How to Change a GUID Partition Table Disk into a Master Boot Record Disk
As MBR (Master Boot Record) partitioning supports for disks larger than 2 terabytes. MBR disks uses standard BIOS partition table whereas GPT disk uses unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI).
Here is a detailed tutorial to change a GUID Partition Table Disk into a Master Boot Record Disk:
Using the Windows interface:
- First and foremost step is to move or back up the data present on the basic GPT disk which is to be converted into a MBR disk.
- If there are any partitions or volumes of the disk then first delete that partition or volume by right-clicking on that and select delete volume or partition.
- Now right-click on the MBR disk and click Convert to MBR disk.
Using command line:
- Same as using in Windows interface, backup or move data from GPT disk which is to be converted.
- Run cmd as Administrator by right-clicking on command prompt and selecting Run as Administrator.
- Type diskpart and press Enter.
- Type list disk and press Enter. If there are no partition or volumes present on the disk please skip to step 7.
- Now type select disk <disknumber>. Here <disknumber> will be the number of that disk which you want to convert.
- Type clean. All partition or volumes present on the disk will be cleaned now.
- At the DISKPART prompt, type convert mbr. This command will convert an empty basic disk with the GPT partition style into a basic disk with the master boot record (MBR) partition style.
This article applies to the following operating systems:
- Windows 8
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows 7
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Vista
- Windows Server 2003 SP1
- Windows Server 2003 (64-bit)
- Windows XP x64 edition