How to Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk Without Formatting

Updated By

Tracy King 

Written By

Linda 

Last Updated on May 10, 2024

“I have a computer that's more than five years old – basically a Dell Studio XPS 8100 desktop. Recently, I tried to install Win 7 x64 on an SSD partition, but failed because it's a GPT disk and Win 7 will only install on an MBR disk. However, I don't want to format the whole disk. Is there any way I can convert a GPT disk to MBR without formatting? I really don't want to risk losing data.”

Is it possible to convert GPT to MBR without formatting?

Generally, converting a GPT disk to MBR disk involves three steps. First, format the hard drive to remove all partitions. Second, convert the disk from GPT to MBR. Last, create new partitions and reformat the hard drive. However, you may lose data on the hard drive during this process. Obviously, this is not the best way to perform the conversion. At this point, many users may ask: How can I convert GPT to MBR without losing data? Is there a way to convert a GPT disk to MBR without formatting the hard drive? In the past, this was impossible. Because no tool could convert a disk with partitions from GPT to MBR. But that's not the case now.

Convert GPT to MBR without Formatting with Partition Master

The Partition Master Tool can help you easily convert a GPT disk to an MBR disk. It is a professional partition management tool that allows users to resize/move/create partitions without data loss and convert between GPT and MBR disks, and vice versa.

With this tool, you don't have to format the disk during the conversion, which means none of your files and folders will be lost. Install the secure software on your computer and use the steps below to convert GPT to MBR with Partition Master.

1. Click "Disk Converter" from the left menu. Choose "Convert GPT to MBR," then click "Next" to proceed. 2. Select the GPT disk you want to convert, and click "Convert." 3. Wait for the conversion process to complete.

This is an embedded YouTube video player that allows fullscreen playback, copy-pasting, encrypted media, gyroscope, and picture-in-picture features. The video ID is "lQKSUptO_bw".

Convert GPT to MBR Using Disk Management

If you have backed up all the data on the hard drive, you can try another way to convert GPT to MBR. On a Windows 11/10/8/7 PC, Disk Management allows users to manage computer partitions manually and change partition types. As a reminder, this method involves data erasure. So, remember to back up your data if you want to use this method.

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC" and select "Manage" to open "Computer Management".

Step 2. Select Disk Management.

Step 3. To convert GPT to MBR, you must delete all volumes first. Right-click on a volume and select “Delete Volume.” Repeat this for all volumes.

4. Right-click on the deleted volume and select “Convert to MBR disk.”

Convert to MBR disk:

Now, your GPT disk has been converted to an MBR disk. Before you can store files and folders, you'll need to create new partitions on the MBR disk.

Bottom line

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable, powerful, safe, and easy-to-use partition manager. As mentioned above, you can easily convert GPT disk to MBR disk with just a few simple steps, and it will take less than 5 minutes. You can also use AOMEI Partition Assistant to convert MBR to GPT during Windows installation. Why not give it a try?

Frequently Asked Questions About Converting GPT to MBR 1. **What is GPT and MBR?** - **GPT (GUID Partition Table)** is a modern disk partitioning system that replaces the traditional MBR (Master Boot Record) to support larger hard drive capacities and more partitions. 2. **Why do I need to convert GPT to MBR?** - Some older or BIOS systems that don't support UEFI may not recognize GPT-partitioned disks. If you need to install an operating system on such a system, converting to MBR might be necessary. 3. **Is there any risk in converting from GPT to MBR?** - Yes, there's a risk of data loss during the conversion. Make sure to back up important files before proceeding. 4. **How can I convert in Windows?** - The built-in `diskpart` tool in Windows can be used for this, but note that it will erase all data. Here's how: - Open Command Prompt as an administrator. - Type `diskpart` and hit Enter. - Type `list disk` to view all disks. - Select the disk to convert, e.g., `select disk 0`. - Type `clean` to delete all partitions and data. - Type `convert mbr` to perform the conversion. 5. **How about in Linux?** - In Linux, you can use `gdisk` or `dd` commands, but data will be erased. Proceed with caution. 6. **Is there a way to convert without losing data?** - Generally, lossless conversion isn't possible due to the different partition structures. However, third-party tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant claim to attempt conversion without data loss. 7. **Will I need to reinstall the operating system after the conversion?** - If your system supports MBR and the conversion is successful, a reinstallation might not be needed. But it's recommended to create a new boot record after conversion to ensure proper system startup. 8. **What are the limitations of MBR?** - MBR supports up to four primary partitions or three primary partitions plus one extended partition, which can contain multiple logical drives. Additionally, MBR has a maximum support of 2TB for hard drives. Make sure you understand the risks involved and back up all critical data before performing any disk conversions.

If you still have questions about converting GPT to MBR, refer to the list of issues below and find your answer:

1. How to convert GPT to MBR without losing data?

2. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click on "Disk Conversion", and then select "Convert to MBR Disk". 3. Choose the target disk that you want to convert, and then click "Convert".

The process completes without data loss.

2. How to convert GPT to MBR without an operating system?

Open Diskpart, and type each of the following commands on a separate line, pressing Enter after each:

• List disks
• Select disk 1
• Clean disk
• List disks
• Select disk 1
• Convert to MBR disk
• Exit

For more detailed steps, refer to this page: How to Convert GPT to MBR Without Operating System <a href="/partition-master/convert-gpt-to-mbr-without-operating-system.html"></a>.

3. Why Convert GPT to MBR?

There can be various reasons to convert GPT to MBR. Here are some possible reasons why one might want to change a disk from GPT to MBR:

• The computer supports only the Legacy BIOS boot mode.
• The disk size is 2 TB or smaller.
• The operating system is older, or it is a 32-bit Windows operating system.