Is It OK to Convert GPT to MBR While Windows 10 Is Installed? Any Ideas?
I'm very curious about this one. I have a UEFI Laptop, Lenovo Ideapad 320 to be exact, and the hard drive partition is in GPT format. Can I use a third party to change the partition format from GPT to MBR without losing data? How to convert?
Best Answered by
Roxanne· Answered on May 11, 2023
Yes, it is Ok to convert GPT to MBR while Windows 10 is installed. In response to your question, I will introduce the background information on the two partition styles. As we know, MBR and GPT vary in the supported operating system. As a newer partition scheme, GPT can be read and written by almost all higher leveled Windows, including Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista. As for MBR, it can be compatible with Windows 10/8/7/XP. Therefore, your installed Windows 10 will still work after the conversion. This post will offer a guide on converting the disk and disabling the UEFI boot mode.
To protect your data and reserved partitions, I highly recommend EaseUS Partition Master, a solid disk conversion tool that can convert GPT to MBR without effort. With the powerful tools of EaseUS Partition Master, you can fix your partition problem in various safe and effective ways. However, in case of accidental data damage, please back up your valuable data in advance.
Here are the steps for using EaseUS Partition Master to convert the disk to MBR:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master on the PC and open it.
Step 2. Go to the "Disk Converter" tool and choose "Convert GPT to MBR," and click "Next."
Step 3. Select the target GPT disk and click "Convert" to proceed.
MBR disk is compatible with Legacy boot mode. Hence, after successfully converting your GPT drive to MBR, you need to change your BIOS settings from UEFI to Legacy.
Here is how to disable the UEFI mode:
- Restart the PC and press the F2 key to open the "BIOS Setup Utility" screen.
- Click on "Boot" under the "Boot or System Configuration" section and hit "Enter."
- Choose "UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode" and press "Enter."
- Select BIOS mode and press "Enter."
You can check if the computer is using Legacy BIOS now by the below link:
More Information: How to Know If Windows Using UEFI or Legacy
