GPT for OS move?


  1. Posts : 110
    Windows 10
       #1

    GPT for OS move?


    Problem: Can't use Refresh on my MBR boot drive because of UEFI/GPT restrictions. Alternative 1: It seems that none of the partition managers, commercial or Win-based will change the current C:\ MBR to GPT without wiping out the disk content. I have three partitions on the c: drive. If I clean the partitions (after backup) with Win 10 running, is enough of it in memory to allow a removal of the boot drive content and change the drive to GPT?? Alternative 2: would be to clean an available drive, apply a GPT boot table and use a utility to transfer the OS. Alternative 3: would be to clean a drive set it to GPT and do a clean install of v. 1511 (build 10586.318) that I have on hand. Then I'd have to manually install all the "lost" apps from the old drive.
    I'm sure I'm missing some logical procedure here. Anyone out there have ideas? I'd be very grateful!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    Google shows lots of hits for convert mbr gpt without data loss
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 90
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro N 64-bit 10240 Multiprocessor Free
       #3

    Ztruker said:
    Google shows lots of hits for convert mbr gpt without data loss
    you can only do that on partition or hdd that hasn't bootloader
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #4

    What are the three partitions on the MBR drive ??

    You can use my Bootable PE Rescue disk (link in sig below)

    Use macruim reflect to backup the OS partition to external drive..

    clean and convert current drive to GPT
    create a GPT partition layout > EFI, Reserve, OS, Recovery tools
    restore the backup to the new OS partition

    use the option in macrium to repair boot files

    or you can do it manually via a bcdboot command
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #5

    Kupuna said:
    Problem: Can't use Refresh on my MBR boot drive because of UEFI/GPT restrictions. Alternative 1: It seems that none of the partition managers, commercial or Win-based will change the current C:\ MBR to GPT without wiping out the disk content. I have three partitions on the c: drive. If I clean the partitions (after backup) with Win 10 running, is enough of it in memory to allow a removal of the boot drive content and change the drive to GPT?? Alternative 2: would be to clean an available drive, apply a GPT boot table and use a utility to transfer the OS. Alternative 3: would be to clean a drive set it to GPT and do a clean install of v. 1511 (build 10586.318) that I have on hand. Then I'd have to manually install all the "lost" apps from the old drive.
    I'm sure I'm missing some logical procedure here. Anyone out there have ideas? I'd be very grateful!
    Depends on the goal - are you determined to have GPT?

    Option 1
    Set firmware to legacy (or cms)
    Disable Secure boot

    This will let you run the system on the existing MBR drive

    Option 2
    Run Belarc to get your software audit (including keys)

    Make sure your Win10 install media is on a Fat32 formatted USB with - or - on a DVD

    Leave firmware as UEFI
    Disable Secure boot

    Clean a spare drive (no partitions, not initialized MBR or GPT) - diskpart clean
    Install Win10 - it will initialize the drive GPT and create the correct partition schema.
    Install your favorite apps - but get the latest from the vendor site (too many bugs caused by old software)

    Read through this tutorial and ask any other questions:
    Windows 10 - Clean Install
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 110
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    [QUOTE=Slartybart;679605]Depends on the goal - are you determined to have GPT?

    Option 1
    Set firmware to legacy (or cms)
    Disable Secure boot

    This will let you run the system on the existing MBR drive

    Option 2
    Run Belarc to get your software audit (including keys)

    Make sure your Win10 install media is on a Fat32 formatted USB with - or - on a DVD

    Leave firmware as UEFI
    Disable Secure boot

    Clean a spare drive (no partitions, not initialized MBR or GPT) - diskpart clean
    Install Win10 - it will initialize the drive GPT and create the correct partition schema.
    Install your favorite apps - but get the latest from the vendor site (too many bugs caused by old software)

    Read through this tutorial and ask any other questions:
    Windows 10 - Clean Install[

    In reply: A short story. I'm typing on my portable tonight. Had to take my PC to an experienced service shop
    today. My problem was because attempts to refresh Win10 kept resulting in failure and notices that I had "unsupported layout for UEFI firmware". That led to the attempts to change MBR to GPT because I read advice that UEFI worked properly only with GPT. (It is now becoming clear that is not true.)
    I finally started moving copies of the C: partition to another location so I could change the boot drive too GPT (it had to be bare, so I learned). At that point chaos ensued in the BIOS. I wound up with 14 instances listed in the BIOS that all said "Windows Boot Manager"
    Trying to correct that (!) I reached the point where all the machine would show was the ASUS logo. That was the point at which I unplugged everything and hauled it downtown. The tech is older and quite experienced with "enthusiasts" like me. Smiling, he said: "You guys tend to overthink everything." I had to agree. ....But I'll probably do it again someday. Thanks to all of you for your advice of any kind. I genuinely appreciate this group!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #7

    GPT is only supported by UEFI...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #8

    Kyhi said:
    GPT is only supported by UEFI...
    Booting from a GPT disk is only supported by UEFI. Secondary drives partitioned with GPT do not require UEFI.
      My Computer


 

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