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MBR and GPT are two different ways of storing partition information on a drive. This information includes where a partition starts and ends on the physical disk, so that the operating system can recognize which sectors belong to each partition and which partition can be booted from the disk. That's why you must choose between MBR or GPT before creating partitions on a drive.
Yet, in most cases, many users might encounter the issue where they are unable to convert GPT to MBR. Thus, this article from Tool will tell you why you can't convert a disk from GPT to MBR and provide some methods to assist you in resolving this problem. You can read on now.
Why Can't I Convert GPT to MBR?
This part will mainly discuss why we need to convert GPT to MBR, and why we can't convert GPT to MBR. You can read this part if you want to understand the reasons behind the solutions.
While GPT disks might seem more advanced, there can still be situations where you need to convert a disk from GPT to MBR. For example, if your computer has an older operating system, such as Windows 2003, Windows 2000, Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT4, or 32-bit versions of Windows XP, you'll have to convert GPT to MBR, since these OSes can't boot from a GPT partition.
The article below will shed light on the differences between MBR and GPT. If you're interested, keep reading.
MBR vs GPT: What's the Difference and Which Is Better?
This article mainly discusses what MBR and GPT are, as well as the differences between MBR and GPT. Additionally, it introduces how to check disk partition styles and how to convert between MBR and GPT.
This is why we need to convert GPT to MBR. However, computer users often come across the situation where they are unable to change GPT to MBR. What could be the reasons behind this?
Most of the time, the existing partitions on the disk might cause issues with the GPT to MBR conversion since Disk Management can only convert an empty non-system disk. Hence, it's crucial to back up all data on the GPT disk before you choose to convert GPT to MBR. After that, when you delete all partitions on the GPT disk, the GPT to MBR option won't be grayed out. The following part will introduce three methods, and you can read the next part now.
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Three Ways to Convert GPT to MBR When It's Impossible
After understanding why you can't convert disk from GPT to MBR, here come 3 solutions to fix the problem that you can't convert GPT to MBR. Let's check them out.
In short, it is highly recommended that you choose the first method, as it allows you to perform the conversion without deleting all partitions on the GPT disk, while the other two methods require users to delete partitions or files on the disk. Therefore, of these three solutions, the first one is simpler and more user-friendly. You can now read the details of the three methods below.
Solution 1: Easily convert GPT to MBR with Partition Master – The Simple Version
Tool Partition Master is a perfect choice for computer beginners. As a third-party software, it can help users successfully convert disk from GPT to MBR in an operable and simple way. You just need to click through a few simple steps, and it will solve your problem.
Besides, it can help you convert disk from MBR to GPT without data loss, because you don't need to delete all partitions on the disk. If you're still worried about losing important data, it's recommended to back up crucial files before using the software.
Here are the detailed steps to convert your disk from GPT to MBR.
Step 1: Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on your computer, and then enter the "Disk Conversion" section.
Step 2: Select “Convert GPT to MBR,” then click “Next” to proceed.
Step 3: Select the GPT disk that you want to convert to MBR and click on “Convert” to start the conversion.
That's it for how to convert disk from GPT to MBR. This method should help you solve your problem. Actually, aside from this feature, Partition Master offers other useful features to users. If you're interested in the software or might need it to help with problems that may arise in the future, please read on:
- Convert NTFS to FAT32
- Create partition in Windows 10
- Assist users in converting MBR to GPT without reinstalling the operating system
All in all, Partition Master is a more effortless and secure choice than the following two methods for users to convert disk from GPT to MBR. If you don't consider yourself computer savvy, it's highly recommended that you choose this software.
Solution 2: Fix Can't Convert GPT to MBR with Diskpart - Difficult
The 2nd method is to use diskpart. This method requires deleting all partitions and files on the disk, so remember to back up important data before converting GPT disk to MBR with this method. If you don't want to delete partitions on the disk, we recommend referring to Solution 1.
And there are some steps to it:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, and type diskpart.
Step 2. Type list disk, and press Enter. Note the disk number of your GPT disk.
Step 3: Type select disk # (replace # with the number of your GPT disk) and press Enter.
Step 4. Type clean, and press Enter. This will remove all partitions and files from the GPT disk.
Step 5. Type convert mbr, and press Enter.
