If you’re planning to upgrade your Windows 10 to Windows 11, Microsoft requires that you use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware installed on motherboards for enhanced security. Windows 11 utilizes the modern GUID Partition Table (GPT) scheme instead of the old Master Boot Record (MBR) partition scheme, which means that if your Windows 10 computer still uses MBR, you will need to convert it to GPT. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to convert MBR hard drive partitions to GPT easily.
Steps to Convert MBR Hard Drive Partitions to GPT
Before conversion, you need to determine if you have UEFI firmware on your motherboard and if the hard drive is formatted with MBR or GPT. Follow these steps:
- To determine if you have UEFI on your PC, you will have to access the system software for your particular motherboard by following your manufacturer’s instructions.
- To determine if a hard drive is formatted with MBR or GPT, right-click the Start menu button, select Disk Management, right-click a hard drive request, select Properties, and then select the Volumes tab.
Now, to convert an MBR partition to a UEFI partition, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Enter this command: mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS to check if it’s feasible.
- If the validation is successful, enter this command: mbr2gpt.exe / convert / allowfullos to start the conversion process.
- Once the conversion is complete, restart your computer and change the boot partition settings from MBR to UEFI in your motherboard system software before Windows 10 starts its boot process.
FAQs about Converting MBR Hard Drive Partitions to GPT
1. Can I convert my hard drive from GPT to MBR?
Yes, you can. The commands you need to use are different, but you can convert your hard drive from GPT to MBR. But keep in mind that this process is not reversible and will erase all data on the hard drive.
2. Will converting MBR to GPT cause data loss?
No, the built-in MBR2GPT.exe utility in Windows 10 can perform the conversion without losing or overwriting any of your existing data.
Conclusion
Converting MBR hard drive partitions to GPT is straightforward and can be done using the built-in MBR2GPT.exe utility in Windows 10. By following the steps and changing the boot partition settings in your motherboard system software, you’re now ready for the Windows 11 upgrade. If you have any questions or issues during the process, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
