Can't Install Windows 7 on Dynamic Disk - 3 Fixes

Key Takeaways:

Here are the translations for the given languages: 1. Three methods to resolve the "Can't Install Windows 7 on Dynamic Disk" error. 2. Reasons why Windows cannot be installed on a dynamic disk.

Most users prefer to install Windows 7 on their computers. However, when attempting to install a Windows 7 system on a dynamic disk, you might encounter an error message stating, "Windows cannot be installed on this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported."

Don't worry. Check below for the answer. The tools will provide you with detailed solutions.

According to Microsoft, Dynamic Disks are only supported by Windows 7 Enterprise/Professional/Ultimate, not by Windows 7 Home Basic/Premium or Starter. The solution is to convert the dynamic disk to a basic disk. We offer three methods to assist you with this conversion.

As evident from the table, Partition Master is the safest and most straightforward method to rectify the error we're concentrating on. Let's explore how this tool can assist in converting a dynamic disk to a basic one.

Use the tool Partition Master Professional

If you're not an expert, opt for tools Partition Master Professional. This tool allows you to convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without data loss, whereas Disk Management and CMD would require deleting all partitions beforehand. Install the software and follow the steps below to initiate the conversion process.

Step 1. Install and launch tools Partition Master, and go to Disk Converter.

Step 2. Choose the disk conversion mode that suits your needs:

• Convert Basic to Dynamic: convert a Basic disk to Dynamic.
• Convert Dynamic to Basic: convert a Dynamic disk to Basic.

Step 3. Select the target disk - Basic or Dynamic. Confirm you have selected the correct disk, then click "Convert" to begin.

0:00 - 0:18 Convert Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk; 0:19 - 0:36 Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk.

This utility enables users to effortlessly convert between basic disks and dynamic disks. Don't miss out on this tool to assist you in converting your dynamic disks.

Once you've converted the disk to Basic, you can proceed with installing Windows 7 from USB or other media sources.

Use Disk Management

You can also convert the disk to a basic disk using the built-in Windows program "Disk Management" to fix the Windows 7 installation failed error. However, this method necessitates deleting all partitions on the dynamic disk. If you have crucial data, make sure to back it up beforehand.

Just open this tool, right-click on the target volume, and select “Delete Volume.” When you see the warning below, just click yes to continue.

Click Yes.

After you delete all the volumes, the disk automatically becomes a basic disk. You can then install Windows 7 on that disk.

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Use CMD

Moreover, you can use the Command Prompt to perform dynamic disk conversion. This method is challenging for novices, and it is suggested that beginners use tools like Partition Master.

Follow these steps to try:

1. Press `Windows + R` and type "diskpart" in the Run dialog to open Diskpart. 2. Enter "list disk": This will list all disks. 3. Type "select disk 1": Here, "1" stands for the disk number. Choose the target disk that needs to be converted to a basic disk. 4. Then input "detail disk". 5. Enter "select volume 0": Replace "0" with the number of the dynamic volume. 6. Next, type "delete volume". 7. Finally, input "convert basic". This will show that Diskpart has successfully converted the selected disk to a basic format.

Convert to Basic

If there are multiple volumes, repeat steps 5 and 6 to delete all volumes.

With the latter two methods, you'll find a limitation: Disk Management utility and diskpart commands require you to delete all volumes before converting the dynamic disk to a basic disk, which means that all data on the disk will be lost. Therefore, to avoid the loss and inconvenience caused by data loss, it is recommended to use a trustworthy third-party software - tools Partition Master.

Why Can I Install Windows 7 on Dynamic Disk

Dynamic disks are supported only by Windows 7 Enterprise, Professional, and Ultimate, and not by Windows 7 Home Basic or Premium or Starter. Almost all versions of Windows Home and older Windows operating systems, including MS-DOS, Windows 95/98, Windows Me, and Windows NT, do not support dynamic disks.

Read Also: Should I Convert to Dynamic Disk?

Moreover, you can create a new Windows installation only on a dynamic disk that was converted from a basic disk with a partition-table entry remaining. Simple volumes created from basic partitions have no partition-table record, unless they were system or boot partitions before conversion.

In order to protect data, Windows 7 can only be installed on the dynamic disk's boot volumes or the current system. Therefore, when you are performing a dual-boot setup, the error "Windows cannot be installed on dynamic disk" often appears. Currently, converting the dynamic disk to a basic disk is the recommended solution.

Share these fixes with those users who want to install Windows 7 on dynamic disks

Conclusion

To ensure data security, Windows 7 can only be installed on your current system or boot volumes of the dynamic disk. Consequently, you may encounter the "Windows cannot be installed on a dynamic disk" error when attempting a dual boot setup. In such cases, the ideal solution is to convert the dynamic disk to a basic disk.

We have introduced three methods to resolve the issue of inability to install Windows 7 on a dynamic disk, along with the specific reasons. Now that the conversion is done, you can proceed with installing the operating system on the target disk. If you're not an experienced user, it's recommended to utilize tools like Partition Master for installation and management. To learn more about the differences between dynamic disks and basic disks, refer to the link below:

Frequently Asked Questions: Unable to Install Windows 7 on Dynamic Disk

You might encounter errors when installing Windows 7/8/10/11 on a dynamic disk. Review the details below to learn more.

< strong > 1. Can I install Windows 7 on a dynamic disk? < / strong >

Well, when you try to install Windows 7 on a dynamic disk, you get an error message that reads, "Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes..." The quickest fix for this is to convert the dynamic disk back to a basic disk.

**2. How do I convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk in Windows 7?**

Windows' built-in disk management can convert dynamic disks back to basic disks, but this requires deleting all volumes one by one. To do this, launch the tool, right-click on the target volume, and choose "Delete Volume." Once all volumes have been deleted, the dynamic disk will revert to a basic disk. You can then proceed to install Windows 7 on that disk.

**3. What happens if I convert to a dynamic disk?**

If you've converted to a dynamic disk, you can't easily switch back to a basic disk without deleting all the volumes in Disk Management.