from a basic disk to a dynamic disk, you are unable to do so.
If you move an existing Dynamic disk from another system to a laptop, the disk will appear as foreign in Disk management, however the option
to import it will be grayed out.
CAUSE
This issue occurs because the Windows Disk Management console does not support this upgrade on a laptop computer. Laptops usually only support a single internal hard disk, so they cannot take advantage of the advanced volume options that dynamic disks provide. Dynamic disks have advantages over basic disks only when there are two or more dynamic disks in the system. This feature permits the small 1MB database containing the disk partitioning and FT volume membership information to be replicated across all dynamic disks and provides a layer of redundancy.
NOTE: Users of laptop computers rarely have a use for FT volumes that can only be created on dynamic disks in Windows. Also, if a laptop has a second hard disk contained in a docking station or other external device, they will most likely be separated for long periods of time. Because of this, the database on the separated storage device would soon become out of date or contain false information, possibly resulting in data loss.
STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
All of the dynamic disks that share the same database are members of the same disk group. Within the group the dynamic disk database is replicated. With the disk management in Windows you are only permitted one group. An add-on product produced at a later date may allow additional groups for more managibility.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 5/14/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbprb kbui KB232463 |
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