My machine is win2000,to feel the adventage,I upgrade my HD to dynamic
now I can't make a ext2 patition by PQ Magic 8.0
what should I do?

You will have to change it back to simple, partition it and then change the drive to dynamic.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

This is because it is a Windows question.

Hi,
Firstly, you should know that Dynamic disks in Windows 2000 and Windows XP is just its method of setting up partitions that span multiple disks, so for instance you can create a stripe set or RAID with multiple hard disks. You'd find this useful only if you actually had multiple hard disks. (if you do, my apologies )
Secondly, Linux does support dynamic disks. I just recently compiled a 2.6 vanilla kernel and i saw that the kernel supports Windows Dynamic disks. However, I'm not very sure if the stock kernels of distributions (like redhat and mandrake) actually compile that support into their kernels. maybe a linux guru can help you out there.
the thing is that if you do intend to dual boot between windows 2000 and linux, IMHO dynamic disks is going to just going to be one of those plain annoying things you'll have to contend with. you should also know that to 'revert to basic disks', windows requires you to delete all the partitions on the hard disk. Additionally, (I have no idea why), don't delete your first (C drive) partion because it somehow results in deleting all the partitions on the disk!

if you really want dynamic disks... backup all your data to another source.
revert your disk to basic.
install linux and compile support for Windows dynamic disks. (you should be able to find a howto on kernel compilation on the internet)
the goto win2k and upgrade the drive to dynamic.

well... Good luck!

so if i convert my HD dynamic
I'll never be able to partion without data-missing?

the thing is that i'm not sure if partition magic supports partitioning your drive when its a dynamic disk. if it does thats great but if it doesn't then your limited to the windows disk manager. of course the windows disk manager is a great tool but it does have its limitations. windows lets u convert fat32 to ntfs but will never allow you to go back into fat32. almost the same with dynamic disks. to convert back into a basic disk the windows disk manager insists that all partitions on your disk be deleted. which in your case doesn't seem to be a very smart thing to do.

at least win2k is working for you, so my advice is to sit tight and look out for a partition manager that does work with dynamic disks. but what exactly do you want to do though? do you want to install linux and dual boot with windows?

thank you Da_Necromancer,there's two things I recently find to tell you
1)PQ Magic8.0can't pation win 2000 dynamic disk,It's ture;-)
2)I have del all partion in my hard cause redhat 9.0 can't be installed in
win 2000 dynamic disk(alough I have del some simple volume)
thank you again

hi, i'm glad that you found a solution but its a real pity that you had clear your hard disk though.
by the way, your very welcome...just glad to help.