How can I convert GPT to MBR on Surface3 Pro? The machine comes with one 512GB SSD. There are three partitions or 1)"Windows RE Tools", 2) EFI system and 3)System. I am thinking of re-partitoning the drive using a third party utility to create a MBR system and restoring the backup onto the MBR partition. I want to restore only the system and not the "Windows RE Toos".
I am wondering if the backup taken from the GPT can be restored to a newly created MBR partition.
That's a bad idea, because Secure Boot only works in UEFI boot mode.
Secure Boot protect users from rootkits and other low-level malware attacks by blocking unauthorized (non-signed) executables and drivers from being loaded during the boot process.
Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style): link
genet:
Your reply indicates that if the GPT is converted to MBR I have to clean install the W8.1 but the Windows RE and the security features of UFEI are lost.
Cliff S:
I reviewed the linked reference. I could create a bootable USB flash drive to launch Windows RE. I wonder if this is compatible with MBR.
I am now convinced that converting GPT to MBR is not a good idea. What I want to do now with the drive is to resize the system partition to create a data partition. I assume that for GPT there is no limit of numbers of partitions which is not the case with MBR.
With MBR you can't use UEFI. But! If you have a Windows 8 install media for reinstalls AND a system imager(which you would probably use rather than a reinstall) like Macrium Reflect, you should be good to go, just like it was done with Windows 7. Just after you install 8 and have all your programs installed and everything set up like you want create your first image as a base(or last chance) and then make an image at least once a month and/or before major system changes/updates.
You'll also lose safe boot(checks for rootkits and unsigned software) and fast boot(that you're using an SSD no real loss there) without UEFI.
Converting and moving partitions can cause more problems and take more time then its worth. Just sync your settings and account on OneDrive back up your libraries, then go to BIOS and turn UEFI off and reinstall using custom and delete all the old partitions, either let windows do the partitioning or you can change them your self.
) without UEFI.