Windows 7 GPT to MBR? EFI to BIOS

27
2013-10
  • w0rm

    I want to convert my existing GPT partition table to a MBR one. UEFI is giving me too many headaches with Linux.

    Actually, I'm just interested in my Windows partition. All the articles on the internet (and questions on superuser?) aim to do the reverse: MBR to GPT.

    I've been thinking if something like this would work: Use a Linux LiveCD to 'dd' an image of the Windows C:\ partition (possibly the windows system partition thing too?) to an external device, create a new MBR partition table and install Windows, then copy the dd'ed partitions over?

    I bet it's not that simple, and I really don't want to risk all the data on the Windows partition.

    • Answers
  • grawity

    gdisk (aka gptfdisk) can convert between MBR and GPT partition tables.

    • MBR to GPT: Run gdisk on the disk device, press w to "write and exit".

    • GPT to MBR: Run gdisk, press r for "Recovery", then g for "Convert GPT to MBR and exit".

    After converting, you will have to reinstall the right bootloader.


    • Related Question

    windows - 2TB external drive, disk initialization: MBR or GPT
  • poke

    I just bought a new 2TB disk drive I plan to use as an external drive (connected via eSATA). When I started my computer it recognized the drive fine, but when I got into the Disk Management, a popup told me that I have to initialize that drive and I have to choose between MBR and GPT layout.

    The drive will be primarily used on Windows 7 computers (both x86 and x64) as well as on a Windows Vista x64 computer (which is the one the message appeared on).

    I do not plan to create multiple partitions on that drive as it is only supposed to be a data storage disk.

    Which partition layout should I choose, MBR or GPT? The dialog itself recommends to use GPT on drives >= 2TB or on Itanium based computers, but I want to make sure that I will be able to access the drive later on my other computers.


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  • CJM

    GPT will not be usable by XP and earlier systems (I think), so avoid it if that is an issue. Not having seen an XP machine in 3 years it's not an issue for me so I use it in preference to MBR, but it makes little difference at this point in time. At some point, you will have to use GPT, until then, make a choice.

  • BloodPhilia

    As of now, support for GPT among common systems is limited. Check out the list of supported OSes here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table#OS_support_of_GPT