GUID 分区表 (GPT)是作为统一可扩展固件接口(Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)( UEFI ) 的一部分引入的。GPT提供了比Windows 10/8/7 PC中常见的传统MBR分区方法更多的选项。如果您有一个大容量的硬盘(Hard Drive)，那么您可能需要将 MBR 转换为 GPT(convert MBR to GPT)。这是因为MBR磁盘仅支持四个分区表条目。如果想要更多分区，则需要创建称为扩展分区的二级结构。
所以对于任何超过 2TB 的硬盘，我们都需要使用GPT分区样式。如果您有一个大于 2TB 大小的磁盘，除非您将其转换为GPT ，否则将不会使用剩余的磁盘空间。GPT磁盘上的分区数量不受临时方案的限制，例如由MBR 扩展引导记录(MBR Extended Boot Record)( EBR ) 定义的容器分区。
这是解释GPT格式的基本磁盘的图像。
请记住(Remember)，还有保护MBR区域以实现向后兼容性。有关GPT的更多信息，请参阅(GPT)统一可扩展固件接口(Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)( UEFI ) 规范（2.3 版）的第 5 章定义了GPT格式。
将 MBR 转换(Convert MBR)为 GPT 而不会丢失数据(Data Loss)
我们在将MBR(MBR)转换为GPT时面临的主要挑战之一是，只有在磁盘中不存在分区或卷的情况下才能从MBR转换为GPT，这使得在不丢失数据的情况下进行转换是不可能的。我仍然不知道为什么微软(Microsoft)没有为这个问题提供更简单的解决方案。
如何在Windows 10中从(Windows 10)MBR更改为GPT？
幸运的是，其中一些解决方案可以帮助您将MBR转换为 GPT，而不会丢失数据。
- 使用 Diskpart 将 MBR 转换为 GPT
- (Convert MBR)使用Gptgen(Gptgen)将 MBR 转换 为 GPT 而不会丢失数据
- (Convert MBR)使用第三方免费软件将 MBR 转换为 GPT 而不会丢失数据
- 使用 MBR2GPT 磁盘转换工具。
在您开始之前，无论如何，首先将您的数据备份(BACK UP YOUR DATA)到一个安全的地方总是一个好主意。
1. 使用Diskpart将 MBR 转换(Convert MBR) 为GPT
备份(Backup)所有数据，然后使用DISKPART命令。
- 打开命令提示符，键入DISKPART，然后按 Enter
- 然后输入list disk （记下要转换为GPT的磁盘编号）
- 然后输入select disk number of disk
- 最后，输入convert gpt。
2.使用Gptgen将 MBR 转换(Convert MBR) 为 GPT 而不会丢失数据
您可以 使用名为gptgen的命令行实用程序将(gptgen.)MBR转换为 GPT 而不会丢失数据。(MBR)
Gptgen 是一种工具，旨在非破坏性地转换以常见“MSDOS 风格” MBR 方案（包括扩展分区）分区的硬盘以使用GUID分区表 ( GPT )。
这是一个普遍的工具，但运行起来有点复杂。根据该工具的'read me'文件，该工具的语法是“ gptgen [-w] \\.\physicaldrive X”，
- 这里 X 是磁盘管理(Disk Management)控制台或DISKPART 实用程序的“ list disk ”命令报告的驱动器号。
- -w开关使 gptgen 将生成的GUID分区(GUID)表写入磁盘 - 否则，主表将写入名为“ primary.img ”的文件，辅助表将写入“ secondary.img ”，在目录中程序是从中调用的。
- 然后，您可以使用dd将表写入磁盘。
3.使用分区助手(Partition Assistant)将 MBR 转换(Convert MBR) 为 GPT 而不会丢失数据
最后一种方法是使用一个叫做傲梅分区助手精简版(AOMEI Partition Assistant Lite Edition)的工具。这是一款免费的多功能分区管理软件。此工具的功能可以帮助您将包含数据的磁盘转换为GPT 或MBR样式而不会丢失数据。
注意(NOTE)：现在免费版的Partition Assistant似乎不允许将MBR转换为GPT。
To convert a disk to MBR/GPT disk:
- 选择要转换的磁盘；
- 右键单击磁盘并选择Convert to GPT/MBR Disk；
- 单击“确定”以继续确认您的操作；
- 单击工具栏上的应用(Apply)按钮以提交更改。
4.使用MBR2GPT磁盘转换工具
使用内置MBR2GPT.exe工具将MBR转换为GPT ：
启动到Advanced Startup Options screen > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt。
执行以下命令验证驱动器是否满足要求：
mbr2gpt /validate
执行以下命令将驱动器从MBR转换为 GPT：
mbr2gpt /convert
重启你的电脑。
请注意，MBR2GPT只能在Windows 预安装环境(Windows Preinstallation Environment)中使用。要从您的Desktop使用它，您必须使用/allowFullOS来覆盖。
阅读有关Windows 10中新的(Windows 10)MBR2GPT 磁盘转换工具的更多信息。使用此内置工具，您可以安全、无损地将Windows 10计算机从旧版BIOS转换为UEFI磁盘分区。
提示(TIP)：查看这篇文章，其中涵盖了Windows 11/10上的各种MBR2GPT 失败错误(MBR2GPT failed errors)，解释了原因并为每种情况提供了分步解决方案。
- MBR2GPT磁盘布局验证失败
- MBR2GPT 找不到操作系统分区
- MBR2GPT无法为EFI系统分区找到空间
- MBR2GPT 非系统盘
- MBR2GPT无法安装新的引导文件
