[SOLVED] Converting Windows 10 system from MBR to GPT for a new drive. What's the procedure?

[Roque1]

I'm planning to upgrade the system drive in my desktop PC to a 4TB SSD. Only problem is my current drive is partitioned using MBR. I know I'll have to convert to GPT to utilize the full size of the 4TB drive and I've checked to unsure that my motherboard supports UEFI.
So my question is about the steps/order of operations for mirroring my current system drive to the new SSD and converting to GPT without data loss.
I've never done this before but this is my best guess about how to do it.

1. Connect both drives.
2. Mirror my old system drive to the new 4TB drive.
3. Convert the new 4TB drive to GPT.
4. Restart into BIOS.
5. Select the new drive as the boot drive.
6. Enable UEFI.
7. Done?

Is this right? Or should I boot to the new drive and then convert it?
Is AOMEI Pro the best tool for this or is there a free alternative?
Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Convert the current drive first.
Then the whole clone process. (which is more than jut 'mirror and select the new drive in the BIOS')

MBR2GPT
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/mbr-to-gpt


Of course, have a known good backup of the entire drive before you start this process.

 

[USAFRet]

What are all the parts your're working with?

Motherboard, drives, OS version, etc, etc.

 

[Roque1]

What are all the parts your're working with?

Motherboard, drives, OS version, etc, etc.

AS ROCK H97M
Windows 10.0.19043
Old Drive: Crucial 250GB MX500 2.5" Internal SATA SSD
New Drive: Samsung 4TB 870 EVO 2.5" Internal SATA SSD

I have seen some info about using software like AOMEI Pro to convert a disc from MBR to GPT without data loss. I figured that if I mirrored and booted the new drive first, then I could convert it to GPT and my old drive would serve as it's own backup since I'm not doing anything to it at all.

Is this totally wrong?

 

[USAFRet]

AS ROCK H97M
Windows 10.0.19043
Old Drive: Crucial 250GB MX500 2.5" Internal SATA SSD
New Drive: Samsung 4TB 870 EVO 2.5" Internal SATA SSD

I have seen some info about using software like AOMEI Pro to convert a disc from MBR to GPT without data loss. I figured that if I mirrored and booted the new drive first, then I could convert it to GPT and my old drive would serve as it's own backup since I'm not doing anything to it at all.

Is this totally wrong?

Mostly wrong, yes.

Convert MBR2GPT.
Clone (steps to follow).
Delete ALL off the old drive.
Then, start a real backup routine.