Windows 10: Understanding GPT Partition

I just purchased a new PC. My old PC, which I had for more than 10 years had a 1 tb hdd. If I understand drives the the drive is MBR. The new drive is a SSD BPT. When I got this new one home the first thing I did was delete the extra partitions. Needless to say when I tried to run Windows setup from a boot disk Windows said it couldn't install because the disk is unbootable or something to that nature. Somehow using Diskpart I got it to install. My question is why didn't Windows require an EFI System partition like my new one? With the older drive I had only 2 partitions System and my data partition. Apparently I can't do that with this new PC. If I delete the EFI partition Windows won't install. Yes I know these partitions use up a tiny amount of space. To me that isn't the point. James

:)

 

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

 

Cannot convert GPT to MBR.

Hi Michael,



I suggest you to follow the below steps and check if it helps.

This method you have to backup all your data and delete all partitions and volumes. Then use the
DISKPART command.

• Open command prompt and type in DISKPART and press Enter
• Then type in list disk (Note down the number of disk you want to convert to GPT)
• Then type in select disk number of disk
• Finally type in convert gpt.

Hope the information helps. Do reply if you need further assistance.