如何在不重新安装Windows的情况下将(Windows)MBR转换为 GPT ？
要在不重新安装Windows的情况下将(Windows)MBR转换为 GPT ，您必须使用第三方软件，例如傲梅分区助手(AOMEI Partition Assistant)。转换完成后，您必须在启动计算机之前启用UEFI启动模式，否则您的计算机可能无法启动。Windows 磁盘管理(Windows Disk Management)不提供任何在不丢失数据的情况下进行转换的方法。
我应该为Windows 10使用(Windows 10)MBR还是GPT？
(GPT)在设置驱动器方面，GPT比MBR更好。(MBR)GPT更现代，是所有计算机都在朝着的强大标准。如果您正在寻找与旧系统的兼容性，那么您可能必须继续使用MBR。
是否值得将 MBR 转换为 GPT？
如果您要迁移到现代系统，那么是的，这是值得的。文件系统提供更高的安全性，支持更大的分区大小和使用磁盘到GPT磁盘的磁盘大小。但是，Windows不提供没有主分区格式或数据丢失的转换，因此最好使用可以做到这一点的第三方软件。
MBR 可以与 UEFI 一起使用吗？
是的，UEFI支持使用传统模式的向后兼容性，但现代操作系统（例如Windows 11）可能不再支持MBR。因此，虽然它可能适用于旧系统，但不适用于未来的Windows版本。
MBR与UEFI的限制(Limitation)是什么？
如果您计划使用较大的磁盘空间，即超过 2.2 TB 的磁盘空间，MBR将无法工作，因为文件系统根据其设计不支持它。MBR使用 32 位值来描述开始和结束，因此限制为 2.2 TB。由于 UEFI 使用 64 位，它可以支持高达 9.4 泽字节 (ZB) 的磁盘空间；因此，GPT磁盘具有巨大的优势。
如果您知道任何其他安全地将MBR转换为GPT的方法，请在评论会话下与我们分享。
How to Convert MBR to GPT without Data Loss in Windows 11/10
The GUID Partition Table (GPT) was іntroduced aѕ a part of the Unified Extensible Firmwаre Intеrface (UEFI). GPT provides more options than the traditional MBR partitioning method that is common in Windows 10/8/7 PCs. If you have a large-sized Hard Drive, then you could want to convert MBR to GPT. This is because MBR disks support only four partition table entries. If one wants more partitions, one needs to create a secondary structure known as an extended partition.
So for any hard drive over 2TB, we need to use a GPT partition style. If you have a disk larger than 2TB size, the rest of the disk space will not be used unless you convert it to GPT. The number of partitions on a GPT disk is not constrained by temporary schemes, such as container partitions defined by the MBR Extended Boot Record (EBR).
Here is an image of the basic disk that explains the GPT format.
Remember there will also protective MBR area for backward compatibility. For more information on GPT, refer to chapter 5 of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) specification (version 2.3) defines the GPT format.
Convert MBR to GPT without Data Loss
One of the main challenges that we face while converting MBR to GPT is that conversion is possible from MBR to GPT only if there are no partitions or volumes present in the disk – which makes it impossible to convert without data loss. I still don’t know why Microsoft hasn’t offered a simpler solution to this problem.
How do I change from MBR to GPT in Windows 10?
Luckily there are some of these solutions that will help you in converting MBR to GPT without data loss.
- Convert MBR to GPT using Diskpart
- Convert MBR to GPT without data loss using Gptgen
- Convert MBR to GPT without losing data using a third-party freeware
- Use MBR2GPT Disk Conversion Tool.
