How to Convert GPT to MBR Without Operating System

If you are installing Windows system like Windows 10/8/7 but received the error message "The selected disk is of GPT partition style...", stay calm. This page includes two direct solutions on how to convert GPT to MBR without Windows OS. Follow up either method here to get rid of it on your own:

# 1. Convert GPT to MBR without Operating System via Bootable USB Drive

# 2. Convert GPT to MBR without Operating System using CMD

Q&A: Convert GPT to MBR without Operating System

Stay chill if you are having a similar issue as listed here:

The Reasons for Converting GPT to MBR can be various, including:

1. ✔️The 32-bit Windows operating system can only boot from an MBR disk;
2. ✔️ The computer motherboard doesn't support UEFI/EFI mode;
3. ✔️The operating system you want to use is Windows XP or even older;
4. ✔️Error message says, "The selected disk is of the GPT partition style" while trying to install Windows;

Usually, when your PC is bootable, you can directly convert GPT to MBR by using Disk Management or CMD. However, switching partition style from GPT to MBR without a Windows system installed on your computer is no longer a simple task. Reliable partition manager software like EaseUS Partition Master is a perfect solution for non-technical users to follow (available in GUide 1).

Experienced Windows owners can jump to follow the second guide to learn how to convert GPT to MBR without OS via CMD in Guide 2. Also, don't forget to share this page online to help more people switch their disk from GPT to MBR without OS:

 

#1. Convert GPT to MBR Without Operating System via Bootable USB

Professional partition manager software - EaseUS Partition Master enables you to convert GPT to MBR without Windows OS on your computer in two steps.

First, create a bootable disk (via USB disk or CD) on another healthy computer, then connect the bootable USB drive to the target PC and boot computer from the USB bootable disk. 

Second, run the EaseUS partition manager to convert GPT to MBR without access to the operating system. No data loss will happen during the process!

Check the detailed steps:

Step 1. Connect an empty USB drive to your computer and launch EaseUS Partition Master. Go to Bootable Media, select "Create bootable media" and click "Next" to continue.

Step 2. Create EaseUS Partition Master bootable drive. 

Select the USB and click "Create" to create the EaseUS bootable media to your USB drive.

Step 3. Connect the WinPE bootable disk to the target computer, and set to boot it from EaseUS USB bootable media.

Restart PC and press F2/Del to enter BIOS. Set to boot the PC from "Removable Devices" (bootable USB disk) beyond Hard Drive. Press "F10" to save and exit.

Step 4. Once the computer enters EaseUS Partition Master, go to Disk Converter and select "Convert GPT to MBR", click "Next" to continue.

Step 5. Select the target GPT disk that you want to convert to MBR and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

Apart from the disk conversion, EaseUS Partition Master also supports converting FAT to NTFS and converting a logical partition to primary or primary partition to logical. 

#2. Convert GPT to MBR Without Operating System Using CMD

As for skilled computer users who don't want to use a third-party partition manager software, you can convert GPT to MBR during Windows installation using CMD command.

If you are reinstalling or fresh-installing Windows and need to convert GPT to MBR, follow the next steps to complete the task:

Step 1. Plugin the Windows installation CD/DVD, and start to install Windows. Meanwhile, press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Type diskpart in the cmd and hit Enter. Click "Yes" to open Diskpart.

Step 3. Type list disk and press "Enter". Note the disk number that you want to convert to MBR.

Step 4. Type select disk 1 (Replace 1 with the disk number of the disk you need to convert).

Step 5. Type clean and press "Enter". It will delete all partitions and data on the disk. Make sure you have made a backup.

Step 6.Type convert mbr press "Enter". It will convert the empty GPT partition style to MBR.

After this, you may continue installing Windows on your converted MBR disk by following the on-screen instructions on your computer. 

Bonus Tip: Convert MBR to GPT Without Operating System

Alongside how to convert GPT to MBR without Windows OS, another big request is how to convert MBR to GPT without the operating system. When attempting to create more than four primary partitions on your disk, making full use of a disk with more than 2TB of space, or installing Windows on an EFI system, all this requires you to make your target disk is of GPT partition style.

To do so, you may use the same approaches in this article for help. Again, converting with Diskpart will remove partitions and data on your disk.

✅To avoid data loss, you may either back up data ahead of time or use EaseUS Partition Master for help. 

• If you decide to let EaseUS partition manager software help, here are the detailed steps to convert MBR to GPT without operating system:

Also remember that when you cannot boot up the OS, the creating bootable USB procedure should be done on another healthy computer. 

Step 1. Connect an empty USB flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc to a healthy computer, launch EaseUS Partition Master, click "Bootable Media" and select "Create bootable media". Click "Next" to continue.

Step 2. Choose the USB or CD/DVD and click "Create" to start create the bootable media.

Step 3. Connect the USB with bootable media to your PC and restart the computer from EaseUS bootable media.

Press F2/Del to enter BIOS and set the computer to boot the PC from "Removable Devices" (bootable USB disk) or "CD-ROM Drive" (bootable CD/DVD). Press "F10" to save and exit to restart PC into EaseUS bootable media.

Step 4. Once your PC enter EaseUS Partition Master, go to Disk Converter and select "Convert MBR to GPT". Click "Next" to continue.

Step 5. Select the target MBR disk you tend to convert to GPT and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

• If you choose to use Diskpart CMD command during the Windows OS installation, remember to change the command from convert mbr to convert gpt after selecting the target disk.

FAQS of GPT to MBR or MBR to GPT Disk Conversion

As for inexperienced users, you may still have some doubts about the disk conversion between GPT and MBR. We collected 5 questions that are also asked by other people on Google Chrome and we list a brief answer below each question. We Hope these answers may also help you out. 

1. Can GPT be converted to MBR?

Yes. Basically, the partition style of a hard drive can be changed from GPT to MBR or vice versa. It means that you may convert your disk to the desired partition style - GPT/MBR on your computer.

2. How do I change from MBR to GPT in Windows 10?

There are three ways that can help you change hard drive partition style from MBR to GPT in Windows 10. 

1. #1. EaseUS Partition Master
2. #2. Disk Management
3. #3. CMD command

EaseUS Partition Master to convert the disk from MBR to GPT without deleting any partition and data. If you use the latter two methods as shown on this page, you can also convert your disk to GPT by deleting all partitions, remove all your personal data. Therefore, make sure you back up data in advance.

If you deleted a partition without backup, you can perform lost partition recovery with the help of EaseUS Partition Master.

To convert an OS disk to GPT, check whether your computer supports UEFI boot in BIOS at first. Next, apply EaseUS Partition Master with a bootable USB to convert MBR to GPT as the way shown on this page.

3. Will I lose data while converting disk from GPT to MBR or MBR to GPT?

If you use Disk Management or Diskpart CMD command to convert disk, the answer will be yes. It will delete all partitions and data on your disk before changing the disk partition style.

If you apply a third-party partition manager software like EaseUS Partition Master for help, it will be no. No data will lose while converting disk between MBR and GPT. 

4. How can I migrate OS from MBR disk to GPT SSD disk?

Basically, migrating OS from MBR disk to GPT disk is impossible in a manual way. Fortunately, EaseUS Partition Master with its migrate OS to SSD/HDD feature can 

5. How can I partition my hard drive without an operating system?

Usually, a manual partition hard drive method can not work if the operating system doesn't boot up. Good news! EaseUS Partition Master with a bootable USB drive is capable of helping you out. With it, you can partition a hard drive without OS, format hard drive without OS, and even wipe a hard drive without OS.