Thread: How to install Windows on pure GUID Partition Table (pure GPT) "easy" way

Scenario is: You've decided to install Mac OS X on your PC and to move on from Windows forever. That being said, you made only HFS+ (Mac OS X Journaled (Extended)) partitions using Disk Utility and your partition table is GUID.
After some time, you realized that you'll need Windows, from some reason. But, problem is, you can't install Windows on pure GPT. Whatever you do, your windows installation is giving you an error that Windows can't be installed on GPT partition scheme.

Luckily, there is an easy way to make this possible. Thanks to Rod Smith, we have a command line utility called GPT fdisk:

GPT fdisk Tutorial
A gdisk Walkthrough

Enough talk, lets go to business.

In short, we'll need to make one hybrid mbr partition using gdisk.
First go and download disk for Mac OS X (available for linux and windows also):

Obtaining GPT fdisk

You'll need to partition some partition or to resize existing one with Disk Utility to FAT.

Then, fire up Terminal, and type

gdisk /dev/diskX

where X is number of your HDD.



In my case that's number 3. You can see, that it says

MBR : Protective

That means that you use pure GPT layout. Our goal is to transform it to hybrid in order to start windows installation. So let't do it.

Type p (to print the partition table)
Type r (for recovery & transformation menu)
Type h (for Hybrid transformation)

From there just follow the instructions.
In my case, partition number is also 3, so I type 3 for my partition to be added to the hybrid MBR.



I also choose to make that partition bootlable, so I type y on "Set the bootable flag".
Type p to print the partition table
Type o to print protective MBR data.

And finally type w to write table to disk and exit.




And that's it. To check you can type again gdisk command:

And as you can see, now it's

MBR: hybrid



Hopefully, now you will be able to run windows installation without any error.

and how to instal Mountain Lion retail version on MBR partition.. should i install any patch?!
Please help me sir..

If you create your USB stick with myHack, it has a MBR patch.

Thank rene, i already know if Myhack can do that, but.. i want upgrade my lion to mountain lion without any usb drive installation.

anyway...
i've been try upgrading my lion to ML with myhack, but ML cannot boot, i see in verbose that boot procces stop at Bluetooth/anything with bluetooth name, i don't remember well.. but ML can boot into safe mode only.. try deleting bluetooth kext can't solved the problem..

Any suggestion my be..?!

Think it's the graphicsmode, not the bluetooth. After loading the bluetooth the next step is getting into the graphicsmode.
Read this: http://www.osx86.net/10-8-mountain-l...12mb-help.html

[edit]
Just delete "NVDANV50Hal.kext" from USB /System/Library/Extensions
and boot with:
GraphicsEnabler=No -x -v

Can't wait to try your bloody advice, but..... why used -x bootflag..?! as we know.. -x is boot into safemode, there is no sound and graphic power we can used..?!

Need ur Guide Mastaaaaah...

Did you make your install?
Booting with:
GraphicsEnabler=No -x -v
was only to install ML.

After install try the link in post #5

Ok.. clear advice...
i hope can make it clear..

Thanks Rene, now i can boot My Mountain Lion normally also with usable power graphic, i used your kext provided on your post.
thanks Rene.. you're my master..!!!

Originally Posted by noname

After some time, you realized that you'll need Windows, from some reason. But, problem is, you can't install Windows on pure GPT. Whatever you do, your windows installation is giving you an error that Windows can't be installed on GPT partition scheme.

Thank you.
I need this way.
Because I only use 1 hard drive.

Mac OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard on :
Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L
Intel Core2 Duo
Kingston DDR2 2GB x2
Pixelview 9400GT