Microsoft KB Archive/325344

= HOW TO: Change a GUID Partition Table Disk into a Master Boot Record Disk in Windows Server 2003 =

PSS ID Number: 325344

Article Last Modified on 11/7/2003

-

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q325344





For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 282793.

IN THIS TASK

 * SUMMARY
 * How to Change a GUID Partition Table Disk into a Master Boot Record Disk
 * Use Disk Management
 * Use a Command Line
 * Notes
 * REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to change a GUID partition table (GPT) disk into a master boot record (MBR) disk (64-bit only) in Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Important You can change a disk from GPT to MBR on an Intel Itanium-based computer, assuming that the disk is empty. Make sure that you back up all your data and delete all partitions and volumes before you convert the disk.

back to the top

How to Change a GUID Partition Table Disk into a Master Boot Record Disk
You can change a GPT disk into a MBR disk either by using Disk Management or by using the command line. To do so, use either of the following methods.

Use Disk Management

 * 1) Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management. Alternatively, open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that contains the Disk Management snap-in.
 * 2) In the console tree, click Disk Management.
 * 3) Right-click the GPT disk that you want to change into an MBR disk, and then click Convert to MBR disk.

back to the top

Use a Command Line

 * 1) Click Start, and then click Run.
 * 2) In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
 * 3) At a command prompt, type diskpart, and then press ENTER.
 * 4) At the diskpart command prompt, type list disk, and then press ENTER.
 * 5) Make a note of the disk number of the disk that you want to convert to an MBR disk.
 * 6) At the diskpart command prompt, type select disk  (where   is the number that you recorded in step 5), and then press ENTER.
 * 7) At the diskpart command prompt, type convert mbr, and then press ENTER.

back to the top