Step 6: Type exit to close the Command Prompt.
That's all for how to convert GPT disk to MBR with Diskpart. Generally, this method is more complicated and time-consuming. If you lack computer knowledge, approach this method with caution to avoid causing issues with your computer.
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Solution 3: Fix Can't Convert GPT to MBR via Disk Management - Moderate Difficulty
The last method is to resolve the problem of inability to convert disk from GPT to MBR via Disk Management. Similar to the second method, it also requires users to delete all partitions on the disk. Also, this method is quite complicated and not suitable for beginners. Hence, if you have no experience with Disk Management operations, it's recommended to choose the first method.
Before performing this operation, you still need to back up critical data on the GPT disk. Now, let's dive into the detailed steps of this method:
Step 1: In "This PC," click on "Manage" and then select "Disk Management."
Step 2: Open the target GPT disk and select each partition. Then choose Delete Volume.
Step 3: Select OK to confirm the volume deletion.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until all unique disk volumes have been removed.
Step 5: After all partitions have been removed, the entire disk should show as “Unallocated.” Right-click on the GPT disk and select Convert to MBR disk.
Convert to MBR disk: 
Step 6: Close the Disk Management option when the conversion is finished.
After converting the disk from GPT to MBR, you can create partitions on the now-MBR disk as you wish. All in all, this method is more difficult than the first one. You can choose either of them based on your computer literacy.
Conclusions
After converting GPT disk to MBR disk, you need to restart your computer system. So don't worry if your PC is turned off. After the restart, you need to enter BIOS mode.
All in all, using AOMEI Partition Assistant is a more straightforward and easier way to convert disk from GPT to MBR or vice versa than the above three methods. Even if you're not tech-savvy, you can handle it quickly.
This article will delve into why it's not feasible to convert a GPT disk to MBR and present three alternative solutions. Feel free to share this on social media to inform more people about how to switch from a GPT disk to an MBR disk.
How to Solve Common Issues with Converting GPT to MBR
This article has outlined some methods to address the issue of users being unable to convert GPT to MBR. If you have any other related questions, you can find answers here.
1. How do I enable MBR and GPT in BIOS?
You can follow some steps to set the correct MBR boot mode in the BIOS:
Step 1: Restart your computer and press to enter the BIOS menu.
Step 2. Select Boot tab, then choose Boot Mode. Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to select Legacy BIOS boot mode.
Step 3: Press the Enter key to confirm.
4. Press F10 to save the changes and exit BIOS.
2. Can I use GPT with Legacy BIOS?
A traditional MBR boot loader cannot recognize your GPT disk, and it requires an active partition and BIOS support to access the disk. Thus, you can't use GPT with Legacy BIOS.
3. How to convert MBR to GPT without losing data?
I recommend using the tool Partition Master, which can help you convert a disk from MBR to GPT. Here's the basic process: 1. **Download and install Partition Master**: Head over to the tools official website and download the Partition Master software. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your computer. 2. **Launch Partition Master**: Start the application once the installation is done. 3. **Check the current partition table type**: In Partition Master's main window, you'll see a list of disks connected to your system. Identify the disk you want to convert and look for its current partition table type (MBR or GPT) next to it. 4. **Begin the conversion**: If it's MBR, right-click on it and choose "Convert to GPT Disk" or a similar option. A warning might pop up, confirming the action since converting from MBR to GPT will wipe all data on the disk. Make sure you've backed up your files beforehand. 5. **Confirm the action**: Carefully read the warning and click "OK" or "Yes" to proceed with the conversion. 6. **Wait for the conversion**: The process will begin, and it could take a while depending on the disk size. Don't interrupt it or turn off your computer during this time. 7. **Verify the result**: After the conversion is complete, go back to Partition Master's main screen to check the new partition table type. The selected disk should now be listed as a GPT disk. Keep in mind that these are general steps, and the exact procedure might differ slightly based on the specific version of Partition Master you're using. Always be cautious when dealing with disk partitions and ensure you have backups of crucial data.
Step 1: Download and install Partition Master, and then run the program.
Step 2. Launch Drive Converter, select the MBR to GPT option, and click Next to proceed.
Step 3. Select the target MBR disk and click on Convert to start the conversion.