OS HDD was converted to Dyanmic Disk

[Yildirim]

Hello, today i made a critical error on my main hard drive that had my OS. I accidently converted this hard drive into dynamic disk instead of my other HDD. Now i can not run the OS on my other computer and have no idea what to do. Id greatly appreciate any help.

 

[PCD]

Unfortunately the only way to go is reformat the harddisk and reinstall everything from scratch as a Dynamic Disk can not be converted back to a Basic Disk.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323442/

 

[Yildirim]

ok sounds good, but the question on how im goin to format and install windows comes up. the comp for some reason wont recognize the hdd and for some odd reason wont recognize my windows xp cd as valid, seeing as i bought this a month ago and was ok on my other computers. thanks for the help so far, any more info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PCD]

Can you see the harddisk in the BIOS?

Also, the system not recognize your Win XP as valid, what do you mean with that? Can't you boot on the CD or what is wrong? Did you buy an OEM version and have installed it on more then one computer? That is a no-go, you need a retail version for that if you want to stay legal.

seeing as i bought this a month ago and was ok on my other computers.

Sorry, but I can't see your computer. What is this 'this' you talk about?

If the harddisk can be seen in the BIOS all you have to do is download Delpart from here: http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm

Place delpart.exe on a basic bootfloppy (on WinXP format a floppy choosing to make a win98 bootdisk) or download a Win98SE or WinME bootfloppy image from here: http://www.bootdisk.com/ run the image and copy delpart.exe to the floppy. Then boot on the floppy and at A:\ > write Delpart, hit Enter and follow the onscreen instructions.

WARNING: Make sure only the harddisk you need getting deleted is physically connected to the motherboard as the program DELETES ALL CONTENTS ON ALL HARDDISKS IT FINDS.

 

[Yildirim]

hmm it seems i have caused a bit of confusion. I am currently on a different computer, the computer that has this problem with the hdd is currently unable to detect the hdd-i think it is because i converted the hdd into dynamic disk. When i try to reformat the hdd for some odd reason since it doesnt detect the hdd i am unable to format it. oh and the mix up with my windows xp cd. i try to boot up with the windows xp cd but the comp says please insert disk and press enter to continue after explaining how it cant detect my win xp cd in the dvd rom.

if you can understand this, please explain to me what steps i need to take. my guesses are i uninstall the hdd and hook it up to this comp im using atm and set it as slave and try to format and install windows xp onto it. think it would work?

 

[sturm]

Something is wrong with your boot order. If the cd is bootable it should work. Make sure you have cd as first boot device.
The bios detects the drive not the partitions or how its formated.
Does the bios detect the drive correctly? If so then the windows cd should see it. You can delete the partitions from the windows setup.

If all else fails try a 98/me boot disk as suggested to reformat the drive.

 

[michaelahess]

Converting to a dynamic disk isn't going to make the computer not see it, if the conversion went without error there is no difference in how they behave.

Sturm is right about boot order, check that out first. Unless something else changed after you converted, nothing at all should be different.

 

[Yildirim]

I tried switching the boot order to cd first. And the bios doesnt detect the hdd.

PS just tried booting off the cd and for some reason it goes through the setup asking me to install windows, repair, or exit but for some reason when i ask to install it says and im paraphasing "please put in cd because it cant be detected" hmm thats weird seeing as im able to get asked if i want to repair/set up windows.

 

[shamoo]

loosk like your hd is alright it dynamic disk just means the partitions are control from windows differently and actually its not htat bad you can convert your boot disk to a dynamic disk it just asks to restart and warns you cant boot anything but xp from the drive till unless you format it make sure your boot order is correct you can do this by useing a floppy that has ntfs supprot and typeing edit C:\boot.ini if you post that here i might be able to help you.

 

[michaelahess]

Periods, commas, and capitalization, they are your friend.

It sounds like there may be a controller prob or real hd prob if the bios won't see them. Try a different ide controller, verify jumpers on the hd's and clear the mb's cmos.

 

[Yildirim]

ok i was able to format the dyanmic disk and it is now cleared and partioned.

when i try to install windows though, now that is the problem. i get to the screen where it asks me to setup wind xp or repair. i enter set up and the next screen says it doesnt detect windows so in order to continue i must install windows. so i click enter to continue.after that a screen comes up saying please insert your cd and click ok. it is already in and when i try to continue it says it cant read it or invalid something along those lines. thats where im getting stuck.

 

[choirbass]

this is gonna sound stupid im sure... but, when it gets to the point [of asking for the cd cuz it cant detect it]... try ejecting the cd, then reinserting it... possibly making sure the cd itself is clean... ...and, this part itself isnt usually a problem until you would actually go to install windows, but sometimes usually faulty memory modules prevent files from being copied over correctly (saying it cant find them on the cd in the process of copying)... is your cpu (or any component) overclocked at all? that might very well cause a problem too...

 

[Yildirim]

nope cpu not overclocked and already tried the ejecting and inserting of the cd during that phase. :/

 

[choirbass]

this is only going to be to check if the cd still works (since you said it worked on other computers too, but, just to check anyhow)... but, try booting from the cd, going through the windows set up on a different computer... if the windows xp install cd is detected then, then we know its not the cd...

 

[Yildirim]

just tried it on a different comp, works fine.

 

[choirbass]

did you double check to make sure all the data and power cables, components and such are firmly seated and attached inside your computer?, (possibly a different ide cable for the cd drive, as someone suggested before)... that there arent any problematic bios settings at all?... the easiest way is to reset the bios to default settings, if youre not sure whats changed, if anything has (and yes, possibly clearing the cmos too)

 

[shamoo]

mabey the psu died off..
go to memtest86.org download and make a boot floppy run it see if you can boot off it.