GPT formatted hard drive boot requirement in multiformat environment ?

[Username77]

So, I want to install and boot Win7 64bit on an MBR disk, with CSM enabled and any security boot etc turned off.

While later adding larger data disks (physical) that have to be formatted as GPT due to size.

But then I read this document from MS:
Windows and GPT FAQ | Microsoft Docs
In particular the part about 'Mixing':

Mixing and matching GPT and MBR disks on the same system
GPT and MBR disks can be mixed on systems that support GPT, as described earlier. However, you must be aware of the following restrictions:

Systems that support UEFI require that boot partition must reside on a GPT disk. Other hard disks can be either MBR or GPT.
Both MBR and GPT disks can be present in a single dynamic disk group. Volume sets can span both MBR and GPT disks.

Which seems to imply that I HAVE TO install Win7 on a GPT disk, if I also want to use (larger) additional GPT data drives as well ?
Which is something I really do NOT want to do, because... reasons.

- Can someone in the know explain to me how to interpret that statement from MS ?
Is it possible to still use MBR installation for the OS/win7 and be able to use large GPT storage drives on the same computer ?

Since I'm rather clueless about this fancy GPT thing, I'd be thinking it should not matter what type of disk formatting the OS itself has, as long as it has inherent GPT support, for the data drives that is?
Which win7 64bit has, as far as I have gathered.

But MS seems to disagree.....

Thanks.

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum

- GPT data drives (HDDs or SSDs) can be used in win (7, 8 or 10) 32 bits or 64 bits
- UEFI-GPT boot able drive MUST have UEFI BIOS computer AND 64bits OS.

You can have win 7 (32 or 64 bits) installed on a MBR (limit usable = 2.2T) and have another drive (any size) as GPT. My laptop has a small boot able SSD as Legacy - MBR (for windows and programs) and a large HDD for data as GPT.

 

[Bree]

Is it possible to still use MBR installation for the OS/win7 and be able to use large GPT storage drives on the same computer ?

Since I'm rather clueless about this fancy GPT thing, I'd be thinking it should not matter what type of disk formatting the OS itself has, as long as it has inherent GPT support, for the data drives that is?

Welcome to Seven Forums.

You are correct. The MS requirements are just saying that if you want to install the OS as UEFI, then you must use a GBT boot drive.

Your legacy MBR install can use GPT on any drives except for its boot drive, as mine does here - MBR disk 0 (boot), GPT disk 1...
.

 

[Username77]

Ah, I see ! Thankyou all for clearing that up!

As I read the part with "Systems that support UEFI require .." quite literally...

As in, if your 'system' merely 'supports' UEFI (as an option, but which you are not using), you'd still have to install Windows("boot partion") on a GPT disk IF you want to add separate GPT disks later.

Oh well, at least I now know better, heh...