DiskPart: Convert to GPT in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7
What are MBR and GPT disks?
MBR and GPT are two different disk partition styles. Unlike MBR, GPT has no limits on hard disk capacity (2TB) and the number of primary partitions (4), making it a more popular choice. When a hard disk is initialized with a partition style set, it can be used to store data, including the operating system.
The difference between MBR and GPT are as follows:
● GPT supports larger disk sizes than MBR, with a maximum size of 2^32 sectors, which translates to a maximum size of 8 ZB (zettabytes) or 9.4 x 10^21 bytes.
● MBR booted by Legacy BIOS, GPT booted by UEFI.
● A GPT disk supports much larger volumes (up to 18EB) and more partitions (128) compared to a MBR disk, which is limited to 2TB volume size and 4 primary partitions.
● A partitioned disk has redundant primary and backup partition tables, which helps ensure the integrity of the partition data structure.
● Some Windows systems can only run on MBR or GPT disk, you can find them in the list we show you above. If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11, Windows 11 only supports UEFI boot mode, so it's recommended to convert the MBR system disk to GPT for Windows 11.
Some users want to convert their MBR disk to GPT to increase partition size, be compatible with UEFI, or get more partitions.
Factors to consider before converting
Before converting the partition style of your disk, please pay attention to these factors. First, you need to ensure that your system supports the partition style you intend to convert to, such as UEFI firmware for GPT.
It's essential to back up your data before converting the partition style to avoid loss, and also ensure your system meets the requirements for the desired partition style, as older systems may have limited GPT support.
How to use DiskPart to convert to GPT
DiskPart is a command-DiskPart is a command-line disk partitioning utility provided by Microsoft, allowing users to manage disks, partitions, and volumes on Windows operating systems. It enables various operations such as creating, deleting, formatting, and resizing partitions, as well as converting MBR/GPT to MBR/GPT.
- Notes:✎...
- To convert a disk from MBR to GPT, first back up the MBR disk to keep the data safe, as DiskPart only allows users to convert empty disks from MBR/GPT to MBR/GPT.
- To convert GPT to MBR during Windows 7 install, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt when the Windows Setup window appears.
Step 1. Press the "Windows + R" key simultaneously, and input "diskpart" in the box. Press Enter.
Step 2. To list all disks connected to your computer, type "list disk" and press Enter.
Step 3. Enter the command "select disk n" (where n is the number of the disk you want to convert to GPT) and press Enter to select the disk.
Step 4. To delete all partitions existing on the target disk, type "clean" and press Enter. It's recommended to backup the disk before doing so.
Step 5. Input "convert gpt" and press Enter.
After that, input "exit" to exit Diskpart.
Alternative to DiskPart: convert MBR to GPT without data loss
Using DiskPart to convert a Master Boot Record (MBR) to a GUID Partition Table (GPT) is relatively straightforward, but it's still a challenge for non-technical users due to the need to access the command prompt. Furthermore, this method requires wiping all data on the hard drive, and it's not possible to convert the system disk to GPT while Windows is running, as it doesn't support cleaning system disk data.
To solve the problem of converting MBR to GPT or vice versa, I recommend using Qiling Disk Master Professional, a powerful tool that can convert MBR to GPT and vice versa without clearing data, and can be used as an alternative to DiskPart. Its operation is simple, requiring only three steps to achieve conversion.
The software not only converts a disk to GPT, but also offers various tools to efficiently manage disk partitions, including allocating free space, shredding files or folders, wiping hard drives, migrating the OS to another disk, and recovering lost data.
To convert an MBR disk to a GPT disk in Windows, download the demo to see how it's done in Windows 11/10/8/7.
Step 1. Install and launch the Qiling Disk Master Professional. After opening it, select the target disk and then click "Scan" to start the scanning process. This will identify all the recoverable data on the disk."Convert" at the top toolbar. Select the "Convert MBR/GPT" option.
Step 2. Ensure that the Legacy BIOS has been converted to UEFI, and wait for the conversion to be completed.
To convert a MBR disk to GPT, you can use a tool like MBR2GPT, which is a built-in Windows utility. First, run the command "MBR2GPT /ConvertToGPT" in Command Prompt as administrator, and wait for the operation to complete. After that, you can go to "This PC" and open the "Properties", and you will see the partition table has become GPT. If you are converting a system disk, you need to change the BIOS to UEFI to boot the GPT system disk when restarting.
FAQs about convert disk to GPT
✎ Q1: Is it possible to convert a disk to GPT without losing data?
To convert a disk to GPT without losing data, it's essential to back up your data first. This can be done by copying all files and folders to an external drive or cloud storage. Once backed up, you can use a disk management tool, such as the built-in Disk Management tool in Windows, to convert the disk to GPT.
✎ Q2: Can I convert the system disk to GPT?
You can convert the system disk to GPT, but it requires additional steps and precautions, and it's recommended to consult official documentation or seek professional assistance.
✎ Q3: Will converting a disk to GPT improve performance?
Converting a disk to GPT itself does not directly improve performance, but it unlocks the benefits of GPT, such as support for larger partition sizes and more robust data structures, which can indirectly contribute to better performance in modern systems.
✎ Q4: Can I convert a GPT disk back to MBR?
Converting a GPT disk to MBR is possible, but it involves deleting all existing partitions, resulting in data loss, so it's essential to back up your data before attempting the conversion.
✎ Q5: Is there any risk involved in converting a disk to GPT?
Converting a disk to GPT is a generally safe process, but it carries potential risks, including data loss if not done correctly, making it essential to follow instructions carefully and back up data beforehand to minimize risks.
Summary
Converting MBR to GPT via DiskPart can be achieved using Qiling Disk Master, a straightforward approach that avoids data loss. This tool allows seamless conversion between MBR and GPT formats, eliminating the need to delete existing partitions.
If you're trying to use it in Windows Server, please upgrade to Qiling Disk Master Server.
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