MBR and GPT demonstration on Windows

This video will look at how to configure drives to use the GPT and MBR partition tables on Windows 8 and Windows 2012. Check out itfreetraining.com for more of our always free training videos. This will be done using the GUI and the command line.
Download the PDF handout itfreetraining....
Demonstration Windows 8
1. The disk management tool can be run by itself or as part of computer management. To open computer manager, open Windows Explorer, right click on computer and select the option manage.
2. Disk Management can be found under storage in Computer management. This tool will show you all the drives that are currently connected to that computer and allow you to perform administration on them like creating partitions and formatting.
3. When a new drive is added to Windows, this will appear in Disk Management as not initialized. The process of initializing the drive writes a signature on the drive. This means that if the drive is moved to a different controller inside the computer, Windows will recognize this as the same drive even though it is on a different controller. If the drive is moved to a different computer, Windows will be able to recognize this as a foreign drive to that computer and is up to administrator to decide if they want to use it.
4. To initialize a drive, right click the drive and select the option Initialize Disk. This will show you all the drives on the system that are currently not initialized. The process of initializing the drive also creates a partition table. On this screen you will need to decide if you want to use the MBR or GPT partition table. If you have multiple drives in the system that have not been initialized, it is just a matter of selecting the drives that you want initialized and they will all be initialized at once.
5. If the drive data does not have any partitions created on it, you can right click the drive and you will get the option to convert it to GPT or MBR - the opposite of the current partition table used on that drive at the time. If partitions are on the drive, the option will be grayed out and you will need to delete these partitions before you can use this option.
6. If you want to see which partition table that is currently being used on that drive, right click the drive and select properties. In the properties, select the volume tab. On the volume tab the partition table will be listed next to partition style.
Demonstration Windows Server 2012
1. To access disk management in Windows Server 2012, open Server Manager and then select Computer Management from the tools menu. Once in computer management select Disk Management under Storage.
2. Even though Disk Management will essentially work the same in any editions of Windows, Windows Server 2012 has a policy that is set differently than on the desktop versions of Windows. When a new drive is added to Windows Server 2012 you will see a message stating "Offline (The disk is offline because of policy set by an administrator". In order to use the drive, the administrator will have to right click the drive and select online. This is to prevent a drive accidently being added to the server and causing unexpected results. Essentially it adds an extra step and adds a little bit more security to the server. The biggest reason for this is the SAN (Storage Area Network) could share the same drive to multiple servers. If two servers access the same drive at the same time this can cause problems and is not recommended when it can be avoided.
3. To change the disk policy in Windows Server 2012, this needs to done using DiskPart. This can be run by opening a command prompt and running DiskPart.
4. To see the current SAN policy in DiskPark run the command SAN. To change the policy enter in SAN POLICY=OnlineAll or SAN POLICY=OfflineShared.
5. Disk Management can also be run as a separate application rather than as part of Computer Management. To do this, run diskmgmt.msc from run.
6. If you right click a drive on Disk Management you have the option to online or offline the drive. If the drive is online, you also have the option "Initialize Disk" if the disk has not been initialized before. You will then be asked if you want to use an MBR or GPT partition table.
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References
"Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 Exam Ref 70-410" pg 42-43

[@shejc]

This was.. quite possibly the most clearly explained, thorough, and clearly spoken video, handling even potential issues that one might encounter. I rarely comment on videos and rarely like videos, but you've absolutely earned it here. Thank you so much for the video and best wishes to you guys.

[@BijouBakson]

It looks like the producer of this whole page has gone to do other business. Either way, I just wanted to show how I am grateful for this amazing work. Helps me a lot in my self studies, and even if it's 6 years old, it still works with today's tech. Much appreciated.

[@itfreetraining]

Glad you like the video. We have started releasing CompTIA A+ video and will be working on that for a while.

[@Aaravos1996]

Data error (cyclic redundancy check). when initializing (tried both options)

[@johnpaulbercades6138]

Same problem

[@siddharthjain4814]

My harddrive is 2TB Seagate . If i click first on MBR, what will happen to my data on the disk ? second, can i use my hard drive after initializing it , before converting into GPT ? Do i need to convert it into GPT ?

[@himanshukhare1992]

If you got solution for your problem please do let me know!!!

