Windows 10: How to UNDO a single Windows partition (MBR)

@NavyLCDR When I installed Windows 10, I installed it so System partition was forced onto the C:\ drive. Then I removed the Recovery partition. Now I'm considering ways to deal with Windows 11. I can buy a new SSD and just install Win 10 "clean" on that. Then install Win 11. (or upgrade) I can change my Windows 10 installation back to the way it should be, then eventually, upgrade to Windows 11. Either way I intend to buy another 500 GB SSD, just to have a spare, if needed. Is it possible, through some Diskpart magic to... add the System and Recovery partitions back to my Windows 10 install? I can lose the D: and E: partitions, no problem. My computer passes all the requirements for Win 11, but Win 11 still won't install, because of both the MBR partition and the way Win 10 is installed. /edit Monday night, I did succeed in changing my install into UEFI. I set UEFI up in the BIOS, first, then used Macrium's bootable media, and ran the "Fix Windows Boot Problems". It actually worked. I found EFI folder on my C: \ drive, that wasn't there before. And I had no boot issues. However, Windows 11 still didn't like that. I realize I could just do a clean install of Win 10, or Win 11, on my current SSD ...but my current Win 10 install is so tight, I'd rather not do either of those. In 13 months, not one BSOD or hiccough, on this Win 10 install.

:)

 

clone MBR HD to bootable GPT partition?

Hi,

1. You cannot convert mbr to gpt without data loss. otherwise, you can follow directions here:

FROM WINDOWS RECOVERY CONSOLE:

To change a master boot record disk into a GUID partition table disk using a command line

• 
  Back up or move the data on the basic master boot record (MBR) disk you want to convert into a GUID partition table (GPT) disk.
  
• 
  Open an elevated command prompt (right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator) and type diskpart. If the disk does not contain any partitions or volumes, skip to step 6.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type list disk. Make note of the disk number you want to convert.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk <disknumber>.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type clean.
  

2. I'd suggest converting your vista drive to a virtual machine, load that up on your windows 10 system and use a program like virtualbox to run it.

 

Convert only one partition on the disk from MBR to GPT

Follow the steps listed here on using GPTgen. He also lists how to create and restore backups.

Converting MBR to GPT without deleting your partitions

 

Windows 10 & 7th gen Intel Core processors in UEFI mode running on MBR partitions

Hi John,

MBR partition is for older laptops but there's a workaround for it. It is to convert MBR to GPT. In this case, you can use a disk partition management. Try these steps:

• Click "Start Menu" > input "diskpart" in the search box and press "Enter" > Click "Yes" to open command prompt.
• Type "list disk" and press "Enter".
• Type "select disk n" and press "Enter". n is the number of the disk you want to convert. (take "Disk 1" for example)
• Input "clean" and press "Enter" to delete all partitions or volumes on the selected disk.
• Type "convert mbr" and press "Enter" to complete the conversion from GPT to MBR format.

Inform us for any updates regarding your issue.