How to Import Foreign Disk Successfully?

In order to solve the problem cannot import foreign disk and fix the error, registry modification is required. This article will show you the detailed steps to import foreign disk successfully.

Posted by @Cherry December 17, 2024 Updated By @Cherry May 12, 2023

When you move dynamic created on Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2003 to another computer, you may be barred from accessing the data on that disk. The only thing that you can see is that the status of the disk is flagged as Foreign Dynamic Disk.

If you right click on the disk, you will find there are only two usable options: Import dynamic disks and Convert dynamic disk to basic disk. As you know, converting dynamic disk to basic will wipe out all the existing data. Obviously, on one wants to see that happen. Thus, there is only one available choice, importing dynamic disks. After you clicking it, the following error messages may pop up: INTERNAL Error - The disk group contains no valid configuration copies (C10000B6), INTERNAL Error - A disk group with the specified name already exists (C100007A), etc. Thus, you cannot import foreign disk.

Cannot import foreign disk solution

In order to fix the errors and import foreign disk successfully, registry modification is required. However, using "Registry Editor" incorrectly will cause serious disasters, such as the need of reinstallation of your operating system when problems occur. So please be careful when you decide to try this method.

Situation1. If your system/boot partition is still a basic disk, follow the steps below to correct this condition:

Step1: Type "Regedt32.exe" to start "Registry Editor".

Step2: Click "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services/dmio/Boot Info".

Step3: Under the "Boot Info" key, delete the "Primary Disk Group" key.

Step4: Quit "Registry Editor", and then restart the computer.

Step5: After the reboot, try to import foreign dynamic disk again.

Situation2. Manage on-line dynamic disk with Dynamic Disk Manager

After the dynamic disk become reactivated or on-line, you could use Partition Assistantto manage the dynamic disk. This disk manager can resize both dynamic disk and basic disk without losing data. (Include system volume and all software raid Array)

So please free download this tool to manage your hard disks.