When you install Windows 2000 on a dynamic volume, you can install only on a dynamic volume that is a boot or system volume. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and earlier versions do not support dynamic volumes with third-party software, so this is not an issue with earlier operating systems.

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Dynamic disks do not use the same type of partition table as Microsoft MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Windows NT. In order for an Intel-based computer to boot, the BIOS INT13 calls need to be able to read a partition table to locate the file system and boot files. Dynamic disks use a proprietary system developed by a third party that stores its partition or volume information in a database at the end of each dynamic disk in a Windows 2000-based computer.

The only dynamic disks that have a traditional partition table are system or boot disks. This is by design so these disks can boot. Text-mode Setup requires the same information in order to install to a volume.

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Install Windows 2000 on a basic disk and then use the Windows 2000 Disk Management snap-in to upgrade the disk to dynamic. If you are dual booting with any other operating system, the other operating system may not be able to boot after the upgrade to a dynamic disk if the operating system is installed on a dynamic disk or if the disk containing the boot files is dynamic.

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For additional information about dynamic disks, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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