Need help upgrading to Windows 11 (boot disk is MBR)

iko22 · Oct 13, 2021

No worries.
Disk 1 has two partitions, the C: partition and the recovery partition. The total of both these partitions means there is no more free space on disk 1. The proper term for this free space is unallocated disk space - so, excuse me for not being clearer.

As you need more unallocated space on disk 1 to create another partition (to make the new the MBR System Reserved partition), then the only way you would get that is by shrinking one of the partitions you currently have on that disk.

Both the C: partition and recovery partition have free space available. That free space has already been allocated to those partitions, and cannot immediately be used for a new partition.

Yes, shrinking a partition will make any partition smaller, but shrinking a partition creates this unallocated disk space that can be repurposed for the new partition - so it is a useful sacrifice to make.

Hope that helps.

NapMan · Oct 13, 2021

iko22 said:
No worries.
Disk 1 has two partitions, the C: partition and the recovery partition. The total of both these partitions means there is no more free space on disk 1. The proper term for this free space is unallocated disk space - so, excuse me for not being clearer.

As you need more unallocated space on disk 1 to create another partition (to make the new the MBR System Reserved partition), then the only way you would get that is by shrinking one of the partitions you currently have on that disk.

Both the C: partition and recovery partition have free space available. That free space has already been allocated to those partitions, and cannot immediately be used for a new partition.

Yes, shrinking a partition will make any partition smaller, but shrinking a partition creates this unallocated disk space that can be repurposed for the new partition - so it is a useful sacrifice to make.

Hope that helps.

Ah I see. So I need to shrink the C: partition so I can add a 3rd partition to that disk? Is that it? And then I would somehow create new system partition there? And then I could convert it to GPT?

iko22 · Oct 13, 2021

That's correct, except you would also need rebuild the MBR after the new system partition was created, before you can convert the MBR to GPT. Instructions in my earlier post.

PerpetualCycle · Oct 13, 2021

NapMan said:
I discovered I will be unable to upgrade to Windows 11 because my boot disk is partitioned as MBR. PC Health Check says I need to enable Secure Boot, but it is enabled in the BIOS.
I did some searching and found ways to convert the disk to GPT without losing any data but it did not work. I tried a partitioning app (AOMEI) and it states that I cannot convert it because my boot partition and system partition are on different disks. I don't know why it ended up like this. I'm looking for help on how I can correct this without having to start from scratch. Here is what my disk info looks like:

View attachment 9923

It looks like the system partition is small enough to fit onto the SSD (Disk 1) but I don't know how to move it. I'm looking for any advice and/or help in this matter.
I didn't build the system, my partner did.

I appreciate any help.

NapMan said:
Thank you for the response. I'm confused because PC Health Check says something different:

View attachment 9934

I would interpret that as without GPT and an EFI partition your PC doesn't support secure boot. You could try Minittool partion wizard, I have hasd good luck with that, but you need the paid version to convert MBR to GPT.

IIRC just converting might not do it, you would need to install Windows with an EFI partition. But Windows 11 install might not care. Is a gray area to me because it has been a while since I switched over to EFI and secure boot.

If you can do the backup with macrium and the conversion, then restore, as suggested with the macrium backup, it might work if you do not need to reinstall windows 10 to pass the test. If it doesn't pass then you could try a repair install.

zbook · Oct 13, 2021

Please post a new image of disk management making sure that columns are widened: volume and status > then widen the disk 0 and 1 rows as needed

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management at Ten Forums

www.tenforums.com

b) run these scripts: (currently available only after Ten Forums logon)

Tuneup_plus_log.bat ─ Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

DiskParInfo.bat - Click here to go to the BSOD batch repository to download and run this batch file.

3) Download and install Mini Tool Partition Wizard > click launch > post an image into this thread

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

As an all-in-one free partition manager and disk manager software, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free helps manage disk space safely on Windows 11/10/8/7.

www.partitionwizard.com

aubergine · Oct 14, 2021

NapMan said:
Ah I see. So I need to shrink the C: partition so I can add a 3rd partition to that disk? Is that it? And then I would somehow create new system partition there? And then I could convert it to GPT?