[@js3863]

i have old laptop with wind10 but cannot load windows with error winload.exe , then i try to put in other pc using external hd then it showing not initialized disk. to MBR or GPT ,if i initialize it maybe my data will lose. i dont want tolose it how to repair it without losing data

[@bsyoutube2649]

by default my option is GPT and my hard disk is only 1TB.. which one to choose?

[@itfreetraining]

GPT will do well. Go ahead and select that.

[@jasoncummings7052]

Hardware: HP Proliant ML380e Gen8 Four Drive bays Requirement: Upgrade storage Four 4TB disks were installed and configured for RAID 10 which gives 7TB storage Problem: While I could use Diskpart to convert GPT partition once I refresh the disk configuration installation it goes back to MBR. Pointless installing Windows OS is hardware can't see above 2TB. UEFI may not be supported although specs of hardware claims it can support GPT. Searches did not help. Solution: Does anyone have similar problem/resolution would like to share. (Unfortunately can't show screenshots here)

[@jdhsjjjsjjjjndjsh6515]

My disk external 2 tb this head ACH starts when I was played vlc movie file directly from the external drive , and ones a sudden vlc hang up accursed , error appears saying " Format the drive Format. Cansel I tab cancel Since then the disk eating my brain , and wasting my money on buying cables, Inclosure , pcb card etc , but damned unallocated space won't go . I m not asking a solution ok ,it can be very complicated for you to telling me, instead I have an idea , but required your assistance , Idea is ( because of the offline disk problem )my disk 1 initialize option greyed out but when I changed the pcb port card from a new one ,in computer management initialize option is now available ,but this is just for teasing me, that because ones clicking it choices mbr gpt again , it seems if I buy 2 tb hard disk internal then through sata cable defining this sec 2 tb as a slave disk and after connected the external drive first run Aiomy software to restore data in to the 2 tb slave and then do the testing ? All my very important stuff is inside of that hack thing ,we trust on them then it was there responsibility to create technology good very good or at least address is on the back of those external hard drives box that you should buy another to back up your files just in case the loss of your data , there isn't any advices ! I wonder we all are playing each other life's

[@itfreetraining]

Sorry for taking so long to response to this. If the hard disk keeps appearing and disappearing from disk management it sounds like there is a problem with the hard disk. Sometimes the hard disk will semi work and thus appear as uninitialized in Windows. When you try to initialize it the process will fail. Generally a problem with the hard disk. If you listen to the hard disk it may be making a clicking noise. Sometimes the hard disk may work and other times won't. In this case it is recommend to do your best to get the data off the hard disk and throw the hard disk away.

[@arcticjoe1142]

I have a problem... I recently wiped an old Windows 7 machine, and am now trying to re-image it with Windows 7 again so I can give it to a different user. I have the OEM disk, and am trying to install it from the internal CD/DVD ROM using the legacy boot option. But I keep getting "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style." So I back out, restart the PC, and go into the boot manager and select boot from internal CD/DVD ROM using UEFI boot instead. It lets me proceed. The Windows files start to copy and then expand, but then it just jumps to "Invalid partition table!" I am stuck. Please help.

[@iansirrell2843]

my hdd shows in Disc management, when i check properties mbr and guid are not there and it says not applicable when i try to anitialize all i get is a messige saying access denied. Please help me. I have tried so many things but cant get it to work. Its a 1tb hdd and theres nothing on it so i dont care about a fomating method. HELP !!!!

[@ajishb03]

hello... What is OEM partition?

[@itfreetraining]

These are created by the supplier of the computer. Usually contain data to restore the system if it gets corrupt or other tools.

[@RajeevRanjan-db5ic]

Data error (cyclic redundancy check). when initializing (tried both options)

[@Ivan-js1qn]

Excellent presentation and explanation , thanks!! :)

[@itfreetraining]

Glad it was helpful!

[@beargrills8031]

I have 2 tb hdd what i have to choose mbr or gpt , gpt selected defaultly

[@itfreetraining]

MBR will work with 2TB. Larger than 2TB you should use GPT. MBR has good compatibly with older hardware.

[@Jaa4ful]

I have a 4TB harddrive, I am installing vista, It will only install on the first 2TB, the rest of the harddrive partition space is showing as 1678.02GB unallocated under disk management, when I right click on the 1678.02GB unallocated my only options are properties and help, new simple volume is grayed out, how can i make the 1678.02 unallocated space available? Here is how its showing under disk management Disk 0 Basic 3726.02GB Online c 2048.00GB NTFS Health 1678.02GB Unallocated

[@starnutron6147]

try gpt partition it will help you

[@johnkennady518]

Dear sir When I click initialize it's showing fatel error ...... Kindly guide me sir ......

