COnvert drive to GPT/GUILD without losing data?

FuturDreamz · 04 Apr 2012

I have a 1 terabyte drive that's about 71% full. I want to try to see of I can figure out EFI without wiping my boot SSD. Can I do this?

thanks

kegobeer · 04 Apr 2012

You can't convert to GPT and keep your data on the 1TB drive. GPT replaces MBR, so everything is destroyed when you convert. This won't affect your boot drive, though. However, EFI has nothing to do with GPT. You can run GPT drives under Windows XP 64 bit (or Vista x64/7 x64) without EFI. EFI only comes into play if you choose to install your OS under EFI - and of course you won't be keeping any data if you choose to do that.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with
Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB

FuturDreamz · 04 Apr 2012

it is possible: Converting to or from GPT
just I can't find a windows program.

kegobeer · 04 Apr 2012

That's a Windows SourceForge project:

GPT fdisk | Free Development software downloads at SourceForge.net

So yes, there is a Windows program. However, I would plan for the worst and hope for the best - back up everything before you attempt it. You are relying on a beta software project to convert your data, after all. Any time you are converting data from one format to another (let alone going from one type of boot record system to another) you run the high risk of losing data.

Personally I'd back up everything and wipe the drive(s).

FuturDreamz · 04 Apr 2012

Actually gdisk did it perfectly, and quickly.

What I did:
Downloaded gdisk for windows and extracted to my boot disk
ran CMD as admin and navigated to gdisk folder
used disk management to verify that my disk to convert was Disk1
ran gdisk with the 1: argument ( with "1" being the disk number. "x:" is just the shorthand access)
entered "y" to confirm I wanted to do this
"r" to recovery transformations menu
"f" to load MBR and make GPT from ir
"m" to return to main menu
"w" to write to disk and exit
new disk connected dialogue popped up, but otherwise it's identical (except GPT)

kegobeer · 04 Apr 2012

Glad to know that utility worked for you!

FuturDreamz · 04 Apr 2012

Now I'm having a very hard time installing to it.
The EFI shell does not recognize my Windows CD as a valid disk
booting the disk via BIOS will not allow me to install because the disk is gpt.
Currently I created 4gb ntfs partition which I am now copying the disk contents to.

FuturDreamz · 04 Apr 2012

it worked.
I'll create an easy to follow tutorial on request, but basically UEFI will only boot from certain partition formats, such as FAT32

kegobeer · 05 Apr 2012

There are already EFI tutorials for installing Windows, the ones I listed in my earlier post.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with

Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB

FuturDreamz · 05 Apr 2012

kegobeer said:

There are already EFI tutorials for installing Windows, the ones I listed in my earlier post.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with

Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB

neither one mentions that some UEFI shells require FAT32 for the installer partition, nor mention the oh so crucial step of typing fs0: to get to the installer partition. Let alone troubleshooting.