Solved COnvert drive to GPT/GUILD without losing data?

[FuturDreamz]

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]

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.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html
Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB

 

[FuturDreamz]

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

 

[kegobeer]

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]

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]

Glad to know that utility worked for you!

 

[FuturDreamz]

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]

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]

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

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB

 

[FuturDreamz]

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

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

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.

 

[FliGi7]

This tutorial does mention the FAT32 requirement:

Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB - bit-tech.net Forums

"That's it! No need to write boot sectors or anything like that - as long as you have a FAT32 filesystem with a \efi\boot\bootx64.efi file, the computer should pick that up and start booting."

However, I'm not sure what the fs:0 step is that you're talking about.

 

[FliGi7]

As an aside, there's no functional reason to move to GPT partitioning unless you're booting from a 2.2TB+ drive or planning to run more than 4 partitions.

 

[FuturDreamz]

This tutorial does mention the FAT32 requirement:

Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB - bit-tech.net Forums

"That's it! No need to write boot sectors or anything like that - as long as you have a FAT32 filesystem with a \efi\boot\bootx64.efi file, the computer should pick that up and start booting."

However, I'm not sure what the fs:0 step is that you're talking about.

the tech net tutorial mentions it, but I never found that one. the seven forums tutorial didn't even hint that UEFI may only like certain filesystems. I spent DAYS trying to install to finally discover that my EFI shell doesn't like UDF

the fs0: command moved me to the disk's directory. Without doing so typing the path to the efi file is useless

it's like typing A: into command prompt

 

[FliGi7]

It sounds like something went awry with your setup, then. But it's good to note for others who might encounter the same issue.

 

[FuturDreamz]

I thought I'd try installing Windows 7 in EFI mode again.


1. My Windows 7 disk does not have a efi/boot/bootx64.efi file. I looked and found that the efisys.bin archive contains the bootx64.efi, and that it must be extracted to a floppy drive.

2. I found an old floppy drive laying around, but my only floppy disk is dead.

3. I created a 80mb partition on my secondary drive and extrated bootx64.efi to it. the EFI shell successfully launched this, but it was unable to locate setup.

4. I created a 4gb partition on my second drive and extracted the contents of my Windows 7 installer disk to it, and placed the bootx64.efi file in the correct location. the EFI shell can find the file but it crashes once I press any key at the "press any key to install from disk" menu

I'm out of ideas. I'm currently downloading the official digital river ISO to see if it is already configured for EFI use.

How do I start the installer in EFI mode? thanks.

 

[FuturDreamz]

I followed these instructions: Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB - bit-tech.net Forums

I'm currently installing (had a false start because i upgraded my BIOS and forgot to set the SATA to AHCI mode), and I'm pretty sure it will work. it's definitely running and installing in GPT mode.

Too bad my motherboard doesn't support UEFI boot from DVDs though. I'll just make a hidden recovery partition on my second drive.

 

[milindsmart]

Most ISOs of Windows 7 or 8 (x64) don't have the EFI-compatible El Torito boot images... You'll have to make them yourselves, or use USB drive... For USB drives you'll find the tutorials on this site perfect... For using DVD, use oscdimg.exe to create a UEFI bootable ISO, for example, in How-To : Using Oscdimg.exe for Building W7.x, W8.x, WinPE Bootable DVD ISO Image