[@itfreetraining]

It is may be a hardware problem. I would download some of the troubleshooting tools from the manufacturer. This will tell you if there is a problem with the hard disk.

[@raghavendranemali.9998]

how to 4TB HDD create 2 partition (UEFI-asus Z97 pro wi-fi motherboard)

[@itfreetraining]

We are looking in to revising this video to cover this issue. Refer to the following article on Linux how to create a partition greater then 2TB www.cyberciti.biz/tips/fdisk-unable-to-create-partition-greater-2tb.html Also refer to this document form Microsoft on which operating support larger partition types. www.cyberciti.biz/tips/fdisk-unable-to-create-partition-greater-2tb.html

[@tobgg]

i cant initialize disk

[@livemeyer]

Hey this was a good start, but I ran into a problem. I was able to change my 3tb Hitachi Deskstar to GPT, but when it did, the volume on the disk still shows up as 764308mb, or 764gb. Why won't it show the entire drive?

[@itfreetraining]

+livemeyer Was it MBR before you converted it? MBR has a limit of 2TB. Perhaps you just need to expand the disk in Computer Management?

[@rahulbhayana]

When I am clicking on mbr... It keeps loading and after time it shows device is not ready.. What to do?

[@saamirkhan7323]

can i increase c drive with any software in gpt?

[@bloodywings01]

Thanks a lot man :) you thaught me something new

[@itfreetraining]

Thanks, glad we could help.

[@himanshukhare1992]

@@itfreetraining Sir, please tell me how can I recover my data from *Unallocated Not Initialized* external HDD(Seagate Backup Plus 1TB) before initialize it....? Please help me !!

[@itfreetraining]

@@himanshukhare1992 There are some good tools in Linux to read and recover drive space. This post talks about it. As long as you don't write over the data it is potentially still there. superuser.com/questions/710814/restore-data-on-unallocated-space

[@himanshukhare1992]

@@itfreetraining OK, that's what I was looking for and will try the same. Thank you so much! :)

[@dciencemat2399]

Nice video I gave it a thumbs up , What about a 3 TB drive for Windows 8 and 8.1 Operation System to configure the entire drive for use. Help is necessary: Dmatt .

[@itfreetraining]

***** Using GPT you can. MBR will only support 2TB.

[@geraldjosephcyril5781]

if the 50.00 GB option is not visible what will be the issue sir

[@supercool645]

Hi, I'm facing the same issue that my disk is Not Initialized/Unallocated , red downward arrow, my 1tb WD elements SE is showing 2048.00gb. Not able to initialize the disk. Did perform diskpart and clean. Im using Windows 7. The MBR and GPT window did popup but i select the default MBR. Please guide if you have any solution on this. Cheers!!!

[@supercool645]

Hi did you got any solution for this issue

[@StevieDrama]

Same issue

[@himanshukhare1992]

If I select the MBR, will it delete the data on my external drive ? Please me anyone????

[@itfreetraining]

With Windows you won't be able to change from GPT to MBR without reformatting the drive.

[@raifangemstones2265]

Hi, I have 2 partition in gpt format, disk 0 and disk 1. Then I convert disk 0 to mbr then clean & install windows 10 in disk 0. But I can't find disk 1 after install the windows. I can't find disk 1 in diskpart cmd. Please help to get back my file in disk 1. Thanks

[@itfreetraining]

Is it showing up in the BIOS at all?

[@raifangemstones2265]

Which one the setting in the bios ? Now I already change the disk to gpt. When I try to install the new windows 10. I running disk part cmd and there are 2 disk in the list, disk 0 and disk 1. I install windows 10 in disk 0. Then I can't find disk 1 after install the windows. I place all my data in disk 1.

[@heswanthyadaav]

Hello, In the Video above you have mentioned, while doing SAN=Online All. There happened a problem while doing it. A Power failure occurred and SAN was not online by the time OS was ready and it took local disk and booted the OS? My query is, anyway you will be mentioning in BIOS to boot from SAN rather than local disk. Then how did it happened? May be I'm wrong with my argument.

