Dynamic Hard Drive -> Not Dynamic

So, I am trying to install Windows Vista Home Premium again (last time ended with pure frustration, so I got rid of it). Previously, I had a dual-boot with Windows XP on my main hard drive, and Vista installed on my second hard drive. It was working as well as two Windows OSes on the same computer could.

Since then, I got a new second hard drive. The older one was pretty small, especially with Vista on it. I used it as a file server, so I had it shared. I have it shared no more, and reformatted it via Right-Click Properties. When I try to install it within Windows XP, it says that the drive is dynamic (first off, I have no idea what the **** that means), and says to restart the computer from the installation disk. When I do, it says that I can't upgrade from outside of Windows (it is an Upgrade version of Windows) and to restart into Windows to continue installation. Notice the endless loop? Nothing like the pure quality of Microsoft.

So,... what the ****!?! How do I make the drive NOT dynamic?

Why is it that whenever I deal with Microsoft products, I want to punch a baby?

#478463

Don't punch a baby, first of all.

Second, WTF is dynamic? Ditch windows, dood.

#478466

Second, WTF is dynamic?

And I do have a Mac. They're adjacent to each other. My mini does get more lovin' than the XP machine does, however. I just want to see if I really do hate Vista as much as I remember.

#478469

yea d00d, its teh lame. thats what you should always expect when you deal with micro$oft. I'm sure there's an option that you can change while your booted in your other OS... if you do have one.

#478470

"Dynamic storage involves the use of a single partition that covers the entire disk, and the disk itself is divided into volumes or combined with other disks to form volumes that are greater in size than one disk itself. Volumes can use any supported file system."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_Disk_Manager

hope that helps abit, and use acronis disk director, or maybe gparted to reformat

#478472

"Dynamic storage involves the use of a single partition that covers the entire disk, and the disk itself is divided into volumes or combined with other disks to form volumes that are greater in size than one disk itself. Volumes can use any supported file system."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_Disk_Manager

hope that helps abit

Well, I think I figured it out. All I did was go into the Disk Management thingie in Windows XP, deleted the partition, and it allowed me to make a basic partition. Now the installer says it can install on it.

If it was that simple, why couldn't Microsoft just added "hey, you will lose everything on this disk, you want to still install Vista on it?" and do it itself. Rather than making us play hide-and-go-seek with all of their stupid "features"!

#478479