Vista - Convert USB disk to dynamic

Hi there,

I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID them. My
friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB enclosure and
then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could then convert them to
dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in the USB enclosures and he has
dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have a laptop, I cant believe its
impossible but I have tried searching everywhere but cant find a solution
that work in Vista. I am running Vista Home Premium.

Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?

Cheers

Jason

Hello Jason,

As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying. Home
versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.

--
Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
MVP Windows Shell/User

"Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
> Hi there,
>
> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID them.
> My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB enclosure
> and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could then convert
> them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in the USB enclosures
> and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have a laptop, I cant
> believe its impossible but I have tried searching everywhere but cant find
> a solution that work in Vista. I am running Vista Home Premium.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>
> Cheers
>
> Jason

Hi Jane,

I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this to
work.

Cheers

Jason
"Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hello Jason,
>
> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying.
> Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.
>
> --
> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
> MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID them.
>> My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB enclosure
>> and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could then convert
>> them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in the USB enclosures
>> and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have a laptop, I cant
>> believe its impossible but I have tried searching everywhere but cant
>> find a solution that work in Vista. I am running Vista Home Premium.
>>
>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Jason
>

Why? What do you hope to accomplish by this?

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


"Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5E320885-1156-41D9-931E-98705DC1D93D@microsoft.com...
> Hi Jane,
>
> I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this to
> work.
>
> Cheers
>
> Jason
> "Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
> news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Hello Jason,
>>
>> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying.
>> Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.
>>
>> --
>> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
>> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi there,
>>>
>>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID
>>> them. My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB
>>> enclosure and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could then
>>> convert them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in the USB
>>> enclosures and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have a laptop,
>>> I cant believe its impossible but I have tried searching everywhere but
>>> cant find a solution that work in Vista. I am running Vista Home
>>> Premium.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Jason
>>
>

Hi Kerry,

The aim is to create one large 1.5tb disk rather than 3 x 500gb disks. If I
can get this to work ok then I will try and create a RAID5.

Cheers

Jason
"Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
newsC791A70-CF64-4A5E-B5C0-D20F93FC7403@microsoft.com...
> Why? What do you hope to accomplish by this?
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>
> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:5E320885-1156-41D9-931E-98705DC1D93D@microsoft.com...
>> Hi Jane,
>>
>> I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this to
>> work.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Jason
>> "Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>> news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello Jason,
>>>
>>> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying.
>>> Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
>>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>
>>> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
>>> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi there,
>>>>
>>>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID
>>>> them. My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB
>>>> enclosure and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could
>>>> then convert them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in the
>>>> USB enclosures and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have a
>>>> laptop, I cant believe its impossible but I have tried searching
>>>> everywhere but cant find a solution that work in Vista. I am running
>>>> Vista Home Premium.
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>>
>>>> Jason
>>>
>>
>

By using DiskMgmt.Msc you can convert any "Basic" Disk directly to
a Dynamic Volume. You Right Click the Disk "X" designation and the
context menu will have a "Convert to a Dynamic Disk" option. It is a
good idea to backup/image a volume before converting to "Dynamic"
as it's not an easy thing to Undo.

Using USB as the transfer technology you're only going to achieve a
30-Megabyte or less transfer rate. You seem to be going to a lot of
effort for a marginal result. For external use, eSATA is a much better
choice for performance.

Maybe I don't understand the intent, but having 3 USB external
drives working as a single "Dynamic" volume is almost certainly going
to saturate the Hubs/Controller they are on.

"Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:490BF326-135D-4D71-99E3-35311FE2AE47@microsoft.com...
> Hi Kerry,
>
> The aim is to create one large 1.5tb disk rather than 3 x 500gb disks. If
> I can get this to work ok then I will try and create a RAID5.
>
> Cheers
>
> Jason
> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
> newsC791A70-CF64-4A5E-B5C0-D20F93FC7403@microsoft.com...
>> Why? What do you hope to accomplish by this?
>>
>> --
>> Kerry Brown
>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>>
>>
>> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:5E320885-1156-41D9-931E-98705DC1D93D@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi Jane,
>>>
>>> I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this
>>> to
>>> work.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Jason
>>> "Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>>> news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hello Jason,
>>>>
>>>> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying.
>>>> Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
>>>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>>>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>
>>>> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Hi there,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID
>>>>> them. My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB
>>>>> enclosure and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could
>>>>> then convert them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in
>>>>> the USB enclosures and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have
>>>>> a laptop, I cant believe its impossible but I have tried searching
>>>>> everywhere but cant find a solution that work in Vista. I am running
>>>>> Vista Home Premium.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>
>>>>> Jason
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

Hi,

I can not use DiskMgmt as it will not work on a USB disk. I have tried
altering the registry to try to "fool" Vista into thinking that the disks
are IDE and can succeed partially. However it keeps reverting back to USB
and it will still not let me convert. I have also tried from command prompt
with the same result.

