Elastic Compute Service:Convert a data disk from MBR to GPT

Step 1: Convert the partition format and repartition the disk

1. The conversion deletes all data on the disk. Create a snapshot to back up your data. You will recover data from this snapshot after the conversion.

   Important

   Disk data is unavailable during the conversion and services may be interrupted. Perform this during a maintenance window.

2. Log on to the ECS instance.

   1. Go to ECS console - Instances. In the top-left corner, select the region and resource group for the target resource.

   2. Go to the instance details page. Click Connect > Workbench. Set the connection method to Terminal, enter your credentials, and log on.

3. Check whether partition conversion is required.

   1. On the Windows Server desktop, right-click the icon and click Disk Management.

   2. In Disk Management, right-click the target disk (such as Disk 1) and select Type.

   3. In the dialog box, click the Volumes tab and check the Partition Style.

      If the Partition Style is MBR and the disk exceeds 2 TiB, convert the partition format. Otherwise, directly extend the partition and file system.

4. Convert the partition type.

   1. Right-click the volume on the target disk and select Delete Volume.... In the Delete Simple Volume dialog, click Yes.

      If the volume cannot be deleted, a program is likely using it. To release the file lock, restart the instance during off-peak hours and try again.

      Important

      Delete Volume purges all data on the volume. Ensure you have backed up the data before proceeding.

   2. After all volumes are deleted, right-click the disk and select Convert To GPT Disk.

   3. Verify the conversion.

      Right-click the disk and select Type. On the Volumes tab, a Partition Style of GPT confirms success.

5. Repartition the disk.

   1. Right-click the Unallocated area of the disk and select New Simple Volume.

   2. In the New Simple Volume Wizard, follow these steps:

      1. On the Specify Volume Size page, set the Simple Volume Size and click Next.

         Use the default value for a single partition, or customize the size for multiple partitions.

      2. On the Assign Drive Letter Or Path page, select Assign The Following Drive Letter, choose a drive letter, and click Next.

      3. On the Format Partition page, select Format This Volume With The Following Settings, configure the settings, and click Next.

      4. Review your settings and click Completed.

Step 2: Recover the disk data

Do not roll back the disk from a snapshot. Doing so reverts the partition format to MBR.

1. Create a data disk from the snapshot.

2. Attach the new data disk to the ECS instance.

3. Copy the data from the newly attached disk to the original data disk.

4. To avoid unnecessary charges, delete the snapshot and the temporary data disk after confirming your services run correctly. Detach and then release the temporary disk.