How to convert MBR to GPT without data loss. Part 1  

GPT or MBR? What is it? What is the difference? Which technology is better for a hard drive? These issues worry many PC users. Let’s have a closer look at the matter together.

How to convert MBR to GPT

MBR vs GPT: Which One Is Better for Your Disk?

Before using the disk, it must be partitioned. MBR and GPT are two different ways of storing information about disk partitions.


GUID Partition Table (GPT) is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical storage device used in a desktop or server PC, such as a hard disk drive or solid-state drive, using globally unique identifiers (GUID).

Let’s look at two ways to check which partition table your disk uses.

Using the Disk Management tool

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu or use the keyboard shortcut “Windows + X” on the keyboard and scroll down the menu.

Step 2. Click on “Disk Management”.

Step 3. Find the disk that you want to check. Right-click on it and select Properties.

Using the Disk Management tool

Step 4. Click the “Volumes” tab. In the “Partition Style” line, you will see either “Master Boot Record (MBR)” or “GUID Partition Table (GPT)”.

Hard drive properties - Volumes - Partition Style

Using Diskpart

Use the “diskpart” command in the Command Prompt window. Run the command prompt as administrator by clicking the Start button with the right mouse button or by pressing Windows + X shortcut and selecting “Command Prompt (Administrator)”.

You will see a table with a list of connected disks. If the disc uses GPT, the “*” symbol will appear in the column “GPT”. If the MBR standard is selected, the GPT column will be empty.

Using the Diskpart command in the Command Prompt window to convert MBR to GPT

Now you can create partitions using the disk management window and transfer your data to new partitions.

In the next article, we will tell you how to convert MBR to GPT and vice versa without losing data. But if it has already happened that your files are deleted, there are special utilities for recovery. Magic Partition Recovery recovers files and folders from damaged, inaccessible, deleted or formatted partitions in an automatic mode. Using complicated algorithms, the utility will scan the media and restore the original file system.

East Imperial Soft

October 4, 2017
