Volume Partitioning Accidentally Converted to Dynamic Type and Cannot Convert Back

[kr_15]

I was trying the volume partitioning and I think I accidently converted the disk 1 (this is not where my windows installation is) to dynamic type. The thing is, this disk also has the original HP Recovery partition (I am not sure if it was dynamic type initially or not).

1. Do I need to convert disk 1 back to Basic type? If so, How do I convert back to basic? or was it dynamic by default and I did not realize it? What are the effects if I leave it so?

2. Was the Recovery partition always dynamic? Can I create a new Recovery drive if I delete this? (As I read on several posts that data has to be deleted to change the disk type)

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@kr_15 

You have two issues ...

First, you can not convert back to basic volumes without encountering data loss.  Once you have forced the volumes into dynamic disks (which is usually done by forcing too many partitions onto the drive), you are stuck.  About all you can do, if the PC still works, is stick in USB sticks and copy off your personal files to save them.

Second, once you "touch" the Recovery partition in any way, you "break" it.  So now, you will not be able to use it to restore the PC to its original condition. And, you can not just create a new one as there is no way to do that on its own.

Since your PC can not successfully do an internal factory reset, your only ways to accomplish this are the following:
- Factory reset using external HP image you make
- Factory reset using external HP image you buy

Each of these is discussed in some detail below ...

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you make ----------
HP provides a Cloud Recovery tool that you can use, together with a 32GB USB stick, to create your on HP reset media.

Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

This works the same as the factory reset described above.

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you buy ----------
For those PCs not supported by the Cloud Recovery, in some cases, HP offers Recover Media for sale. This can not be downloaded; instead, it must be ordered from HP.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.

In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click &quot;Update&quot;.<br><br>If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the &quot;+&quot; symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Support.

HP contact info: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

If HP no longer carries the media you need, another site you should check for HP Recovery Media is: http://www.computersurgeons.com/

These work the same as the factory reset described above.

[kr_15]

Thank you! That helps a lot!

Just one more quick question, can I create the external USB Recovery drive and then delete the existing Recovery drive from the pc using "delete volume"? Will I then be able to convert the volume type as basic (as the disk would be empty)? My pc is working fine now, as I already did a full factory reset even though the recovery was on a dynamic disk (I am not sure if it affects it in some way or not). The factory reset did not however result in the resetting of the said disk 1 partitions (from the figure in the post) to basic.