Before you start, it is, in any case, always a good idea to BACK UP YOUR DATA first to a safe place.
1. Convert MBR to GPT using Diskpart
Backup all your data and then use the DISKPART command.
- Open command prompt, type DISKPART, and press Enter
- Then type in list disk (Note down the number of the disk that you want to convert to GPT)
- Then type in select disk number of disk
- Finally, type in convert gpt.
2. Convert MBR to GPT without data loss using Gptgen
You can convert MBR to GPT without losing data – using a command-line utility called gptgen.
Gptgen is a tool designed to non-destructively convert hard disks partitioned in the common, “MSDOS-style” MBR scheme (including extended partitions) to use a GUID partition table (GPT).
It’s a pervasive tool but a bit complicated to run. According to the tool’s ‘read me’ file, the syntax of the tool is “gptgen [-w] \\.\physicaldriveX”,
- Here X is the drive number reported by the Disk Management console or the “list disk” command of the DISKPART utility.
- The -w switch makes gptgen write the generated GUID partition tables to the disk – otherwise, the primary table will be written to a file named “primary.img“, and the secondary table to “secondary.img“, in the directory that the program was invoked from.
- You can then use dd to write the tables to the disk.
3. Convert MBR to GPT without losing data using Partition Assistant
The last method is using a tool called AOMEI Partition Assistant Lite Edition. It’s a free multifunction partition management software. This tool’s feature can help you convert a disk with data into GPT or MBR style without data loss.
NOTE: It appears that now the free version of Partition Assistant does not allow converting MBR to GPT.
To convert a disk to MBR/GPT disk:
- Select the disk to convert;
- Right-click the disk and select Convert to GPT/MBR Disk;
- Confirm your operation by clicking “OK” to continue;
- Click Apply button on the toolbar to commit the changes.
4. Use MBR2GPT Disk Conversion Tool
To convert MBR to GPT using the built-in MBR2GPT.exe tool:
Boot into Advanced Startup Options screen > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
Execute the following command to validate that the drive meets the requirements:
mbr2gpt /validate
Execute the following command to convert the drive from MBR to GPT:
mbr2gpt /convert
Restart your computer.
Do note that MBR2GPT can only be used from the Windows Preinstallation Environment. To use it from your Desktop, you have to use /allowFullOS to override.
Read more about the new MBR2GPT Disk Conversion Tool in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you can safely and non-destructively convert a Windows 10 computer from legacy BIOS to UEFI disk partitioning.
TIP: Take a look at this post which covers various MBR2GPT failed errors on Windows 11/10, explaining the causes and providing step-by-step solutions for each situation.
- MBR2GPT disk layout validation failed
- MBR2GPT cannot find OS partition
- MBR2GPT cannot find room for the EFI system partition
- MBR2GPT non system disk
- MBR2GPT cannot install new boot files
How Can I Convert MBR to GPT without Reinstalling Windows?
To convert MBR to GPT without reinstalling Windows, you must use a third-party software, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant. Once the conversion is done, you will have to enable UEFI boot mode before booting your computer, or else your computer might fail to boot. Windows Disk Management doesn’t offer any way to convert without loss of data.
Should I Use MBR or GPT for Windows 10?
GPT is better than MBR when it comes to setting up a drive. GPT is more modern and a robust standard that all computers are moving toward. If you are looking for compatibility with old systems, then you may have to continue with MBR.
Is it Worth Converting MBR to GPT?
If you are moving to a modern system, then yes, it is worth it. The file system offers more security, supports a larger partition size and disk size using disk to GPT disk. However, Windows doesn’t offer a conversion without a format or data loss of the primary partitions, so it’s better to use third-party software that can do it.
Can MBR work with UEFI?
Yes, UEFI supports backward compatibility using the legacy mode, but it is possible that the modern OS, such as Windows 11, may not support MBR anymore. So while it may work with the old system, it will not work with the future Windows versions.
What is the Limitation of MBR vs. UEFI?
If you plan to use a large disk size, i.e., more than 2.2 TB of disk space, MBR will not work because the file system doesn’t support it based on its design. MBR uses 32-Bit values to describe the start and end and hence gets limited at 2.2 TB. Since UEFI uses 64-Bit, it can support up to 9.4 zettabytes (ZB) of disk space; hence there is a huge advantage of GPT disks.
If you know of any other method to safely convert MBR to GPT conversion, please share it with us under the comments session.
