Server 2008 Dynamic versus Basic Disk
Dynamic disk provided
increased flexibility and functionality in a way that was pretty transparent. And they
were a huge step forward when they were introduced in Windows 2000. At the time, RAID
controllers were both more expensive and less functional, and many Servers users didn't
have hardware RAID on them. Thus, many users are achieving Software-based RAID to
replace hardware RAID by using dynamic disk in Server 2008.
If using dynamic disks increases your options, isn't that a good thing? Well, yes.
But, a dynamic disk complicates the disaster recovery process, and we dislike
anything that creates potential issues in a disaster recovery scenario. So we
definitely don't think dynamic disks are appropriate for a system disk.
You may use the some tools to manage both dynamic disk in Windows Server 2008 and basic disk, but avoid
converting your system disk to dynamic. Although Windows Server 2008 built-in Disk
Management tool can easily convert basic disk to dynamic, it is unable to convert
dynamic back to basic disk.
How to convert dynamic disk to basic under Windows 2008
Windows Server 2008 built-in Disk Management utility is incompetent for converting
disk back to basic disk without losing data. If you do not use 3rd party tool, you
have to first delete all the volumes on the dynamic disk, then right click the disk
in the MMC Disk Manager and select revert to basic disk. This process needs to back
up data and restore data back which will take a large amount of time.
However,AOMEI Dynamic
Disk Converter Server Edition is an excellent 3rd party software, which
main purpose is to quickly convert dynamic disk to basic without losing data for
Windows Server Operating Systems. It provides better data protection and minimizes
machine downtime for Server users. The conversion process only takes 3~10 seconds
when you use it in Windows 2008 system. The following is a screen shot for your
reference:

Moreover, AOMEI
Dynamic Disk Converter Server Edition can quickly convert/clone spanned volume,striped
volumes, mirrored
volume or RAID-5 volume on dynamic disk to basic disk partition. If there are
only some simple volumes on a dynamic disk, the conversion software can well work on
Server 2008 and safely (also supports Windows 7/8/Vista/XP and Server
2003/2000/2011/2012), directly, time-saving convert a dynamic disk to basic disk.
For Enterprise users, AOMEI
Dynamic Disk Converter Unlimited Edition is recommended. It allows unlimited
usage within one company to maximize business productivity whilst minimizing the
total cost of management.
Buy AOMEI
Dynamic Disk Converter
Download AOMEI
Dynamic Disk Converter
Tips for Basic Disk Partition Management
After converting dynamic disk back
to the basic disk in Windows 2008, Partition Magic Server - AOMEI Partition Assistant Server Edition can assist you
managing basic disk partition.
Download AOMEI Partition Assistant