Is GPT UEFI not compatible with W8?

[churin]

I am new to GPT UEFI. I recently assembled a new UEFI-capable machine and transferred the MBR-based system to this machine from an old machine. The transferred system is a multi-boot system for W10, W8.1, and W7. After confirming W10 and W8.1 work as in the old machine(W7 did not because the new CPU does not support W7), the drive type is converted from the MBR to the GPT. It is found that W10 boots but W8.1 did not even its partition is set active.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

I believe it is possible although all my WIN 8.1 installations are MBR. This link could be of some help: Install windows 8.1 in only one partition ( GPT )

 

[churin]

Thanks for your reply.
I am primarily interested in using Windows installation(W10/W8 dual boot) so that I do not have to re-install application software.
I have tried a third-party utility software to convert the MBR drive to the GPT drive, but it did not work as reported.
Since my post, I have found that I can install W8.1 on a GPT drive. So now the answer to the title of this thread is Yes.
I attempted to convert the MBR drive on which only W8.1 is installed to the GPT, but after conversion, the W8.1 failed to boot.

Anyone knows of utility software to convert the drive type between MBR and GTP?
BTW: EaseUS Partition Master is the one I tried.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

I've done this for clients using different software. I am not sure about free versions but the one I like to use is MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate. If you have a spare drive I recommend making a drive image before you begin in the event that the proceedure fails. There is a possibility that you may have to bite the bullet and simply reinstall Windows 8.1 to a freshly formatted GPT drive. There is another tool you might wish to try that will likely allow you the ability to boot to your existing drive, at least to recover your data. It is called EASY BCD and you can get it for free. I hope this helps.

 

[Bree]

Anyone knows of utility software to convert the drive type between MBR and GTP?

I am not sure about free versions but the one I like to use is MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate.

The free version of MiniTool Partition Wizard should work too. There's a tutorial for this on Ten Forums.

Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10

How to Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

 

[droniexx]

Thanks for your reply.
I am primarily interested in using Windows installation(W10/W8 dual boot) so that I do not have to re-install application software.
I have tried a third-party utility software to convert the MBR drive to the GPT drive, but it did not work as reported.
Since my post, I have found that I can install W8.1 on a GPT drive. So now the answer to the title of this thread is Yes.
I attempted to convert the MBR drive on which only W8.1 is installed to the GPT, but after conversion, the W8.1 failed to boot.

Anyone knows of utility software to convert the drive type between MBR and GTP?
BTW: EaseUS Partition Master is the one I tried.

 

[droniexx]

Hi Churin
I am with you on dual boot Although I now have a laptop with three drives. How hever getting back to Dual Boot
First I found I needed to UEFI capability on my laptop. Then what was obvious I patitioned my SSD 1TB drive into three partions Two partitions of 40 GB each One for Win 10 Pro one for win 8.1 pro I made two USB with win versions and had the formated to GPT (fat 32 standard) the Both versions
gave no problems. That is the formula for perfect operating system.

 

[Bree]

I patitioned my SSD 1TB drive into three partions Two partitions of 40 GB each One for Win 10 Pro one for win 8.1 pro..... That is the formula for perfect operating system.

Not quite. Microsoft now require OEMs to provide a minimum of 64GB storage before they will licence a device to be supplied with Windows 10 pre-installed. This is why you no longer see Windows PCs with 32GB eMMC drives on the market. While 32GB is sufficient to install and run Windows 10, it is not sufficient space for a feature update, there won't be enough space for the windows.old folder. Your 40GB would likely have problems down the line too. I'd recommend making your partitions a little larger at 64GB.

And should you consider Windows 11, the installer will refuse to install if there less than 64GB storage available.

 

[churin]

I jumped to the link in the post by Bree. The link for my present thread is as follows and I appreciate your participation:

Dual boots from a single physical drive - Windows 10 Help Forums

This thread is continued from https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...ml#post2414565 zbook: I did not understand your instructions. Anyway, I have created this thread. I have an internal or external drive with free space. NavyLCDR: I ran the command and co

www.tenforums.com

 

[droniexx]

Not quite. Microsoft now require OEMs to provide a minimum of 64GB storage before they will licence a device to be supplied with Windows 10 pre-installed. This is why you no longer see Windows PCs with 32GB eMMC drives on the market. While 32GB is sufficient to install and run Windows 10, it is not sufficient space for a feature update, there won't be enough space for the windows.old folder. Your 40GB would likely have problems down the line too. I'd recommend making your partitions a little larger at 64GB.

And should you consider Windows 11, the installer will refuse to install if there less than 64GB storage available.

 

[droniexx]

Hi Bree
Thanks for your iformation regarding partition side. My son who is in it for american company told me the same.
He told me because I have a 1TB drive it would make sense to partition a min of 80 GB which I have. Again thanks for for your input.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

Not to sound too critical, but a 80GB thumb drive these days is considered small, let alone an 80GB hard drive. It has been my experience that in most cases a hard drive under 100GB is a recipe for disaster. If you are putting an o/s on a drive that size, especially a Windows o/s, this can be especially true. Windows is well known for their elaborate updates and bloatware and disk cleanup can only go so far before you run into a whole new set of issues with it. In addition to this, if you wish to save personal files and other files on the drive you could easily run out of room fast so there is a little "future proofing" to consider here. I tend to draw the line on 120GB because of the popularity of SSDs but even then this is not my preference.

I am a big fan of multi-booting and some of the builds I have done have as many as 4 different operating systems on them. They work flawlessly. Howbeit, in the case of multiboot builds I highly recommend getting away from multibooting on a single drive. Multiboot on a single drive is considerbly more risky than using separate hard drives and designating one o/s per drive. Besides, if anything should happen to the drive then you also risk losing all operating systems, which, imo, rather defeats the purpose of having a multi-boot in the first place.

If you are working with partitions this size I highly recommend putting your operating systems on separate drives. SSDs are relatively inexpensive these days and even a 120GB SSD will suffice compared to what you're currently using. Windows 8 on one SSD and Windows 10 on another will afford you better security, drive longevity, and stability when done correctly. It is relatively simple to image your operating systems to separate drives with the tools you have. Plus, you can make short cuts to your desktop on both operating systems to your 1TB drive, which you can use for storage, archives, etc. giving you access to the data via either operating system. I hope this helps.*

Hi Bree
Thanks for your iformation regarding partition side. My son who is in it for american company told me the same.
He told me because I have a 1TB drive it would make sense to partition a min of 80 GB which I have. Again thanks for for your input.

* Caveat - My advice does assume that you have room for a couple of extra drives and the hardware to connect them. Laptops can be very limiting at times but most laptops these days usually afford the user at least enough room for one more drive, be it NVMe, SSD, or mechanical drive.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

Suddenly things just got complicated.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

I find it Ironic that the thread in the Win 10 group concludes on the first page of that thread with the same advice I offered here on April 21rst. If the laptop handles three drives why all the fuss about keeping the dual boot on the same drive? Separate drives are much more practical and imo easier to configure.

 

[churin]

I have been using a triple boot system on one physical drive for over ten years. I have 5 different versions of the systems. Therefore, a system using multiple physical drives is no option for me.
At the W10 group, there is no response for two days now so I have to continue the troubleshooting on my own.