As an IT administrator, you may encounter a situation in which you need to convert from a Master Boot Record (MBR) format to a GUID Partition Table (GPT) format. This can be a tricky task, as there are certain limitations that must be taken into consideration before proceeding. In this article, we will discuss the steps necessary to convert from MBR to GPT, as well as any other considerations that must be taken into account.
First and foremost, it is important to note that converting from MBR to GPT is not a simple task. You must be aware that you are essentially changing the way your hard drive is organized and as such, any data stored on your drive will be lost in the conversion process. Therefore, it is essential to back up any data that you wish to keep before attempting this process.
Once you have backed up your data, the next step is to boot into the Windows Installation Media. This can be done by inserting the Windows installation disk into your computer and then restarting your machine. When the installation media boots up, you will be presented with a menu of options. Select the “Repair your computer” option.
On the next screen, you will be given a list of recovery tools. Select the “Command Prompt” option. This will open a command prompt window. Within this window, type the following command: “DISKPART”. This will launch the disk partitioning tool.
Once the disk partitioning tool is running, you will first need to select the disk that you wish to convert. You can do this by typing the following command: “SELECT DISK [disk number]”. Replace the “[disk number]” with the number of the disk that you wish to convert.
Once you have selected the disk, type the following command: “CONVERT MBR”. This will begin the conversion process. The process may take several minutes, depending on the size of the disk.
Once the conversion process is complete, you will need to restart your computer. Once the computer has rebooted, you will need to ensure that your BIOS is configured to boot from GPT. To do this, enter the BIOS setup and locate the boot devices option. Select the GPT option and save your changes.
Finally, you will need to create the necessary partitions for your GPT drive. To do this, you will need to use the “DISKPART” tool again. Within the command prompt window, type the following command: “CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE= [size]”. Replace the “[size]” with the size of the partition that you wish to create. You can repeat this command for each partition that you wish to create.
Once you have created your partitions, you can then exit the disk partitioning tool and restart your computer. Your computer should now boot from the GPT drive.
In conclusion, converting from MBR to GPT is a complex task that requires careful consideration. It is important to understand that all data stored on the drive will be lost in the conversion process, and it is essential to back up any data that you wish to keep before attempting this process. Once the conversion process is complete, you must ensure that your BIOS is configured to boot from GPT and create the necessary partitions for your GPT drive. Following these steps should allow you to successfully convert from MBR to GPT.
