Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk

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  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 8 x64
       #30

    System Reserved??


    Hello,
    I've run into some trouble. I have a 3TB Seagate HDD and a 120GB SSD. Today I install Windows onto the PC, I built the entire thing myself, it had no pre-existing OS. Like a dummy, I didn't realize the whole MBR cant use more than 2 TB. Long story short, the OS is installed on the SSD, Windows 8 put the System Reserved onto the 3TB HDD...Now I can't convert the drive to GPT because I can't delete the System Reserved. What should I do? Please help, Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #31

    Hi,

    You can copy the boot critical files to the SSD ( C drive ) using EasyBCD, then delete the System Reserved partition:

    Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 8 x64
       #32

    May sound stupid but, 1. this will indeed work with windows 8? & 2. This will still have no effect on the boot process?
    Also, would it make sense to move the System Reserved back to the original location after I have Converted to GPT and all of that?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #33

    Hi,

    I dont think you can move the partition. Ideally, you want to restart the installation after having unplugged everything but the SSD.

    Try the EasyBCD method and let us know if it works - it copies over the boot manager to C: so the computer should still boot once System Reserved has been deleted.

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 8 x64
       #34

    Thank you very much! I'll keep you posted as I execute tomorrow!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 34
    win 7 x64
       #35

    question. I have an ssd for my c drive with 4 other drives. C drive is windows 7 x64, D Drive is windows 8 x64. the other drives are just data.
    I'm upgrading my MB to uefi (switching to amd cpu also).
    From what I understand so far I HAVE TO delete everything on my c drive and do a clean install of windows 7 or 8 correct?
    If that's the case then I would need to convert that drive to gpt and then install windows right? Is there any advantage to converting the other drives to gpt or can I just leave them as mbr?

    Thanks in advance for your help!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #36

    Hello sl2222,

    Yes, you could still reinstall them as usual using "legacy BIOS" and a MBR disk.

    If you would like to install them as UEFI with a GPT disk, then the tutorials below can help show you how to. I find that it's easier to do a dual boot with UEFI when you use separate hard drives per OS.

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

    and

    UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with

    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 34
    win 7 x64
       #37

    Thanks for the response.
    So could I just install windows 8 under uefi then...
    After that, plug in my other (data) drives and all would be fine? I'm not that concerned about the dual boot into windows 7 at this point. I can deal with that later.



    Brink said:
    Hello sl2222,

    Yes, you could still reinstall them as usual using "legacy BIOS" and a MBR disk.

    If you would like to install them as UEFI with a GPT disk, then the tutorials below can help show you how to. I find that it's easier to do a dual boot with UEFI when you use separate hard drives per OS.

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

    and

    UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with

    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #38

    You're welcome.

    Sure if you like, that would work.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Pro SP1
       #39

    Yo Brink, thanks for the article.

    Tell me though, do you know if it's possible or not to have W7 64 install and boot on MBR and then if I have say 300GB unallocated on the same disk, partition that unallocated space as GPT but keep my first Windows partition as MBR? I have a laptop that I need to do this on for certain purposes that only support GPT. The laptop does not have UEFI.

    Actually, just read this, interesting:
    Booting from GPT
    See towards the bottom in the Windows section. Looks like I might need to create a Hybrid MBR or DUET system, sounds painful but I think I'm going to give it a go.
      My Computer


 
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