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How to Convert a MBR Disk to a GPT Disk Published by Brink 24 Sep 2009
MBR disks are supported (readable) by all Windows operating systems. o GPT disks are only supported (readable) by Windows server 2003 SP1 +, XP 64-bit, Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008. MBR disks use the standard BIOS partition table. o GPT disks use UEFI. MBR disks supports up to 2TB per single partition. o GPT disks supports up to 256TB per single partition in Windows. MBR disks supports up to 4 Primary partitions or 3 Primary partitions and 1 Extended partition with up to 128 logical volumes in the extended partition. o GPT disks supports up to 128 Primary partitions. Removable disks are MBR disks by default. o Removable disks cannot be converted into a GPT disk. Warning
You must be a administrator to do this in Windows. Before you convert a disk, close any programs that are running on or from that disk. Before you convert a disk, be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose on that disk to a separate physical disk location first. Converting the disk requires that all partitions and volumes are deleted on the disk.
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If you disable the Disk Defragmenter service, then you will get the error below when you try to do anything in Disk Management. If you get this error, then make sure that the Disk Defragmenter service is set to only Manual.
5. In the disk (ex: Disk 1) that you want to convert to a GPT disk, right click on each partition and volume on the disk and click on Delete Volume until the whole disk is unallocated space. (See screenshot above) 6. Right click on the disk (ex: Disk 1) that you want to convert to a GPT disk, and click on Convert to GPT Disk. (See screenshot below)
7. When finished shortly, you can confirm that the disk is a GPT disk if you right click on the disk and it has Convert to MPR Disk instead now. (See screenshot below)
8. You can now create partitions on the now GPT disk if you like. 9. When done, close Disk Management.
2. Open a command prompt at boot. 3. In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter. (See screenshot above) 4. Type list disk and press enter. NOTE: Make note of the disk number (ex: Disk 1) that you want to convert to a GPT disk. 5. Type select disk # and press enter. NOTE: Substitute # with the actual disk number that you want to convert to a GPT disk. For example, select disk 1. 6. Type detail disk and press enter. NOTE: This will give you a list of all the volume numbers on the selected disk number that you will need to delete in steps 7 and 8 below. A) If you do not have any volumes listed, then you can go to step 10. 7. Type select volume # and press enter. NOTE: Substitute # with a volume number listed in step 6. For example, select volume 3. 8. Type delete volume and press enter. 9. Repeat steps 7 an 8 for each volume # listed in step 6 until you have deleted all volume #'s. 10. When done, type select disk # and press enter. NOTE: You would use the same one from step 5 above. For example, select disk 1. 11. Type convert gpt and press enter. 12. When done, type exit and press enter. 13. Close the command prompt. 14. You can now create partitions on the now GPT disk if you like for a data disk, or start installing the supported Windows if you like. (See information box at the top of the tutorial.). NOTE: Restart the computer if you did step 2 instead. That's it, Shawn
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