No, you do not need to create the System Reserved partition.

How do I restore w10 bootloader? dual boot with ubuntu on separate hdd - Windows 10 Help Forums

So I am looking to REMOVE ubuntu, but right now, my system uses Grub to boot into windows or ubuntu. Ubuntu is installed on a hdd, w10 installed on a

www.tenforums.com

Post #24

"2. How to fix the Windows 10 bootloader if the hard drive has a Master Boot Record (MBR) partition style."

"BCDBoot copies the boot files from the Windows 10 partition to the system partition (active partition) on the primary hard drive and creates the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store in the same partition. If the System Reserved partition exists, it is the system partition, if not, the Windows 10 partition is the system partition."

iko22 · Oct 14, 2021

aubergine said:
No, you do not need to create the System Reserved partition.

How do I restore w10 bootloader? dual boot with ubuntu on separate hdd - Windows 10 Help Forums

So I am looking to REMOVE ubuntu, but right now, my system uses Grub to boot into windows or ubuntu. Ubuntu is installed on a hdd, w10 installed on a

www.tenforums.com

Post #24

"2. How to fix the Windows 10 bootloader if the hard drive has a Master Boot Record (MBR) partition style."

"BCDBoot copies the boot files from the Windows 10 partition to the system partition (active partition) on the primary hard drive and creates the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store in the same partition. If the System Reserved partition exists, it is the system partition, if not, the Windows 10 partition is the system partition."

No, you would not normally need to create a System Reserved Partition to repair a MBR, I agree with you there.

But, if you take a look at the question, and subsequent posts on this thread, you will gather that the problem is that the MBR is on the wrong disk and wont qualify for a MBR to GPT conversion - that is why I ended up recommending creating a new System Reserved Partition on the correct disk. If you'll just read the thread, you will see what is meant.

Thanks for trying, anyways

.

aubergine · Oct 14, 2021

iko22 said:
But, if you take a look at the question, and subsequent posts on this thread, you will gather that the problem is that the MBR is on the wrong disk and wont qualify for a MBR to GPT conversion - that is why I ended up recommending creating a new System Reserved Partition on the correct disk. If you'll just read the thread, you will see what is meant.

But I think the System Reserved partition may not be needed when running the mbr2gpt command.

iko22 · Oct 14, 2021

aubergine said:
But I think the System Reserved partition may not be needed when running the mbr2gpt command.

Read post # 10 already.

Also see Disk Prerequisites :

One of the partitions is set as active and is the system partition

Source: MBR2GPT - Windows Deployment

aubergine · Oct 14, 2021

iko22 said:
Also see Disk Prerequisites :

One of the partitions is set as active and is the system partition

How do I restore w10 bootloader? dual boot with ubuntu on separate hdd - Windows 10 Help Forums

So I am looking to REMOVE ubuntu, but right now, my system uses Grub to boot into windows or ubuntu. Ubuntu is installed on a hdd, w10 installed on a

www.tenforums.com

Post #24

If the System Reserved partition does not exist
- Windows OS partition (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

Note: If you receive the error message "Element not found" when you run the "bootrec /fixboot" command, then you have to first mark the System Reserved partition as active. If the System Reserved partition does not exist, then mark your Windows 10 partition as active. There can be only one active system partition at a time on the primary hard drive.

iko22 · Oct 14, 2021

aubergine said:
How do I restore w10 bootloader? dual boot with ubuntu on separate hdd - Windows 10 Help Forums

So I am looking to REMOVE ubuntu, but right now, my system uses Grub to boot into windows or ubuntu. Ubuntu is installed on a hdd, w10 installed on a

www.tenforums.com

Post #24

If the System Reserved partition does not exist
- Windows OS partition (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

Note: If you receive the error message "Element not found" when you run the "bootrec /fixboot" command, then you have to first mark the System Reserved partition as active. If the System Reserved partition does not exist, then mark your Windows 10 partition as active. There can be only one active system partition at a time on the primary hard drive.

Yep, true and covered in post #16 . Anything else?

