I need to convert the disk containing my operating system to a dynamic disk (from a basic disk). Unfortunately there is no room on the disk to convert the drive from basic to dynamic.

Microsoft documents the problem, and notes the solution is to delete the last partition on the disk:

Not Enough Space Available to Upgrade to a Dynamic Disk

RESOLUTION

Start Disk Manager, right-click the last partition, and then click Delete Partition.

Note: I don't need a reason to ask my question. But if anyone would refuse to answer the question unless i gave a justification, there one is.

It's important to note that:

• this recovery partition didn't come from an OEM
• the recovery partition was created when Windows 7 Retail was cleanly installed on the PC

Bonus Question: Why did Windows 7 create a "Recovery Partition"?
Bonus Question: How do you create, or re-create, a "Recovery Partition" on a hard drive that does not have one?

Fortunately i don't have to back anything up from this Recovery Partition, since Windows says it is empty:

Except the directions on Microsoft support don't work - there is no option to delete the recovery partition:

Microsoft says you can use the Create Recovery Drive to delete a recovery partition

From Create a USB recovery drive, which is used to create a USB recovery drive, there is supposed to be an option at the end of the wizard to delete the recovery partition on the hard drive:

When the process is done, do one of the following:

• If you want to keep the recovery partition on your PC, tap or click Finish.

If you want to remove the recovery partition from your PC and free up disk space, tap or click Delete the recovery partition. Then tap or click Delete. This will free up the disk space used to store your recovery image. When the removal is done, tap or click Finish.

Note

Some PCs don't offer the option to remove a recovery partition. If you experience this, there isn't a recovery partition on your PC that's using additional disc space.

When i complete the wizard, there isn't offered the option to remove a recovery partition:

Which apparently means that my machine doesn't have a Recovery Partition, yet i refer you to:

Which causes the questions:

• do i have a Recovery Partition?
• Why does Windows say that i do?
• Why does Windows say that i don't?
• Why did Windows create the Recovery Parition in the first place?
• Why is the Recovery Partition empty?
• Why does Windows not let a user delete a Recovery Partition?

The problem i'm actually trying to solve is how do i convert the disk to dynamic without reinstalling Windows?

I need to convert the disk containing my operating system to a dynamic disk (from a basic disk). Unfortunately there is no room on the disk to convert the drive from basic to dynamic.

Microsoft documents the problem, and notes the solution is to delete the last partition on the disk:

Not Enough Space Available to Upgrade to a Dynamic Disk

RESOLUTION

Start Disk Manager, right-click the last partition, and then click Delete Partition.

Note: I don't need a reason to ask my question. But if anyone would refuse to answer the question unless i gave a justification, there one is.

It's important to note that:

• this recovery partition didn't come from an OEM
• the recovery partition was created when Windows 7 Retail was cleanly installed on the PC

Bonus Question: Why did Windows 7 create a "Recovery Partition"?
Bonus Question: How do you create, or re-create, a "Recovery Partition" on a hard drive that does not have one?

Fortunately i don't have to back anything up from this Recovery Partition, since Windows says it is empty:

Except the directions on Microsoft support don't work - there is no option to delete the recovery partition:

Microsoft says you can use the Create Recovery Drive to delete a recovery partition

From Create a USB recovery drive, which is used to create a USB recovery drive, there is supposed to be an option at the end of the wizard to delete the recovery partition on the hard drive:

When the process is done, do one of the following:

• If you want to keep the recovery partition on your PC, tap or click Finish.

If you want to remove the recovery partition from your PC and free up disk space, tap or click Delete the recovery partition. Then tap or click Delete. This will free up the disk space used to store your recovery image. When the removal is done, tap or click Finish.

Note

Some PCs don't offer the option to remove a recovery partition. If you experience this, there isn't a recovery partition on your PC that's using additional disc space.

When i complete the wizard, there isn't offered the option to remove a recovery partition:

Which apparently means that my machine doesn't have a Recovery Partition, yet i refer you to:

Which causes the questions:

• do i have a Recovery Partition?
• Why does Windows say that i do?
• Why does Windows say that i don't?
• Why did Windows create the Recovery Parition in the first place?
• Why is the Recovery Partition empty?
• Why does Windows not let a user delete a Recovery Partition?

The problem i'm actually trying to solve is how do i convert the disk to dynamic (without reinstalling Windows of course).

DiskPart

I tried using DiskPart from an elevated command prompt:

>diskpart
DISKPART> select disk 0
DISKPART> select partition 3
DISKPART> delete partition

Virtual Disk Service error:
Cannot delete a protected partition without the force protected parameter set.