[@itfreetraining]

The BIOS does need to be configured to be able to Boot from LAN shares.

[@mahafuzurrahman2766]

that means need to enable boot from san in bios?

[@09shirish]

Valuable guidance, Thank you so much for the video and best wishes.

[@itfreetraining]

No problem, thanks for wathcing.

[@ryanwalker4146]

Could you please help me? After Installing Windows 10 on my 5TB, I have now come to learn all of this and you've explained it brilliantly, but when I do the cmd command running off the USB drive, I change it to GPT, I see the partition is back to 5TB, click install, and it's back to exactly how it was before at 2TB! Is there something I am missing here? Thank you

[@itfreetraining]

So after you install Windows to a GPT partition, you're only seeing 2TB?

[@BlurryPuzzle]

Install 64 bit windows.. not 32bit. 32 bit windwos has limitation

[@lokeshpujari1874]

Thank a lot 😊👍

[@itfreetraining]

Thanks for watching.

[@lynyrdsolis514]

if i click MBR, my files on my external hard drive are safe?

[@itfreetraining]

As long as you are not selecting your external hard drive for the format, then you are safe.

[@forddylan15]

My windows 10 drive had an efi partition on it which could not be deleted.

[@itfreetraining]

Well, it's part of the UEFI structure needed to boot the secure boot version of Window 10 so its good it didn't let you delete it.

[@CosmeJunior]

You are the best

[@itfreetraining]

Thank you.

[@beeldaajiyeguled]

Thanks

[@h.sathapaththu5357]

Thank you

[@itfreetraining]

You're welcome

[@NaganathanSandramohan]

thank you

[@itfreetraining]

You're welcome

[@iansirrell2843]

VIEW • VIEW •

[@bitcoinmaster3634]

I'm using itfreetraining every step of the towards my MCSA certification. The video well put together.

[@itfreetraining]

We're glad to hear you enjoy it! Thanks for watching.

[@alfonsorodriguez5449]

Excelent !, Lot's of disk management information packed in 10 minutes.

[@itfreetraining]

Thanks very much and thanks for watching.

[@john_thorpe]

I'm looking at an old Sony Vaio VGC-LV150J All-in-One computer that someone has for sale online (pretty cheap). I'm looking at changing out the hard drive and adding an additional hdd in the additional bay. I'm thinking of using it to play non intensive games (like Meridian 59, etc.) and to use it as a file storage. Doing some searches, I've found that it has a AIO Intel Motherboard s775 in it, but trying to find out if it has a regular BIOS or has UEFI and can support the GPT format. Can you find out what BIOS it has by the model of the computer &/or the motherboard type?

[@itfreetraining]

Sure, have a look at the manfacture web site. esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VGCLV150J&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=manuals#/manualsTab The site has notmention of UEFI. It looks like it is BIOS. If you go into the setup when the computer starts up, if it does not say UEFI anywhere it is BIOS. Remember also, if your computer does not support booting from UEFI, if your operating system supports it, it can still use GPT as a data drive. Just make sure your operating system is on the drive with MBR.

[@john_thorpe]

+itfreetraining thanks for the reply, like I said someone has one for sale, so I don't have it to look at the specs, just what I can find online. So wasn't sure if it has UEFI, from what the ad says it now has Windows 7. So just trying to find out if I can use a larger than 2 TB drive for the boot drive cause I do a lot with video.

[@itfreetraining]

Since it is 64bit, maybe UEFI, but manual does not say that so you never know. It is unclear if the BIOS supports larger drives. The update for the BIOS does not contain a manual which says what it supports. It only contains recent fixes. The manual gives no indication what size drives it supports. It may support the large drive for booting, but can't tell from the website so there is a risk it will not.

[@john_thorpe]

That's why I'm trying to find out information on the system. I know that the specs said it came with a 500 GB HDD and Vista as the OS, so I'm not sure. I would like to put in 2 - 4 (or 6) TB drives in as I do a lot with video (TiVo recordings of TV Shows, movies, etc.) that I like to edit, put in order and be able to stream to things like Boxee Box, etc and/or create a DVD. So as much size of a drive I can use the better. I was also thinking of using it for light gaming (Meridian 59, and games like that) and maybe use it to work on office documents (word, excel, etc.). But not really finding out too much info online. I've emailed him (to get info and screenshots), but all he wants to do is have me call, so not sure.

