Dynamic disk partition error with possible resolution steps

You might have come across a term 'Dynamic disk', that was only introduced with Windows 2000 OS. A dynamic disk is nothing but a basic disk with some additional features, such as it contains volumes that can span multiple disks. It has a hidden database that records information about the dynamic volumes on the disk. But you may face some problem when you try to install Windows XP on a dynamic volume. This may render your partition corrupt and you may face a severe data loss situation. In such cases, you need an updated backup to get your data back or you can use a Windows partition recovery software utility.

Scenario:

For instance, when you try installing Windows XP on a volume that you have configured for only dynamic data storage, then the following error message may prompt on your computer screen:

“Windows XP cannot recognize the partition you selected.

Setup cannot install Windows XP on this partition. However, you can go back to the previous screen, delete the partition. and then select the resulting unpartitioned space.

Setup will then create a new partition on which you can install Windows XP.”

Causes:

This might have happened due to:

• The volume on the dynamic disk is not a system or boot partition.

• The volume is not previously 'retained' by means of the Diskpart utility.

This would lead to all your data stored on that partition being lost. In this situation, you need to recover Windows partition by following some resolution algorithm.

Resolution:

You can resolve the issue by following any one of the solutions mentioned below:

• Try the Diskpart command 'Retain' so as to generate MBR partition information. It prepares a dynamic simple volume to be used as a system or boot volume.

• Try installing Windows XP on a partition in a basic disk or on a retained dynamic volume.

• Try to delete that dynamic partition and to recreate a basic partition.

But as soon as you delete a dynamic partition, it will make the other partitions on the disk unusable. This obviously indicates that all your data stored thereon also becomes inaccessible. In this situation, you can still recover your lost data by using a more sophisticated partition recovery software. These software are user-friendly with a search feature that allows the users to search for any specific lost or deleted file, folder in a drive.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is one such product that has solved this data recovery problem to a great extent. It has a resume recovery feature that helps to restart the recovery process at any later stage. It recovers Windows partition by employing a save scan algorithm that enables you to save the scanned data.