LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General
User Name
Password
Linux - General This Linux forum is for general Linux questions and discussion.
If it is Linux Related and doesn't seem to fit in any other forum then this is the place.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 09-22-2021, 05:19 PM   #1
SimonDevine
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2016
Location: Surrey, UK
Distribution: Slack 15.0 64 using Plasma 5.15 on Dell Inspiron 3847 8GB RAM with Dell 24inch monitor 1920x1080
Posts: 116

Rep: Reputation: 108Reputation: 108
Converting to GPT from MBR


GPT seems to be the future for disks so I've been doing a bit of research on it.

Am just a home user who doesn't run a huge server environment with Petabyte-sized requirements but I do like to keep my hand in on a few distros that I like.

I have noticed that many recent releases look for a GPT in order to install and fail installation if it's not available.

Here there are two 300GB SATA Disks which use MBR and LILO to boot any of four installations, Slackware 14.2, Debian 9.8, Kubuntu 18 or Fedora KDE 34.

Is there an easy way that is safe to move everything to GPT from MBR, what are the dangers and is it worth doing the switch?

Any caveats or gotchas most welcome to hear about.


Last edited by SimonDevine; 09-22-2021 at 05:30 PM.
 
Old 09-22-2021, 05:55 PM   #2
syg00
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Distribution: Lots ...
Posts: 21,146

Rep: Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124Reputation: 4124
Quote:
Originally Posted by SimonDevine View Post
I have noticed that many recent releases look for a GPT in order to install and fail installation if it's not available.
That's just laziness by the devs. You could try raising a bug against the installer devs for each distro, but I wouldn't hold any hope of being listened to. What might be an option is to use one disk as gpt for the system (boot and root) and leave your data on MBR on the other disk if you really have to.
gpt is essentially only needed for big (> 4T) disks, and to some extent UEFI firmware systems - Windows 10 made people assert this was a requirement, but it actually isn't. I haven't used new disks as MBR in years - go with the flow.
If you have been researching you must have stumbled on Rod Smith' pages - read them carefully, no-one here can offer better advice. He has a tool that will do the conversion, but read the caveats. I would doubt lilo can handle it but maybe elilo (?) - dunno, haven't gone near lilo in over a decade.
Note my sigline.

Last edited by syg00; 09-22-2021 at 05:57 PM.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-22-2021, 05:59 PM   #3
jefro
Moderator
 
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,008

Rep: Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629Reputation: 3629
Not sure if there is a linux mbr2gpt sort of program. Think windows can do it.

The safe correct way is or was full backup. Convert disk. Then install. Might have to fix a few issues.

GPT is the future. UEFI is too.

GPT has many advantages over MBR but there would have to be a reason to convert. There is a hybrid deal that was around for a bit. On a new install of a modern distro, I'd use GPT if it offered it.
 
Old 09-22-2021, 08:16 PM   #4
SimonDevine
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2016
Location: Surrey, UK
Distribution: Slack 15.0 64 using Plasma 5.15 on Dell Inspiron 3847 8GB RAM with Dell 24inch monitor 1920x1080
Posts: 116

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 108Reputation: 108
Thanks syg00.

Am having a read of Rod Smith's pages on GPT & MBR. This technical stuff is a fascinating analysis about how disks work and are internally organised nowadays.

I am much obliged to you, sir.

 
Old 09-23-2021, 01:45 AM   #5
pan64
LQ Addict
 
Registered: Mar 2012
Location: Hungary
Distribution: debian/ubuntu/suse ...
Posts: 21,985

Rep: Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337Reputation: 7337
the conversion itself is not that difficult: https://www.explorelinux.com/convert...-gpt-on-linux/
 
  


Reply

Tags
gpt, lilo, mbr



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MBR or GPT for a external enclosure hard drive with a newer Widows 10 system with GPT james2b Linux - Newbie 10 10-27-2020 06:45 AM
converting MBR to GPT format in memory. Skaperen Linux - General 8 10-13-2020 05:53 PM
[SOLVED] GPT table corrupted (again @%36372 GPT) BW-userx Linux - Hardware 5 08-29-2018 04:14 PM
[SOLVED] Slackware 13.37 - gdisk choices, MBR, GPT or Blank GPT CFet Slackware - Installation 3 04-01-2011 04:46 PM
Which program can boot a copy of the MBR (fake MBR) using mbr.bin Xeratul Linux - Software 6 12-03-2010 11:40 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:34 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration