Get Partition Type (MBR|GPT) ============================ @ diskpart DISKPART> list disk Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt -------- ------------- ------- ------- --- --- Disk 0 Online 111 GB 1024 KB Disk 1 Online 1863 GB 1024 KB Disk 2 Online 59 GB 1024 KB * If GPT, then "Gpt" collumn shows "*" (asterisk). So, e.g., above Disks 0 & 1 are both "MBR"; Disk 2 is "GPT". @ Device Manager (GUI) RIGHT-CLICK selected disk @ "Disk drives", then @ popup ... > Properties > Volumes > Populate See "Partition style" value, e.g., "Master Boot Record (MBR)" 2018 ==== Setup USB as Install Media per script ... diskpart.exe /s TXTFILE TXTFILE, e.g., if USB @ disk 1 ... if UEFI machine SELECT DISK 1 CLEAN CONVERT GPT CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY ACTIVE FORMAT FS=FAT32 QUICK ASSIGN EXIT if not UEFI machine SELECT DISK 1 CLEAN CONVERT MBR CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY ACTIVE FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK ASSIGN EXIT 2017 ==== SSD/HDD ======= # MBR Disk if Win 7 [ < 4TB] # GPT Disk if Win 10 [GUID Partition Table] GPT/MBR partition scheme is disk-wide; ENTIRE DISK is EITHER mbr or gpt; ALL PARTITIONS are DESTROYED by `diskpart convert` @ diskpart list disk select disk # <<< select # CAREFULLY !!! list disk <<< shows "*" at selected disk clean convert MBR|GPT # Partitions per OS/version ... Handled @ OS Install, but for DISM-applied method, must manually prepare by creating the necessary partitions, then applying source [wim] files by DISM, per partition. # Win10 Partitions [GPT-based] Size FS Type Name Purpose ----- ---- ---- ---- ------- 1. 500MB NTFS Recovery "Recovery tools" Recovery Env. (Menu); contains winre.wim 2. 100MB EFI System "EFI System Partition" Boot; contains BCDstore 3. 16MB MSR Reserved "Microsoft Reserved" Partition management 4. 20+GB NTFS Primary "Windows" [OS] Windows Operating System files UEFI/GPT-based hard drive partitions (2017) https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions @ diskpart list disk select disk # <<< select # CAREFULLY !!! list disk <<< shows "*" at selected disk clean convert GPT 1. "System" (EFI) create partition EFI size=100|260 [512|4k] format quick fs=FAT32 label="System" assign letter="S" 2. "Microsoft Reserved" (MSR) create partition MSR size=16 3. "Windows" create partition primary shrink minimum=500 format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows" assign letter="W" 4. "Recovery tools" create partition primary size=500 format quick fs=ntfs label="Recovery tools" assign letter="R" set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac" gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001 NOT necessary to set gpt attributes, which protect from access/removal. CAN DELETE this Recovery Partition later, @ Windows Disk Management GUI, but only after creating a USB recovery drive. Create a (USB) recovery drive using Start Menu > "Create a recovery drive". May uncheck "Back up ..." to make smallest size. The process typically fails otherwise. System and Utility Partitions The first two partitions, EFI & MSR, are sometimes referred to by Microsoft as the SYSTEM PARTITIONS. By default, they do not appear in File Explorer. This helps protect end users from accidentally modifying a partition. Protect end users from accidentally modifying other partitions by IDENTIFYING them as UTILITY PARTITIONS. To set partitions as utility partitions: Diskpart.exe list disk select disk select partition help gpt :: show gpt options gpt attributes=0x0000000000000001 :: GPT_ATTRIBUTE_PLATFORM_REQUIRED 0x8000000000000000 :: GPT_BASIC_DATA_ATTRIBUTE_NO_DRIVE_LETTER 0x4000000000000000 :: GPT_BASIC_DATA_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN 0x1000000000000000 :: GPT_BASIC_DATA_ATTRIBUTE_READ_ONLY https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365449(VS.85).aspx # Win 7 Partitions [MBR-based] 1. 100MB FAT32 "System Reserved" [BCDstore/boot] 2. xxxGB NTFS "System" [THE partition] @ diskpart list disk select disk # <<< select # CAREFULLY !!! list disk <<< shows "*" at selected disk clean convert MBR 1. "System Reserved" (FAT32) create partition primary size=100 select partition 1 format fs=FAT32 label="System Reserved" quick assign letter=R active 2. "System" (NTFS) create partition primary select partition 2 format fs=ntfs label=System quick assign letter=C USB === MBR if Win 7 [PE] GPT if Win 10 [PE] MB vendors are more supportive of the FAT32 [vs NTFS] filesystem for either MBR or GPT -based disks; *vastly* so of their UEFI compliant firmware; even more so if disk is GPT-based. The USB setup process is to convert USB to mbr|gpt-based per 7|10, then partition, then either apply [wim] files by DISM, or mount+clone an ISO or other such [source] image. If ENTIRE disk available, and source is ISO, then use Rufus, which will select GPT/MBR-based per OS-@-ISO info. Else, ... # Win 7 or 10 [PE] Only 1 [FAT32] partition needed. @ diskpart list disk select disk # <<< select # CAREFULLY !!! list disk <<< shows "*" at selected disk clean convert mbr|gpt create partition primary select partition 1 format fs=FAT32 label="WinPE" quick assign letter=K active NOTE: okay to SCRIPT diskpart.exe per "/s" ... diskpart /s TXTFILE note the symantics :: verb object list|select|detail disk|volume|partition HW/UEFI/BIOS ============ # ASRock AM1H-ITX [Kabini] @ BIOS > USB Config ... USB Legacy ENABLE # it's the last of several params in USB config section @ BIOS > Boot Config Order/selection/disable ... are irrelevant; press "F11" on boot. but set boot order to ... 1. SSD 2. "USB WD Passport ..." [NOT "UEFI WD Passport ..."] @ Boot Menu [F11 on boot] choose "USB ...", NOT "UEFI..." The latter causes infinite hang; pwr button off/on to exit. # ASRock H270M-Pro4 @ Boot Menu [F11 on boot] choose "UEFI ..." Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart =============================================================================== 2014 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-8.1-and-8/hh825686(v=win.10)