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BIOS is a piece of code that resides on the motherboard that connects the hardware and software. This code has been around for a long time, and while it worked well, it was never designed for modern hardware, and it had many limitations, including limitations to partitions smaller than 2TB.

UEFI is the new firmware type designed to replace the old BIOS style. It introduces additional features, including support for partitions larger than 2TB and faster startup, sleep, resume, and shutdown times. Also, it unlocks new security features available on Windows 11 and Windows 10. For instance, "Secure Boot" is a feature that can protect a device's startup process from malicious programs, and now it's a prerequisite to install Windows 11. "Device Guard" gives you more advanced controls for app access, and "Credential Guard" can help prevent pass-the-hash attacks.

In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps and information to use the Microsoft MBR2GPT command-line tool to convert a drive from MBR to GPT partition style, to switch from BIOS to UEFI mode on your device, and enable Secure Boot correctly.

Warning: This is a non-destructive process, but it's still recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding in case something goes wrong and you need to recover your setup.

Unlike older methods requiring a backup of your data and reinstalling Windows, the MBR2GPT tool makes it easy to change the partition style quickly. When using this tool, the conversion process adds the GPT components to the MBR partition without modifying the existing partition and maintaining the data untouched.

The best approach is switching to UEFI and performing a clean install of Windows 11. However, if you already have a Windows 10 installation that you want to upgrade, you can convert the drive to change the system firmware settings properly. Otherwise, the device will no longer start correctly.

Before making system changes, check the current settings to see whether the system is set to MBR or GPT using these steps:

Once you complete the steps, you can change the partition style on the computer.

Also, if you need to change the partition, check your device manufacturer's support website to find out whether the hardware includes support for UEFI before using these instructions.

To convert a drive using MBR to GPT on Windows 10, use these steps:

After you complete the steps, the tool will validate the drive and create an EFI system partition (ESP). The process will also insert the UEFI boot files and GPT components into the partition. The tool will update the Boot Configuration Data (BCD), and the previous drive letter will be added to the drive.

It's always recommended to use the MBR2GPT tool offline to avoid potential problems. However, you can also run it when the system is operational.

To convert a drive from MBR to GPT on Windows 10, use these steps:

Once you complete the steps, the command-line tool will reduce the size of the primary partition and change it from MBR to GPT.

If the processes are completed successfully, the return code would be "0," but if the process fails, you may see one of the 11 error codes:

You can use the MBR2GPT tool on a traditional hard drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or an M.2 drive with virtually any version of Windows 10, but you must run the tool from a Windows 10 (version 1703 or later) installation.

When dealing with a drive using file encryption with BitLocker, you must first suspend the encryption before following the outlined instructions.

While MBR-style drives can have up to four primary partitions, the drive you want to convert can't have more than three partitions because one additional allocation is required to create the UEFI partition.

Finally, Microsoft designed the tool to convert drives running Windows 8.1, 7, or from an older version, but you can always upgrade the installation to the latest release of Windows 10 and then use the tool to convert from MBR to GPT.

After converting the drive to the GPT style, the computer will no longer start until you change the firmware type from BIOS to UEFI in the motherboard.

Typically, this process requires hitting one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), Esc, or Delete key as soon as you start the device. However, since these options are always different, it's best to check your device manufacturer's support website for more specific details.

On the firmware interface, find the "Boot" menu, enable the UEFI option, save the changes, and then the computer should start normally.

Also, if you plan to upgrade the device to Windows 11 while in the UEFI settings, open the boot or security settings page, make sure to enable the "Secure Boot" option, and exit the firmware saving the changes.

To confirm the device is using a GPT partition style, use these steps:

After you complete the steps, if the partition is running using the correct partition style, you only need to check whether the device uses the UEFI firmware mode.

To confirm the computer is in UEFI mode and Secure Boot is turned on, use these steps:

Once you complete the steps, if the System Information displays the mode as "UEFI," you have successfully switched the firmware type.

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

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