question about wiping out entire disk

**kdane4** · March 22nd, 2012

I'm dual booting win 7 and ubuntu on a single hard disk and accidentally converted my basic disk to a dynamic one. I'm planning to wipe out the disk entirely(maybe using software like DBAN, etc)

My question would be, after wiping out the disk, is it gonna be automatically converted to basic disk after I install windows? I prefer installing windows first before ubuntu.

I already backed up my files so reinstallation is cool with me.

Thanks!

**dcstar** · March 22nd, 2012

Originally Posted by kdane4

I'm dual booting win 7 and ubuntu on a single hard disk and accidentally converted my basic disk to a dynamic one. I'm planning to wipe out the disk entirely(maybe using software like DBAN, etc)

My question would be, after wiping out the disk, is it gonna be automatically converted to basic disk after I install windows? I prefer installing windows first before ubuntu.

"Wiping" is totally pointless.
Ubuntu can only read "Basic" Windows partitions.
Why not just convert the Windows partition back to Basic?

**whiskers751** · March 22nd, 2012

I would NOT recommend wiping your HDD. I did it and it stopped Ubuntu running!

**kdane4** · March 22nd, 2012

Originally Posted by dcstar

"Wiping" is totally pointless.
Ubuntu can only read "Basic" Windows partitions.
Why not just convert the Windows partition back to Basic?

1. Im already backed up so its ok with me.
2. That is correct, thats why I wanted to convert it back to basic
3. If you can teach me how to do it that would be lovely. Like I said I only have 1 hard drive and my operating systems is installed on that disk. I've seen some tutorials on how to change back to dynamic, but none of them seemed to cover how to do it if your OS is installed on the dynamic disk.

Thanks for the reply

**kdane4** · March 22nd, 2012

Originally Posted by whiskers751

I would NOT recommend wiping your HDD. I did it and it stopped Ubuntu running!

Im ok with reinstallation coz I already backed up all my important files.

thanks for the reply

**whiskers751** · May 2nd, 2012

No - there might be some hidden important files that reside on the HDD that make Ubuntu work....
Don't wipe a hard drive - just change OSes.

**Mark Phelps** · May 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by whiskers751

Don't wipe a hard drive - just change OSes.

Did you even bother to READ what the OP said??

His partitions got converted to Dynamic Disks -- which the Ubuntu installer is unable to recognize. So he can't "change OSes" without losing data unless he's able to covert them back to Basic Volumes.

**dcstar** · May 3rd, 2012

Originally Posted by kdane4

1. Im already backed up so its ok with me.
2. That is correct, thats why I wanted to convert it back to basic
3. If you can teach me how to do it that would be lovely. Like I said I only have 1 hard drive and my operating systems is installed on that disk. I've seen some tutorials on how to change back to dynamic, but none of them seemed to cover how to do it if your OS is installed on the dynamic disk.

Thanks for the reply

Ok, old thread but:

Boot your Windows install CD and do a "Repair" which will reinstall the Windows boot loader. Boot up Windows and use the Disk Manager to convert the disk back to basic.

Then search out the various instructions of restoring Grub and then everything should work again.

**kdane4** · May 3rd, 2012

thanks guys! Forgot to report back. I borrowed a copy of easeus partition tool from a friend (its a paid version.. The free version doesnt have a feature of using a live environment so it wont work in my case.) Booted it from a live cd and successfully converted it back to basic. I will now mark this as solved.