I Want To Change My MBR Based PC To A GPT Based PC, Please Help

[Rocky Bennett]

Hello All,
In preparation of installing Windows 10 Anniversary Edition, I would like to change my old MBR based PC to a GPT based PC. What is the best way to accomplish this? I am already done converting all of my drives to GPT except my C: drive, do I change that before, during or after installing the new edition of Windows 10? My system is based on:

Intel Haswell i5 4690
Asus motherboard, Z-97 A
Crucial 256 GB SSD

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Rogue Leader]

There is no built in way to do this in Windows, however I like EaseUS software partition master:

http://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/free-convert-mbr-to-gpt-without-data-loss.html

This works very well for converting your boot drive to GPT. There is other programs out there as well to do this, but I have used this one myself to good results.

 

[Rocky Bennett]

I am trying to convert my system disk and EaseUs costs $39.95 to convert my system disk. I am looking for something free or at least cheaper.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Hmm some people here have used this, The free version says it will do it:

https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/convert-MBR-disk-to-GPT-disk.html

 

[Rocky Bennett]

I have that installed and have used it for years, but alas it will not convert the system disk from MBR to GPT. I guess that I might have to wait untill next Tuesday and do it during installation. I might try a few things now though.

 

[Colif]

If the only thing on the drive that C is on is windows, the easiest way to get GPT on your boot drive is a fresh install as Win 10 will take one look at your BIOS and insist on GPT as its like that with EFI Bios such as the one on your motherboard. It will upgrade onto MBR but when it comes to fresh, it will want you to wipe entire drive to unallocated space and then it will make it GPT. It will refuse to install onto MBR..

Download the media creation tool once the new version of Win 10 is released and follow this: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

 

[Rocky Bennett]

But the thing is that I have installed Windows 10 onto this sytem possibly 20 or 30 times and it always installs as MBR. I guess that I have to do something in BIOS.

Even when I first built the stupid computer and installed my Windows 8.1 OS for the very first time, it installed as MBR. I will check my BIOS.

 

[Rocky Bennett]

I just my BIOS setting and it is set up as Windows UEFI mode. I will now load my Windows 10 installation disc created from the media creation site and see what I can do.

 

[Rogue Leader]

When you go into your BIOS go to the boot menu and choose USB UEFI boot that will allow you to install it as GPT.

 

[Colif]

Okay, if your boot method is set to CSM then it will install as MBR

look on page 2-51 of your manual or look here: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/Z97-A/e9060_z97-a_ug_for_web_only.pdf

on 2.8.10 you want CSM disabled or it will continue to install as MBR. You can find it on the boot tab in the advanced screens of bios

 

[Rocky Bennett]

OK, thanks. I might have to do it the way you guys are suggesting but I was hoping to do it this way;

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn336946.aspx

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Thanks Colif, I have the hard copy of my owner's manual which I constantly refer to. I just checked my BIOS again and under 2.8.10 I have it set to auto, but it has always been set to auto. Should I set it to Enabled?

 

[Colif]

First method matches my suggestion, second is just an extra step as win 10 custom install also lets you wipe drive.

You still need to change boot method as even if you got GPT onto disc, if BIOS is set to CSM enabled it would be expecting to find an MBR disc at boot and won't, and will not boot at all. GPT discs don't have an MBR partition, so CSM would just sit there probably flashing a cursor at you.

set it to disabled. It only matches Win 7.

 

[photonboy]

WHY do you care if it is GPT or not?

 

[Rocky Bennett]

WHY do you care if it is GPT or not?

I don't really know, I can't HONESTLY answer that. I jst figured that since we are in the 21st Century, and GPT is the latest/greatest, that I might as well use this method. I am happy enough with MBR.

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Thanks Colif for all of your help. I am still weighing my options.

 

[Colif]

Main benefit right now of GPT over MBR is its harder to break a GPT disc. what I mean is with MBR all it takes to stop them booting is deleting contents of one partition. GPT has multiple backups of the file name it looks for to boot the HDD.

The other main benefits won't be seen until drives get bigger. Largest drive a MBR disc can be now is 2.2tb, anything over 2.2tb is invisible to a MBR system. GPT's max limit is so big Windows doesn't even allow you to use it. GPT discs formatted by win 10 can have 128 partitions, and each partition can be 256tb in size. Not a lot of drives have that much yet, outside RAID systems.

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Thanks. Come time to update to Windows 10 Anniversary I will see what course of action I'll take and I will report back here in this thread.

Thanks again guys.

 

[wildcard1978]

other reasons is gpt partiotions are needed for fast and ultra fast and secure boot to reduce boot times . it actuially boots hardware in groups instaed of one piece of hard ware at a timewitch is legacy. is the main reason behind it other wise your stuck with legacy boot.

must have full uefi boot to support fast ultra fast and secure boot. also some modern ssds like the Samsung 950 based on bios as far to my knowledge all nvme sds witch are going to be the new standard for ssds . nvme only supports uefi intalls to the ssd if its nvme meaning gpt partiotions only folks.

 

[wildcard1978]

ooh on some main boards ya got to turn of csm legacy support coimpletely to install windows in uefi mode . and not everyone installs via usb. the lg bd burner I got does cd dvd and blue ray just fine.

so if ya burning media. when ya go to install it in a gpt . on some bios they boot order it self has to say uefi then drivce name on some mother boards example I got a lg bd burner
on my asrock board ounder boot options I can select the burner twice one says ahcu then the drive name other ssays uefi.

for friend and on mine ive ran into issue where it wont say uefi next to the drive if it that type of bios that does that bios it self hang and I have to completely remove the main board barter and clear the cmos and sumtime wait 20 minutes even after discharge power from the syste m when I come back lord and behole soon as hook everything back up put battery in then it finnaly gives uefi and drive letter I want to install windows with .

and is happens on multiple multiple makes and models of boards ive done or help talk friends through uefi installs on skye ect ..

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Thanks wildcard1978. I think that I will try to install the update on Tuesday in GPT boot mode, I have all week off to play with this new install. I will start early Tuesday and plod along until I'm happy.

 

[wildcard1978]

ussally up by 10 am to 1 pm ussally don't crash timm 6 to 7 am est

 

[Rocky Bennett]

Okay, if your boot method is set to CSM then it will install as MBR

look on page 2-51 of your manual or look here: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/Z97-A/e9060_z97-a_ug_for_web_only.pdf

on 2.8.10 you want CSM disabled or it will continue to install as MBR. You can find it on the boot tab in the advanced screens of bios

Thanks Colif, this worked good.