MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) are two different ways of storing the partitioning information on a drive. You have to partition a disk drive before you can use it. If you’ve ever partitioned and formatted a disk-or set up a Mac to dual boot Windows-you’ve likely had to deal with MBR and GPT. GPT is the new standard and is gradually replacing MBR. Only choose MBR for compatibility if you need it.Ī partition structure defines how information is structured on the partition, where partitions begin and end, and also the code that is used during startup if a partition is bootable.
GPT, or GUID Partition Table, is a newer standard with many advantages including support for larger drives and is required by most modern PCs. This isn’t a Windows-only standard, by the way-Mac OS X, Linux, and other operating systems can also use GPT. GPT brings with it many advantages, but MBR is still the most compatible and is still necessary in some cases.
Today we’re explaining the difference between GPT and MBR and helping you choose the right one for your PC or Mac. Set up a new disk on Windows 10 or 8.1 and you’ll be asked whether you want to use MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table).
