Converting Partition Table Styles
Using the CONVERT command, DiskPart can help you change partition table styles from MSR to GPT or from GPT to MSR. Changing partition table styles is useful when you
Move disks between X86-based computers and IA64-based computers
Receive new disks that are formatted for the wrong partition table style
You can only convert partition table styles on empty disks, however. This means the disks must either be new or newly formatted. You can, of course, empty the disk by removing any existing partitions or volumes on the disk that you want to convert.
Note
DiskPart provides the CLEAN command for wiping out all the volume or partition information on a disk. When you give a disk focus and then use the CLEAN command, all partition or volume information on the disk is removed. On MBR disks, this means that the MBR partition and hidden sector information are overwritten. On GPT disks, the GPT partition information, including the protected MBR, is overwritten. You can also use CLEAN ALL to specify that each and every sector on the disk should be set to zero.
Caution
If you haven't backed up the data on the drives you want to convert, don't delete any partitions or volumes. Doing so will clear all data on the disk.
The procedure you use to convert the partition table style is as follows:
Invoke DiskPart by typing diskpart at the command prompt.
Select the disk to work with to give it focus, such as
DISKPART> select disk 2
Convert the disk, as follows:
To convert a disk from MBR to GPT, type convert gpt at the command prompt.
To convert a disk from GPT to MBR, type convert mbr at the command prompt.