NapMan · Oct 16, 2021

I am afraid these solutions offered are going to be beyond my capabilities. I don't really know what I'm doing in this regard. I'm not even certain that this is my problem. I just read about it on Reddit. My BIOS does say Secure Boot is enabled but PC Health Check says it is not.

Hazel123 · Oct 16, 2021

I don’t understand it all either :). If in doubt I start from scratch.

Do your back up (system image). Then if it was me, and I wasn’t confident about how to do the fixes, I’d just clean install onto the larger disk (assuming the smaller disk isn’t big enough. And assuming the larger disk has secure boot set in bios.

How big is each disk drive?

AddRAM · Oct 16, 2021

NapMan said:
I appreciate your help. I guess I don't really understand freeing up disk space on the C: partition by shrinking the C: partition. If I make the C: partition smaller wouldn't that create less free space?

Yes. But you are being told to do this to create room on Disk 1 to create a SR partition. Your SR partition is on Disk 0 because it was not unplugged when Windows was installed on Disk 1. All other drives need to be unplugged or disabled in the Bios before installing Windows on another drive.
If Windows is still working, please post a fresh full shot of Disk Management, and a full shot of Partition Wizard Free showing all and any drives in your system so we can continue on without going back to your opening reply. Before you attempt doing anything else.

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

As an all-in-one free partition manager and disk manager software, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free helps manage disk space safely on Windows 11/10/8/7.

www.partitionwizard.com

AddRAM · Oct 16, 2021

aubergine said:
But I think the System Reserved partition may not be needed when running the mbr2gpt command.

This is true, but then you may not end up with the 4 partitions that are created when you do a clean install of W11, if you don`t mind then it`s fine to proceed. You just may not get the 16 MB hidden partition. I always installed Windows on a fresh partition that I created with my Partition Wizard Boot CD and marked Active, so I would not end up with a SR partition, you can do the same with Diskpart if you are confident with Command Prompt. I just used the PW Boot CD because it was so much easier to use and teach people to use. When I converted a test MBR OS drive, I ended up with 3 partitions, the 100 MB EFI partition, The OS partition, and a Recovery partition.

Example. No Page File is present because I don`t need one.

zbook · Oct 16, 2021

NapMan said:
I am afraid these solutions offered are going to be beyond my capabilities. I don't really know what I'm doing in this regard. I'm not even certain that this is my problem. I just read about it on Reddit. My BIOS does say Secure Boot is enabled but PC Health Check says it is not.

When available please update the progress with steps in post #29.

#25

njnitehawk · Nov 8, 2021

good afternoon

i have been reading thru these posts i updated my Bios to the latest version from Asus 3004 date 07/21
looking to move on to Windows 11 everything checks out except my hard drive is MPR not GPT
here is my question can i get another hard drive to download 11 and run 11 and my other programs from the old HD?

Winuser · Nov 8, 2021

NapMan said:
I installed the free version of Macrium Reflect 7. I don't see a "Rescue" option. There is a Restore option, and under Other Tasks there is "Create Rescue Media".

Download the trial version of Macrium 8. I have read post that say it converts to the free version after the trial period ends. I have not tried it because I have the paid versions of Macrium 8.

AddRAM · Nov 8, 2021

njnitehawk said:
good afternoon

i have been reading thru these posts i updated my Bios to the latest version from Asus 3004 date 07/21
looking to move on to Windows 11 everything checks out except my hard drive is MPR not GPT
here is my question can i get another hard drive to download 11 and run 11 and my other programs from the old HD?

The simple answer is No, you`ll have to install your programs on W11.
Just convert your MBR install to GPT if you want to use W11.
The choice is up to you.

zbook · Nov 9, 2021

njnitehawk said:
good afternoon

i have been reading thru these posts i updated my Bios to the latest version from Asus 3004 date 07/21
looking to move on to Windows 11 everything checks out except my hard drive is MPR not GPT
here is my question can i get another hard drive to download 11 and run 11 and my other programs from the old HD?

Consider switching from HD to SSD for its increased performance.

Switching from MBR to GPT typically requires modification of both the BIOS and the drive partition structure.

If you need help then open a new thread with the applicable title.

Need help upgrading to Windows 11 (boot disk is MBR)

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