Formatting disc and Secure Boot - new Win 10 installation.

TheOwner · 23 Nov 2021

Hello,
I have 1 SSD (128 GB) and 1 HDD (1 TB). I would like to do complete clean install Win 10 on UEFI mode, formatting both drives. I install WIN 10 on SSD and during installation i remove all partitions on them and install it on unallocated space.

But what about 1TB HDD? Is here any reason format it to GPT instead MBR? I will use only one partition on them. And what is the correct way of doing this? Should i do this during install or after installation in disk management?

Do i need change anything in my UEFI to make secure boot works? I disable CSM of course, but do i need mess with Platform keys, DB or DBX in UEFI?

For secure boot work must be all my drivers compatible? For example if i use mouse driver which is not signed by Microsoft i will not bot?

Thank you.

steve108 · 23 Nov 2021

Hello TheOwner and welcome to tenforums

What’s the Difference Between GPT and MBR When Partitioning a Drive?

"GPT also stores cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values to check that its data is intact. If the data is corrupted, GPT can notice the problem and attempt to recover the damaged data from another location on the disk. MBR had no way of knowing if its data was corrupted—you’d only see there was a problem when the boot process failed or your drive’s partitions vanished."

Based on this, I would suggest GPT.

NavyLCDR · 23 Nov 2021

All you need to do for secure boot is to enable it in BIOS settings.

TheOwner · 24 Nov 2021

I have Maximus VII Ranger: Manual here - https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/m..._ug_v2_WEB.pdf

Under Secure boot is only "Windows UEFI mode" and "Other OS", there is no enable or disable. So that means "Windows UEFI mode" = secure boot enabled and "Other OS" = disabled?

If i format my HDD (not boot drive) to GPT in disc management, it creates also same partition as boot drive? I mean EFI partiton and ETC...

NavyLCDR · 24 Nov 2021

@TheOwner,

Yes, Windows UEFI mode is Secure Boot On. Other OS is Secure Boot Off.

If you format your HDD to GPT in disc management you will not get the same partition as the boot drive. In order to get the same partitions as the boot drive you need to do an install of Windows to it (or create partitions yourself).

cereberus · 25 Nov 2021

You do not need to format the HDD as GPT as it is less than 2 GB. You cannot do this without loss of data unless using paid versions of tools like minitool partition wizard. So unless you do not mind wiping data drive, don't bother.

NavyLCDR · 25 Nov 2021

cereberus said:

You do not need to format the HDD as GPT as it is less than 2 GB. You cannot do this without loss of data unless using paid versions of tools like minitool partition wizard. So unless you do not mind wiping data drive, don't bother.

If you have a backup of the disk, you can convert it to GPT and then restore the backup for free. Just one other option.

It's weird that all these companies are holding MBR data disks hostage. It's a heck of a lot easier to convert a data disk to GPT than it is a system disk, so why didn't Microsoft include that in mbr2gpt?

cereberus · 25 Nov 2021

NavyLCDR said:

If you have a backup of the disk, you can convert it to GPT and then restore the backup for free. Just one other option.

It's weird that all these companies are holding MBR data disks hostage. It's a heck of a lot easier to convert a data disk to GPT than it is a system disk, so why didn't Microsoft include that in mbr2gpt?

Don't you mean the other round?

It's a heck of a lot easier to convert a system disk to GPT than it is a data disk, so why didn't Microsoft include that in mbr2gpt?

Actually, I did manage to do it once via a convoluted way with mbr2gpt and free version of minitool:

You need roughly 30 GB free to do this:

1) shrink data drive by 30 GB (lets assume E drive)

2) install windows on unallocated space (installing as MBR)

3) delete any recovery partitions etc, so only 3 partitions left (system reserved, C drive, E drive)

4) user mbr2gpt to convert drive to uefi

5) delete all partitions except e drive

6) expand E drive

Of course, this was rather pointless but I did it just to prove I could do it without external/cloud backups, or paid software. I am not seriously suggesting anybody does it like this LOL.

NavyLCDR · 25 Nov 2021

cereberus said:

Don't you mean the other round?

I[I]t's a heck of a lot easier to convert a system disk to GPT than it is a data disk, so why didn't Microsoft include that in mbr2gpt?

No. To convert a data disk from MBR to GPT all you have to do is replace the partition tables (and whatever else is associated with the partition tables) with GPT tables. In order to convert a system disk, in addition to converting the partition tables you also have to create and populate an EFI system partition.

TheOwner · 25 Nov 2021

So if i change unallocated (completely empty) disc to GPT and then i format it and i create one full disc size partition, so there will be only this partiton and no hidden partition? I talk about secondary drive, not boot drive.