Today install Windows 8.1 on my PC on my new harddisk. Try to migrate my previous Windows 8.0 to new harddisk but found it too difficult. Perhaps trying to accomplish too much at one go. Windows 8.0 on old harddisk uses MBR partition and trying to put Windows 8.1 on new harddisk using GPT partition. Guess just too many to take care at one go. So after spending two days trying to migrate and failed, abandon the idea and install a fresh copy of Windows 8.1.
Some basic explanation.
I want to have only one partition. My installation files are in USB stick. If during boot up, I press the F8 key to allow me to select which drive to boot up from. If I select using MBR(normal) boot up instead of UEFI, during installation I would not be able to specified a partition size larger than 2TB. If I select using UEFI boot up, I can then specified the whole 3TB.
So if I use MBR boot up, I ended up with the first usable partition of 2TB and the second partition 1 TB. If I use UEFI boot up, I ended up 1 usable partition of of 3TB. Technically the installer will create additional system partition automatically, so you will have more once you completed your installation.
I purchase a harddisk of 3TB and I do not want my harddisk to be split into 2 partition, I want everything in one partition, so no choice has to use GPT partitition.
Some of the gotcha that you need to take care if you are going to use a GPT partition.
1) You must have a BIOS that support UEFI. If you do not have, forget about GPT.
2) Your installation disk must be in FAT32. No NTFS. I made that mistake. By using NTFS, it would not allow you to partition a harddisk in GPT.
3) When booting up, select UEFI bootup. All UEFI boot partition has a "UEFI" word in front of it.
4) Your must install a 64bit OS. 32bit OS will not be able to see GPT.
So is Windows 8.1 worth the upgrade? I'll blog about it after I have spend some time with it.
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