converting 1TB drive from MBR to GPT for Win 7 installation

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truwrikodrorowrelupicugojestutroclulachosaswunuhospikigawakijosaswenomaruclojeueclikaspedrubewidebrisubrohutrurifruuagothunugekedrumucisiuobrobrecrupeslapuswosluprothethibakaslechurathikucli
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I am trying to do a custom install of Windows 7 64 bit to my 32 bit Windows XP system.

The install gets to the drive but says because it is MBR, I cannot install because it has to be GPT.

I am wondering if the disk maintenance utilities in the Acronis product can enable me to make that change?

Thanks.

Mon, 12/16/2013 - 01:56
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truwrikodrorowrelupicugojestutroclulachosaswunuhospikigawakijosaswenomaruclojeueclikaspedrubewidebrisubrohutrurifruuagothunugekedrumucisiuobrobrecrupeslapuswosluprothethibakaslechurathikucli
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Hello Eric,

By "custom install", you mean that you're trying to format your actual Windows XP install and make a fresh install of Windows 7 by selecting the "custom install" from the Windows 7 installation disk, right?

Just to clarify, because if you're trying to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7, you won't be able. You cannot upgrade a 32 bits version to a 64 bits version. So even if you do convert your drive partition to GPT, you won't be able to upgrade, you'll need to fresh install by wiping your Windows XP partition first.

Now to answer your question, yes, Acronis Disk Director can convert an MBR disk to GPT partition table. But, note that Windows XP is only compatible with MBR. So you'll need to make a fresh install anyway after converting to GPT.

Just so you know, Windows 7 doesn't require a GPT partition table to be installed. But, the installation disk from Windows 7 detects if your computer is GPT capable. If so, they force the install to GPT. There's a way to bypass this and force MBR, but you'll need to a blank DVD and to follow the following link instructions. The article describes a problem related to installing Windows 7 x64 on some old Mac computer, but the procedure mentionned in this article will make you a Windows 7 installation disk that is MBR only.

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fguizmo.biz%2F2009%…

Tue, 12/17/2013 - 03:35