Submit an edit

Learn <strong>how to convert a GPT disk to a MBR disk</strong> on a Windows system using Disk Management, Command Prompt or Easy Recovery Essentials.

<a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Easy Recovery Essentials</a> can automatically convert a GPT disk to a MBR disk.

[toc]

<h2>Difference between GPT and MBR</h2>

GPT (or GUID Partition Table) is the updated version of the MBR table scheme that's available on computers with UEFI/EFI installed (not BIOS).

GPT may also be used on some computers that have BIOS installed and not UEFI/EFI. These type of disks have the following advantages:

<ul>
<li>It can have to 128 partitions vs. 4 partitions on a MBR disk</li>
<li>A single partition can have up to 256TB vs. 2TB maximum allowed space on a MBR disk</li>
</ul>

GPT disks can be read by the following Windows versions:

<ul>
<li>Windows XP 64-bit</li>
<li>Windows Vista</li>
<li>Windows 7</li>
<li>Windows 8</li>
<li>Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008</li>
</ul>

These disks can also be used to boot Windows from, but only the 64-bit Windows versions will boot from GPT: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows Server editions.

Note that you can boot Windows from GPT only if your computer has UEFI/EFI installed.

MBR disks are supported by all Windows versions. Removable disks, such as USB drives, can't be converted to GPT. These removable disks are set as a MBR.

<h2>Convert GPT to MBR using Disk Management</h2>

To convert a GPT disk to MBR using the Disk Management utility, follow these instructions.

These instructions apply for these Windows versions: Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 or 8.1. Disk Management is installed by default and it's available on your Windows computer.

<ol>
<li>Boot into your Windows (Vista, 7 or 8)</li>
<li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li>
<li>Go to <strong>Control Panel</strong></li>
<li>Click <strong>Administrative Tools</strong></li>
<li>Click <strong>Computer Management</strong></li>
<li>On the left menu, click <strong>Storage > Disk Management</strong>

[caption id="attachment_3138" align="alignnone" width="200"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/storage-disk-management.jpg" alt="Select Disk Management from Storage" width="200" height="50" class="size-full wp-image-3138" /> Select Disk Management from Storage[/caption]
</li>
<li>Right-click on each partition from the disk you want to convert from GPT. You must delete all partitions from the disk before you begin the converting process from GPT.

To do so, click <strong>Delete Volume</strong> on each partition until the entire disk has unallocated space.

[caption id="attachment_3142" align="alignnone" width="256"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/disk-management-delete-volume.jpg" alt="Delete Volume" width="256" height="277" class="size-full wp-image-3142" /> Delete Volume[/caption]
</li>
<li>Right-click on the disk and click <strong>Convert to MBR Disk</strong></li>
<li>Once the process is done, you can now create partitions on the new disk as you wish</li>
<li>Close Disk Management when done</li>
</ol>

<h2>Convert GPT to MBR using Command Prompt</h2>

If you're not able to boot into Windows (Vista, 7 or 8) to run Disk Management and perform the converting process, you can also use Command Prompt (either from the original installation disc/USB or via Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials).

You can perform these steps either by booting into Windows and running Command Prompt from Start > Run > cmd or by using the original installation disc to open Command Prompt, if you can't access Windows.

To do so, follow these steps:

<ol>
<li>Insert the Windows installation disc and restart your computer</li>
<li>Boot from the disc by pressing any key at the "<em>Press any key</em>" screen</li>
<li>Go to <strong>System Recovery Options</strong>

[caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignnone" width="340"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-system-recovery-options.jpg" alt="Windows Vista System Recovery Options" width="340" height="255" class="size-full wp-image-2110" /> Windows Vista System Recovery Options[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1972" align="alignnone" width="485"]<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-7-system-recovery-options-screen.jpg" alt="Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen" width="485" height="362" class="size-full wp-image-1972" /> Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen[/caption]
</li>
<li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>diskpart</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>list disk</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Remember the number of the disk (example: <code>2</code>) you want to convert.</li>
<li>Type:
<pre>select disk 2</pre>
Where <code>2</code> is the number of the disk that's going to be converted.</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>clean</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>convert mbr</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Disk #2 is now being converted</li>
<li>You can type <code>exit</code> and hit <kbd>Enter</kbd> in Command Prompt to exit or continue setting up partitions on the new MBR disk.</li>
</ol>

To create new partitions using Command Prompt, follow these instructions:

<ol>
<li>Type:
<pre>create partition primary</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>list volume</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</li>Make sure the new volume is selected (look for the * on the left side) before you format the partition</li>
<li>Type:
<pre>format fs=ntfs</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
<li>Type:
<pre>exit</pre>
</li>
<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>

If you don't have access to a Command Prompt to run diskpart, use Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials:

[partial name="partial_easyre_commandline"]

<h2>More Information</h2>

<h3>Linked Entries</h3>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li>
<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/diskpart/">diskpart</a></li>
</ul>

[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="7,8"]