Topic: How do I convert a Dynamic disk to Basic?

Honestly I'm such a twerp at times.
It seems that I have converted my new not yet used 80gig HD to Dynamic and now I find I cannot install Ubuntu to it. Ihave tried to use Disk Management to convert it back but I get blocked with the message "The service database is locked" as soon as I click on Disk Management in the Computer Management console.
I am using XP Pro. I have also tried Partition Magic but get blocked there also. I am logged as an Admin.
I have tried from the command prompt as well running diskmgmt.msc but get the same message as before "The service database is locked"
I wanted to partition this drive before installing either Ubuntu or Kubuntu but Dynamic drives can not be partitioned and I can not delete the Dynamic drive either.
Glumsville Arizona.
Any help loved to bits.

well, the ubuntu install should be able to reset the partition table ( and therby remove the dynamic aspect of the drive), if I'm not mistaken.

I thought so too TP but alas not. I can't remember atm what the excuse was but I think I was directed to configure manually then when I tried that I got a "no can do" message of sorts. If necessary I'll try the install/partition method again and take notes of the messages.
As I am trawling the various forums and Microsoft help sites it appears that this is not as straightforward as I'd hoped.

Not everyone agrees but if after a couple of clean installs and all that... and nothing seems to work I just go for killdisk. Wham bam... thank you. Everything gone bye bye.... start anew.

quote:

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Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility.

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http://www.killdisk.com/

Like growing old... it's not for the meek. =)

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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire

I was going to do some more searching for an answer as it is rather a mystery, but then I thought life's too short
It took killdisk just over an hour and a half to scrub my troublesome drive clean shiney and ready to go. Thanks a googol NoJive, that was just what I needed.
Once that task was completed I was further tempted to install kubuntu, and I can resist most things except temptation.
So I am now writing this post with a brand new and fully updated kubuntu system using a browser called Konqueror. I'll write further on the subject in argo narvis's thread over the next day or so I think. Which Linux today?

quote:

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Tao said:

but then I thought life's too short

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Well precisely... we're talking about a bunch of ones and zeros some of which loose their way from time to time.
To me killdisk is as a sort of digital, laying on of the hands. Out evil spirits... out out!!



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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire

Heh
You must have heard me standing over the computer saying "get thou behind me oh sata(n) drive, throw away thine format and FLY"
The little catholic schoolboy in me giggles