GPT section style. GPT Disk Partition Style

Quite often when installing a new "OSES" on an "empty" computer or as an additional owner of large-capacity HDDs, a problem arises when the system reports that the installation of the OS in the selected partition is impossible, since one of the attributes uses the disk partitioning style GPT. What this term is and how to solve such a problem will now be considered. So, let's get started.

What is the style of the GPT partition?

First, let's define what the term is. In fact, there is nothing complicated in his understanding.

If you specify that the disks selected for the operating system installation have a GPT partition style, this only indicates that they have an attribute that allows them to work with volumes greater than 2 TB, and there is a new partition table. If there are standard MBR partitions, the OS itself simply does not recognize a larger volume, and hard disk partitioning is strictly limited to only four virtual partitions. To bypass these restrictions, the GPT section style is used. But here there are their pitfalls.

The style of the GPT partitions, the initial conditions for installing the OS in them

To ensure the correct installation of the operating system in the event that the selected disk has a GPT partition style, at least two initial conditions are necessary:

• Computer with UEFI BIOS support;
• 64-bit Windows version 7 and higher.

If there is support for UEFI, Windows is installed without problems into the GPT partition. If the motherboard does not have such support, even if you try to install a 32-bit system, an error message will be issued in this section. You can work around the problem by converting the partition into a standard MBR, as will be discussed below.

Error correction options

So, if the installation error does appear, you can use several methods to solve this problem. Among all the options are two main ones:

• Setting the initial parameters of the UEFI BIOS to prepare the system for installing the OS in the GPT partition;
• Converting GPT partition style to MBR at the OS installation stage;
• Preparing the disk in the settings of the existing operating system.

Using UEFI BIOS settings and the system's graphical interface

The first option assumes that we have a GPT partition style, the initial conditions are met, and the installation of a new OS will be performed on it.

To start, when you start the computer system, you need to enter the BIOS UEFI settings (this is done using special keys or their combinations). If you already have Windows 8 or its version 8.1 installed on your computer or laptop, you can use the universal Charms panel.

In the BIOS settings, you should set the following parameters:

• Downloading UEFI instead of CSM (BIOS Setup or BIOS Features section);
• SATA hard drive mode with AHCI parameter instead of IDE (Peripherals section);
• Disabling Secure Boot (exclusively for Windows 7 and below).

After reboot, an error when installing the system from the optical media will no longer appear. However, if you plan to install the installation from a bootable USB flash drive, it is recommended that you overwrite it so that it supports UEFI.

GPT Partition Style: Convert to MBR when installing OS

As for the conversion, it can be done at the installation stage of the system. You can change the GPT partition style to a standard MBR using the command line, which is initially called via Shift + F10 (for some laptops, Shift + Fn + F10).

In the resulting console, the following commands should alternately be written with the input key pressed after each of them (without the punctuation marks indicated in the list):

• Diskpart;
• List disk;
• Select disk X (X - the letter assigned to the disk or partition);
• Clean;
• Convert mbr;
• Create partition primary;
• Active;
• Format fs = ntfs quick;
• Assign;
• Exit.

After the commands have been completed, you can start re-installing the same 32-bit operating system into the converted partition without any problems. Keep in mind that during the conversion process all data in the selected partition will be destroyed.

Convert to MBR in the installed system

If you already have an installed OS on your computer, you can also convert to MBR. For this, there are two tools: the system's graphical interface and the command line.

In the first case, right-clicking on the computer icon brings up a context menu where the control line is selected, after which the transition to the disk management section is performed . Right-clicking on the selected GPT-disk or partition opens a sub-menu, which uses the command "Convert to MBR-disk".

Note: You must first delete all partitions on the disk that you plan to convert (use the command to delete the volume in the context menu that is called by right clicking on the selected disk).

In the second case, the command console (cmd) from the "Run" menu (Win + R) is first called, then the following commands are sequentially assigned to it (as before, without any punctuation marks with the input key after each of them):

• Diskpart;
• List disk;
• Select disk X (assigned drive letter);
• Clean;
• Convert mbr.

After all the command processes are complete, you can install a new operating system. And the error message will not appear any more, since the GPT section style attribute is not present as such.

Conversion to MBR without loss of data

To simplify your work and not to use too witty means of Windows, you can prefer third-party powerful utilities.

Most experts and experts in this field agree that the most suitable are software packages like Minitool Partition Wizard, Acronis Disk Director and the like. The conversion technologies are very similar, but working with such utilities is much easier. It is believed that even a novice user will understand them.

The result

It remains to be noted that if there is support for the initial conditions, it is better to use the GPT-disk, making simple settings in the UEFI BIOS. In all other cases, you can not do without converting to MBR. And if the primary installation of Windows is performed, it is better to change the section immediately. In the case of a re-installation or replacement of the OS, the second method is also suitable.

And one more detail. When purchasing or installing a new hard disk with a capacity of more than 2 TB, it is recommended to make sure beforehand that the entire computer system meets the initial parameters, and the motherboard supports UEFI. Only in this case is it guaranteed to work correctly. And this applies not only to installing the OS, but also the subsequent saving of user information on it.