How to convert MBR to GPT when installing Windows
Converting MBR to GPT when installing Windows is one of the steps users need to take to change the hard drive format to suit new operating systems. The following instructions will help you do this properly, quickly, and effectively even when the computer has previously failed.
When Do You Need to Convert MBR to GPT
As Windows partition styles, both MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) are widely used in storage devices like your computer hard drives. With the release of newer operating systems, more and more users are changing their disks from MBR to GPT even without booting into OS.
Convert MBR to GPT – Without any OS: I just got a new laptop without any OS when I go to Windows Installer… the installer is unable to create the partition. At the bottom of the installer window, there’s a warning that says something like “Windows cannot installed on this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only install to GPT disks “
How can I convert MBR to a GPT partition without any OS? Relax if you are in a similar case as the above example. Also, don’t worry if you are not quite clear about when to convert the MBR disk to the GPT disk without OS. Check the list here, if you are with one of the listed situations, take the provided methods above to change MBR to GPT:
- Your computer is shipped without OS, and you need to convert a disk to GPT for Windows installation.
- A computer is installed but you converted the OS disk to MBR by mistake.
- To install Windows on an EFI/UEFI disk.
- Receive error message: “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On the EFI system, Windows can only be installed on GPT disks”
When you encounter any of the above-provided cases, you will need to change your disk from MBR to PGT.
How to convert MBR to GPT when installing Windows using CMD/DiskPart
Tools Required: Windows computer, USB/CD or external disk drive, Windows installation media. If you install Windows using USB on the first boot screen, use the shortcut to Boot Option to go to the installation windows.
Warning Since converting MBR to GPT using DiskPart requires erasing all volumes in the entire disk, remember to back up disk data first if applicable.
Step 1: Press the keyboard shortcut Shift + F10 to open the CMD command
Step 2: Enter the command diskpart then press Enter.
Step 3: Continue entering the list disk command and press Enter.
In the list of hard drives, you will see information about the hard drive connected to the device and is named by default Disk 0, 1, 2,… in column Disk ####. For computers with installed multiple hard drives, you can only distinguish them based on capacity in the Size column. Besides, hard drives available in GPT format will be marked ” * ” in the GPT column and vice versa.
Step 4: After determining which hard drive needs to be converted from MBR to GPT, enter the command select Disk [drive name] and press Enter. In this example, we need to convert the format for Disk 0
Step 5: Next, enter the clean command and press Enter to wipe the data.
Step 6: Type the command convert GPT. Press Enter to start the hard drive formatting process.
DiskPart will erase all partitions on your disk and then convert them to GPT. Enter exit when the conversion is complete.
Once the conversion process is finished, you return to the Windows Setup screen using the new GPT disk to create partitions, install the new Windows system, and more. without encountering any problems.
Conclude
So we have finished guiding you through the steps to convert MBR to GPT right on the Windows installation screen. With this little trick, you won’t need to install any complicated support tools and can still convert your hard drive format as quickly and effectively as desired.
Good Luck!
