Tuesday, June 24, 2014

How to Convert GPT partition to MBR (without loosing Data) Windows 7



I know this is Windows related,  but the solution involves using gdisk which is a Linux tool.

For this you will need a Fedora Live CD and a Windows 7 system repair disk

boot with Fedora live CD

open Terminal

yum -y install gdisk

gdisk /dev/sda

will find the GPT partition table


b     (this will back it up)  (OPTIONAL)

give backup a name (optional)
sda-preconvert.gpt

type the following
r     (starts transformation / recovery)

g      (to convert GPT to MBR

p  (to preview the MBR converted partition table)

w  ( to save your changes)


Now boot with Windows 7 System repair Disk


choose option to go into command prompt

type
DISKPART and press Enter.
LIST DISK and press Enter.
SELECT DISK N and press Enter (N represents the disk you want).
LIST PARTITION and press Enter.
SELECT PARTITION N and press Enter (N represents the partition you want).
ACTIVE and press Enter.
EXIT and press Enter.

type the following

BOOTREC /SCANOS and press Enter.
BOOTREC /REBUILDBCD and press Enter.
BOOTREC /FIXMBR and press Enter
BOOTREC /FIXBOOT and press Enter.

reboot

if you recieve following error
File: \boot\bcd
Status: 0xc000000f
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

don't sweat, boot back up using system repair disk and let the automatic system repair run
this time it will take longer and after a final reboot, you should have a working system. with a MBR partition and all your files and config exactly as they were.

if you continue to receive a Error 0xc0000225 on windows boot
boot with Gparted and remove all EFI  partitions.

reboot normally and you should be in good shape.