[@AamirKhan_Pathan]

sir either i select MBR or GPT i get mesg ACCESS DENIED.its Hard Drive.Need ur help for this .what do i do ?

[@itfreetraining]

Where are you trying to set these settings? In a Windows installation or within Windows itself through Disk Management?

[@nadhirahnk1511]

itfreetraining Hi. My problem same with Aamir Khan. I get from Windows itself through Disk Management. Can you help me?

[@itfreetraining]

Can you type exactly the error you are receiving?

[@tarundiaz228]

Even I have the same problem even if I select mbr or gpt it will say access denied

[@sujoynaskar406]

2 hdd & 2 os with 2 deferent hdd, i want to need 1 boot loader scr.. it's possible?

[@itfreetraining]

Sujoy Naskar It would be easier with a boot loader. The boot loader will allow you to select when the computer starts up which operating system that you want to boot to. The other option is to configure the BIOS to boot to the hard disk that you want to boot from. This should work as long as the second operating system does not decide to use the first hard disk to store it's boot loader. So I would remove the hard disk during the install to make sure it does not do this, but I think using the boot loader would be the easier method. When you install the second operating system hopefully it will detect the other operating system and add it automatically.

[@retroby9027]

Thank you so much

[@ivandrofly]

Which playlist this video belongs to?

[@itfreetraining]

+Ivandro Ismael It is in the Windows Server 2012 (70-410 part 1) play list.

[@erudesu1993]

I am having an error : the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error PLEASE help me :(

[@ONNO1]

that`s exactly my problem

[@kalashjain3650]

My problem also

[@adamcarter6799]

me too @@kalashjain3650

[@creativesbyd510]

what to do if the initialize option is not highlighted when I right click it

[@itfreetraining]

Is the disk available or accessible already?

[@rumboalexito4141]

THIS IS HELPING ME NOW 6 YEARS LATER. THANKS

[@itfreetraining]

Thanks. Glas we could help.

[@ardnahc2463]

thank you sir.. it's help me a lot

[@itfreetraining]

Good to hear. Thanks for watching.

[@sonnypot]

pdf file is not working

[@itfreetraining]

+Sonny Benitez Sorry about that. I have fixed the link. Thanks for letting us know.

[@sumitbalodiya2004]

Sir fix raw probalam

[@itfreetraining]

A raw partition just needs to be formatted. Just right click on it and select format.

[@Sun_Downer]

What if I've already formatted the disk? How do I get it back to being uninitialized?

[@itfreetraining]

+Matt 24 Normally I would do this with disk part. Open a command prompt and do the following. Make sure you have the right disk selected as it will erase everything on the disk and won't prompt you before it does it. diskpart list disk select disk 1 clean

[@Sun_Downer]

Thanks man you're awesome!

[@itfreetraining]

+Matt 24 You're welcome.

[@muhammadrazzaq6637]

I/O device error

[@itfreetraining]

Most likely there is a problem with the hard disk. Download the trouble shooting and testing tools from the manufacturer for the hard disk to test it. That will tell you for sure.

[@alderusan]

Thank you!!

[@itfreetraining]

You're welcome!

[@ariyankeith5536]

i cant click the initialize disk butoon. please help. :(

[@itfreetraining]

What does it show in Disk Management?

[@ariyankeith5536]

Not initialized sir.

[@cassini511]

Thank you so much , you saved my week))

[@itfreetraining]

+Renaissance You're most welcome! We're happy our videos helped you.

[@karanbirsingh6529]

it can format my external hard drive

[@itfreetraining]

Yes, you could format your external drive to MBR or GPT.

[@RTECH24]

Thanks a lot.....

[@itfreetraining]

You're most welcome!

[@middlefingerth]

you are the best!!

[@itfreetraining]

Thank you!

[@karangadhvi6141]

not initialized disk i/o error

[@Zekran]

any solution please ?!

[@jheraldsusal6695]

thanks for sharring

[@itfreetraining]

You're very welcome!

[@nashaatmena7687]

thx for your video

[@itfreetraining]

You're most welcome, thanks for watching.

[@gadgetproblemnoproblem7613]

As always thank sir.

[@itfreetraining]

+Gadgetproblem Noproblem You're welcome.

[@amolsapkal1987]

Awesome

[@itfreetraining]

Thanks very much.