You probably want one of these. They include versions of all the PuTTY utilities (except the new and slightly experimental Windows pterm).

(You probably want the 64-bit x86 version. The 32-bit version is only for backward compatibility with very old PCs / versions of Windows.)

Dynamic Disk Vs Basic Jun 2026

When you initialize a new hard drive in Windows, you must choose between two storage types: or Dynamic . Each serves different needs, from simple file storage to advanced volume management.

If you need RAID on Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise, consider using (a modern, more flexible alternative to dynamic disks) instead.

A uses volumes instead of partitions, offering advanced, flexible storage options. dynamic disk vs basic

⚠️ Converting back from dynamic to basic requires deleting all volumes (data loss).

Instead of using a traditional partition table, Dynamic disks use a hidden database (the Logical Disk Manager - LDM database) located at the end of the disk. This database tracks volume information across multiple dynamic disks connected to the computer. When you initialize a new hard drive in

A is the traditional, default storage type. It uses partitions (primary, extended, logical) to organize data.

Under MBR, a basic disk is limited to 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition. Under GPT, it supports up to 128 primary partitions. A uses volumes instead of partitions, offering advanced,

A basic disk is the standard storage type for Windows, using simple partition tables (MBR or GPT) that are compatible with nearly all operating systems. Dynamic disks are a more advanced, now-deprecated Windows-specific format that allows for complex volume management, such as spanning data across multiple physical drives or creating software-based RAID for data protection. Core Differences Basic Disk Dynamic Disk Uses fixed partitions (Primary/Logical). Uses flexible "volumes". Compatibility Works with all OSs (Linux, macOS, old Windows). Windows-only; problematic for multi-boot. RAID Support None (requires hardware controller). Supports software RAID (Mirror, Striped, RAID 5). Multi-Disk Volumes stay on one physical disk. Volumes can span multiple physical disks. Conversion Easy to convert to dynamic. Requires wiping all data to revert to basic. The Story of the Two Librarians

Compiled executable files for 32-bit Windows on Arm. We've had reports that these can be useful on Windows IoT Core.