Regards

Jason
"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:%23QTZ8cF1HHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> By using DiskMgmt.Msc you can convert any "Basic" Disk directly to
> a Dynamic Volume. You Right Click the Disk "X" designation and the
> context menu will have a "Convert to a Dynamic Disk" option. It is a
> good idea to backup/image a volume before converting to "Dynamic"
> as it's not an easy thing to Undo.
>
> Using USB as the transfer technology you're only going to achieve a
> 30-Megabyte or less transfer rate. You seem to be going to a lot of
> effort for a marginal result. For external use, eSATA is a much better
> choice for performance.
>
> Maybe I don't understand the intent, but having 3 USB external
> drives working as a single "Dynamic" volume is almost certainly going
> to saturate the Hubs/Controller they are on.
>
> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:490BF326-135D-4D71-99E3-35311FE2AE47@microsoft.com...
>> Hi Kerry,
>>
>> The aim is to create one large 1.5tb disk rather than 3 x 500gb disks. If
>> I can get this to work ok then I will try and create a RAID5.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Jason
>> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
>> newsC791A70-CF64-4A5E-B5C0-D20F93FC7403@microsoft.com...
>>> Why? What do you hope to accomplish by this?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kerry Brown
>>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>>> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>>>
>>>
>>> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:5E320885-1156-41D9-931E-98705DC1D93D@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi Jane,
>>>>
>>>> I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this
>>>> to
>>>> work.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>>
>>>> Jason
>>>> "Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>>>> news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello Jason,
>>>>>
>>>>> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even trying.
>>>>> Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic disks.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
>>>>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>>>>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>>
>>>>> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> Hi there,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID
>>>>>> them. My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the USB
>>>>>> enclosure and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He could
>>>>>> then convert them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives back in
>>>>>> the USB enclosures and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this as I have
>>>>>> a laptop, I cant believe its impossible but I have tried searching
>>>>>> everywhere but cant find a solution that work in Vista. I am running
>>>>>> Vista Home Premium.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jason
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

I agree with R. McCarty. The overhead of software RAID will probably cause
problems on USB drives. Even if you get it working I think it will probably
be flaky and error prone. You can buy USB enclosures that you can install
multiple drives in. These enclosures use an embedded Linux so that you can
then setup a RAID array. This way the RAID calculations and read/writes are
all done outside of Windows. The interface can be USB, SCSI, eSATA, LAN,
whatever, it makes no difference. Software RAID is a compromise at best. I
don't believe RAID 5 is supported in Vista in any case. I would look for a
different way to achieve your goal.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


"Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uvoRbgF1HHA.3536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I can not use DiskMgmt as it will not work on a USB disk. I have tried
> altering the registry to try to "fool" Vista into thinking that the disks
> are IDE and can succeed partially. However it keeps reverting back to USB
> and it will still not let me convert. I have also tried from command
> prompt with the same result.
>
> Regards
>
> Jason
> "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:%23QTZ8cF1HHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> By using DiskMgmt.Msc you can convert any "Basic" Disk directly to
>> a Dynamic Volume. You Right Click the Disk "X" designation and the
>> context menu will have a "Convert to a Dynamic Disk" option. It is a
>> good idea to backup/image a volume before converting to "Dynamic"
>> as it's not an easy thing to Undo.
>>
>> Using USB as the transfer technology you're only going to achieve a
>> 30-Megabyte or less transfer rate. You seem to be going to a lot of
>> effort for a marginal result. For external use, eSATA is a much better
>> choice for performance.
>>
>> Maybe I don't understand the intent, but having 3 USB external
>> drives working as a single "Dynamic" volume is almost certainly going
>> to saturate the Hubs/Controller they are on.
>>
>> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:490BF326-135D-4D71-99E3-35311FE2AE47@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi Kerry,
>>>
>>> The aim is to create one large 1.5tb disk rather than 3 x 500gb disks.
>>> If I can get this to work ok then I will try and create a RAID5.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Jason
>>> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> wrote in message
>>> newsC791A70-CF64-4A5E-B5C0-D20F93FC7403@microsoft.com...
>>>> Why? What do you hope to accomplish by this?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kerry Brown
>>>> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
>>>> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Jason" <jdhfch@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:5E320885-1156-41D9-931E-98705DC1D93D@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Hi Jane,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am currently running Home Premium but will upgrade if I can get this
>>>>> to
>>>>> work.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>
>>>>> Jason
>>>>> "Jane C" <janecolman@invalid.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
>>>>> news:OczWd%23A1HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Hello Jason,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As you are running Home Premium, it won't do you any good even
>>>>>> trying. Home versions of Vista do not support the use of dynamic
>>>>>> disks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Jane, not plain 64 bit enabled :-)
>>>>>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>>>>>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Jason" <jpda@btinternt.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:E171B613-969E-429A-A43C-737D4584DEFD@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>> Hi there,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am trying to convert 3 eternal USB disks to dynamic so I can RAID
>>>>>>> them. My friend has done this on his PC by removing them from the
>>>>>>> USB enclosure and then attaching them internally as IDE disks. He
>>>>>>> could then convert them to dynamic, he then simply put the drives
>>>>>>> back in the USB enclosures and he has dynamic disks. I cant do this
>>>>>>> as I have a laptop, I cant believe its impossible but I have tried
>>>>>>> searching everywhere but cant find a solution that work in Vista. I
>>>>>>> am running Vista Home Premium.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does anyone have any ideas I could ty please?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jason
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>