Cannot see partitions on new disk when trying WinXP install

[Fun Guy]

I partitioned my new disk while it was a secondary drive and now want to make it my main (and only) disk. Problem is, when I enter WinXP setup, all it sees is a single disk/partition and says it cannot install there. Says I must delete (the entire?) 'partition' and start again.

Is the problem that the disk is Dynamic instead of Basic? WinXP setup also says MBR....does that mean that the master boot record was installed on this secondary disk for some reason? Is this the problem?

I don't want to have to delete partions and start over, because I already migrated all of my data from my old computer onto one of the new partitions.

 

[John]

Before doing the (dynamic Disk) conversion you should know that:

? The dynamic volumes cannot be changed back to partitions;
? Local access to the dynamic disk is limited to Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000;
? Dynamic disks are not supported on portable computers or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition;
? All existing volumes must be deleted from the disk before you can convert it back to a basic disk.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

if using XPHome the following doesn't apply ..the following is a explanation of Basic and Dynamic from microsoft ..personally I'd stop with the current drive and setup a fresh install on another drive then slave the multipartitioned drive to pull the data then go from there on what you'd like to do with your multipartitioned drive..gl <edit> Good evening, John 😀

 

[Fun Guy]

Originally posted by: John
Before doing the (dynamic Disk) conversion you should know that:

? The dynamic volumes cannot be changed back to partitions;
? Local access to the dynamic disk is limited to Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000;
? Dynamic disks are not supported on portable computers or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition;
? All existing volumes must be deleted from the disk before you can convert it back to a basic disk.

I wasn't even aware that the disk or volumes were dynamic to start with. I vaguely remember at some point being told I had to change something (the disk or volume?) to dynamic for some reason or another and I did. So this means I have to start over again from scratch?

So dynamic volumes are not considered partitions? On this computer they have drive letters, etc. like every partition I've ever created....

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Fun Guy

Originally posted by: John
Before doing the (dynamic Disk) conversion you should know that:

? The dynamic volumes cannot be changed back to partitions;
? Local access to the dynamic disk is limited to Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000;
? Dynamic disks are not supported on portable computers or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition;
? All existing volumes must be deleted from the disk before you can convert it back to a basic disk.

I wasn't even aware that the disk or volumes were dynamic to start with. I vaguely remember at some point being told I had to change something (the disk or volume?) to dynamic for some reason or another and I did. So this means I have to start over again from scratch?

So dynamic volumes are not considered partitions? On this computer they have drive letters, etc. like every partition I've ever created....

are you running xppro or win2k ?

 

[Fun Guy]

I'm running XP Pro....

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Fun Guy
I'm running XP Pro....

well then follow the link and If you want to keep your data, you must first back up or move the data to another volume.

 

[Fun Guy]

Thanks. I was actually trying to fix the issue without deleting my partitions/volumes. I don't have another disk big enough to store my data and would have to transfer everything through my router all over again.