Basic vs Dynamic Disks

[Penfold]

My new laptop has a SSD and a HDD.

Both arrived and are formatted to Basic Disks. I was considering converting them to Dynamic Disks as I seem to recall this was worth doing.

Is this right and is there an issue with converting disks from basic to dynamic. Any downside or upside to doing that?

Thanks

[TeaLeaf]

I was considering converting them to Dynamic Disks as I seem to recall this was worth doing.

Why?   I'm not an expert on this but why would you want to span a dynamic volume over an SSD and a mechanical drive?    For my level of knowledge I'd stick to basic volumes unless you have a specific need for dynamic volumes.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363785(v=vs.85).aspx

Someone else with more knowledge than me will no doubt be along in a while to educate me as to why dynamic drives are more beneficial!

[kregoron]

Why?   I'm not an expert on this but why would you want to span a dynamic volume over an SSD and a mechanical drive?    For my level of knowledge I'd stick to basic volumes unless you have a specific need for dynamic volumes.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363785(v=vs.85).aspx

Someone else with more knowledge than me will no doubt be along in a while to educate me as to why dynamic drives are more beneficial!

Correct, only reason to run dynamic is to create OS level raid/spans. which i doubt your interested in, or anyone else should be for that matter.

[Tutonic]

Microsoft textbooks will tell you that Dynamic Disks are great, but the reality is that they just leave you vulnerable to more issues and don't really bring any benefit.

[Penfold]

Thanks.

For some reason Acronis isn't liking backing up the disks I have - anyone else suggest something similar I can try?

Thanks.

[Tutonic]

Thanks.

For some reason Acronis isn't liking backing up the disks I have - anyone else suggest something similar I can try?

Thanks.

Paragon Backup is pretty good, and there's a free version available.