Changing the partition style of a disk from MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR can be a necessary step when upgrading or replacing your hard drive. While it may sound complicated, this process is relatively straightforward and can be done in a few easy steps.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that once you delete the volume on the disk, all data stored on it will be lost. Therefore, it’s essential to back up all your data before going ahead.
To start, we need to access Disk Management. You can do this by typing ‘disk management’ in the search bar and selecting ‘create and format hard disk partitions’. Alternatively, you can type ‘computer management’ or ‘control panel’ in the search bar and navigate to Disk Management within those options.
Once in Disk Management, locate the disk you want to convert and confirm its current partition style by right-clicking and selecting ‘properties’ under ‘volumes’. If the disk is MBR, right-click on the volume and select ‘delete volume’. You will be prompted to confirm this action, and once you do, the disk will become unallocated.
Now, right-click on the unallocated disk and select ‘convert to GPT’. If the disk is already GPT, the option will be ‘convert to MBR’. Click on the relevant option, and the disk will be converted.
Finally, you need to format the disk to use it. Right-click on the new partition and select ‘new simple volume’. Follow the prompts to format the disk, and you’re done!
It’s always a good idea to check the partition style after conversion to ensure the process was successful. Right-click on the disk and select ‘properties’ under ‘volumes’ to check.
In conclusion, changing partition style from MBR to GPT or vice versa can be a simple process if you follow the steps outlined above. Always remember to back up your data before deleting the volume and to ensure that you are formatting the disk correctly.