Windows 7 Dynamic Disk takes forever

[tydd]

Hello friends

I just installed 2x4 TB disk from HGST. When I first connected them I only saw 1.6 TB per disk and I had to install a third party driver from HGST first. After driver installation I could see the whole 4 TB per disk.

Since I wanted mirrored drives I went on and converted them to dynamic disks in Computer Management. I started this process about 2 hours ago and it has still not finished.

Is this normal? The disk LEDs are blinking on my computer chassis and playing YouTube videos is not smooth so I suppose it's doing something.

However, the Computer Management screen has frozen for those two hours and I'm starting to worry a bit. I had already tried this process yesterday with the same result. I then had to switch off the PC. It turns out Windows then get stuck during boot-up while the LEDs continued to blink. So, I started with another OS installation without the HGST driver, and with that I was able to reset the dynamic disk and move back to basic. After that my original OS would start up again.

What's wrong? I assume moving to dynamic disk should not take several hours, right? I mean, who wants to wait hours before using new disks? It's not like I'm converting anything which would require to migrate data. Those were empty disk right from the manufacturer without having formatted them ever before.

Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're facing some issues with converting your HGST disks to dynamic disks in Windows. Here's an analysis of the situation: 1. Size Recognition Issue: - Initially, you were only able to see 1.6 TB per disk, which indicates that the full capacity of the disks was not initially recognized by Windows until you installed a third-party driver from HGST. 2. Freezing During Dynamic Disk Conversion: - Converting disks to dynamic within Windows should not normally take hours, especially with empty disks. The freezing of the Computer Management screen during this process is abnormal and indicates a potential issue. 3. Observations: - The fact that the disk LEDs are blinking suggests that the system is actively working on something, but the freeze in Computer Management raises concerns about the conversion process. 4. Previous Experience: - Your previous experience with this conversion resulting in system boot issues after interruption further emphasizes the sensitivity of this process. Given the current situation and the potential risks involved in interrupting the conversion process, it's important to address this carefully to avoid further complications. Here are some steps you can consider: - Monitor Disk Activity: If the disk LEDs are blinking consistently, it's a good sign that the system is working on something. However, if the process is taking excessively long and Computer Management is frozen, intervention may be necessary. - Check Task Manager: Use Task Manager to monitor the system's performance and disk activity. This can give you additional insights into whether the system is actively processing the conversion. - Consider Backup and Restart: If the system remains frozen for an extended period, it might be necessary to perform a controlled restart. Before restarting, ensure that you have a backup of any important data or configurations to avoid data loss. - Verify Disk Health: After restarting, it's advisable to check the health of the disks using tools like CHKDSK or third-party disk monitoring software to ensure there are no underlying issues with the drives. - Seek Professional Assistance: If the issue persists or you encounter any errors during the process, it might be best to seek assistance from a professional to avoid any further complications. If you choose to restart the system, ensure you have a backup of any critical data to prevent data loss. The process of converting disks to dynamic should not take hours, especially with empty disks, so it's essential to address this issue promptly to avoid any potential risks.