What's the difference?

User avatar
viking33
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 5685
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 19:16
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts,USA

What's the difference?

Post by viking33 »

What is the difference between a disk or partition with MBR and GBT? How do I convert from MBR over to GBT for my Win 10 partition, since MS insists that it can not update to the latest ( 1903 version ) unless it is a GBT disk?
BOB
:massachusetts: :usa:
______________________________________

If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

User avatar
BobH
UraniumLounger
Posts: 9218
Joined: 13 Feb 2010, 01:27
Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas

Re: What's the difference?

Post by BobH »

Here you go, Bob!
Bob's yer Uncle
(1/2)(1+√5)
Intel Core i5, 3570K, 3.40 GHz, 16 GB RAM, ECS Z77 H2-A3 Mobo, Windows 10 >HPE 64-bit, MS Office 2016

User avatar
viking33
PlatinumLounger
Posts: 5685
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 19:16
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts,USA

Re: What's the difference?

Post by viking33 »

BobH wrote:Here you go, Bob!
Thanks, Bob.
A lot of reading in there and my first reaction on a swift read was: What did he say? I'll have to do a re-read and see if I want to really go into this change or not? :scratch:
Or do I have a choice?
BOB
:massachusetts: :usa:
______________________________________

If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

JoeP
SilverLounger
Posts: 2051
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 02:12

Re: What's the difference?

Post by JoeP »

See How to Convert GPT to MBR or Convert MBR to GPT without Losing Data?. Plugging their own product - AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional Edition (not free).

There is also MBR to GPT | How to Convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10 Easily and Safely which wants u=you to use Easus Partition Master. It is unclear from the article if you can do the conversion with the free version.

There is also a command line tool mentioned at the end of the Easus article which is included in Windows 10. If you are not completely comfortable in the command line or PowerShell environments I recommend you ignore it.
Joe

User avatar
Argus
GoldLounger
Posts: 3081
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 19:07

Re: What's the difference?

Post by Argus »

There is also: Free Convert MBR to GPT Without Data Loss [EaseUS] (using the free version; from August this year).

Disclaimer: I have not used EaseUS Partition Master to convert from MBR to GPT, since I set the system drive to GPT during setup. But I have used the free version of Partition Master for minor tweaks of partition sizes on non-system drives, and that has gone smoothly and quick.

As Joe mentioned it is also possible via an elevated command prompt and Diskpart (I think), and some other tool, or perhaps via the UI in other OS than Win7, but some of them may involve deleting volumes, I think, so one must move data off the drive; a backup should be done anyhow, in my opinion.

There are a couple of advantages with GPT as mentioned in some of the articles (but I don't see a need for a unique identifier for every partition on earth; perhaps it can be a help for those watching us :compute: :eyeout: :xgrin:).
Byelingual    When you speak two languages but start losing vocabulary in both of them.

JoeP
SilverLounger
Posts: 2051
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 02:12

Re: What's the difference?

Post by JoeP »

Thanks Argus,

Good to know you can use the free version of EaseUS Partition Master for future reference.
Joe

JoeP
SilverLounger
Posts: 2051
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 02:12

Re: What's the difference?

Post by JoeP »

Just remembered you can use the free version of MiniTool Partition Wizard too.
Joe