Windows 10: Unable to create a simple Volume out of unallocated space.

Alright, so I want to dual boot Ubuntu along side Windows 10. I shrunk my C drive to make a new partition for Ubuntu around 40 GB. However after shrinking the partition, when I try to create a simple volume out of the unallocated space, I get a warning that it will be converted to a dynamic disk and that I will no longer be able to load installed Operating Systems on my Hard Drive. Now, I know that I cannot have more than 4 partitions. The partions on my HDD are:
1. System Partition 100 MB NTFS
2. C dive 296 GB where Windows is.
3. Healthy Recovery 450 MB ( This doesn't show up in This PC)
4. D drive 634 GB. Where I store my data.
Is there any way to create another partition without converting my drive to a dynamic one?

P.S. I am not sure if this is the right category to place this question, but I didn't know where else I could post this.

:)

 

restore system image to new, larger HD

I created a system image, replaced the HD with a larger one and restored the image. I now have 300GB unallocated space, but when I try and create a new simple volume on that space to make is usable, I get an error saying "you cannot create a new volume
in this unallocated space because the disk already contains the maximum number of partitions."

When I made the system image I only wanted to image the C: drive. the current partitions are: 200mb system active; C:; D:; OEM partition; and the unallocated space. How do I utilize the unallocated space?

 

Delete Empty Disk Partition in Windows 10

Thanks. However, after deleting the drive, I now have 10.8 GB of "unallocated space." How can I move that to the C drive? I tried to right-click the C drive and use "Extend Drive," but that is greyed out. As I understand it, I can only extend the
C drive to unallocated space immediately to the right. Unfortunately, I cannot move the volumes on Disk 1. Can I convert the unallocated space to a Simple Volume and then move it? I don't want to reformat the drive. I'm very busy this week and this nonsense
has already taken too much time - I don't understand why Windows can't give me a simple way to reclaim my unallocated space - especially since the option to delete system files was advertised (by Windows) as a way to free up space. Converting that space to
a very small volume or to unusable unallocated space is NOT freeing up space!!!!

 

you could convert your disk to GPT - but would require UEFI support..

You could convert an existing partition to a logicial / extended partition..

 

Wouldn't converting to GPT have the side effect of erasing the entire HDD? My Bios does have UEFI support but Windows 10 is installed on legacy boot.
How do I convert an existing partition to a logical/extended one as you said, if my drive already has 4 partitions?

 

I know there are supposed to be ways to convert a disk to GPT without losing the data, but I, personally, have never gotten that to work with a system boot disk. Others have said they have done it.

You can use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free to convert the primary partition next to the unallocated space to a logical partition and then add the unallocated space as a second logical partition. All logical partitions must be located next to each other. Any partition can be logical except for the system reserved partition the computer boots from - that must stay as a primary partition.

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Free

Before you make major changes to you hard drive, I would suggest having, at a minimum, a recuse disk you can boot your computer from if something goes wrong, like Kyhi's recovery drive. Kyhi's recovery also has MiniTool Partition Wizard on it already:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Even better is to make an image of the existing hard drive - if you have an external storage location to hold it, so that you can easily restore if something goes wrong. Macrium Reflect Free, also on Kyhi's recovery drive, is very good for that:
Macrium Reflect Free

 

Okay, Just installed Easus Partition Master Trial version. So is this what I should do?
1. Shrink either C or D according to required size, leaving System Recovery and Healthy Recovery partitions alone.
2. Convert either C or D to logical partition.
3. Add the unallocated space as a second logical partition to the newly created logical partition.
4. Now Run the Ubuntu installer, and this second logical partition will show up?

 

Steps 1 through 3 are yes. I haven't installed Ubuntu as a dual boot, but step 4 sounds correct. How permanent are you planning on Ubuntu being? Another option would be to install it inside a VM in Windows, that way it won't mess with your hard drive boot sector/files if you want to remove it later.

 

I plan on testing it for sometime. If I like it I will stick with it..even do away with Windows if I wish although unlikely. About VM, any suggestions for a good VM software?

 

Windows 10 Pro has built in Virtual Machine hosting:
Hyper-V virtualization - Setup and Use in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Just tested it on Hyper V but its not the same as using it as a full fledged OS. I think I shall try dual booting.