Paologas91 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Hi guys I have a UEFI clover install on my motherboard. I created a partition on external drive (formatted with GPT table) where i copied windows 10 installation files. Now i am able to boot windows installation UEFI mode. But i want to know if it is possible to boot LEGACY install too. In other words i want that this external support will let me decide if i want to install windows choosing between LEGACY and UEFI mode (by using clover of course). Is this possible? Thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 This area is only for Guides - Tutorials (The Genius Bar) Now you are in the right place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slice Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 If external drive formatted to GPT then it is not possible to start legacy windows from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaeuser Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 This is possible by creating/destroying a Hybrid MBR layer over the default GPT. Protective MBR = UEFI, Hybrid MBR = legacy. Note that Windows will see the drive as MBR, which does not sync back with GPT, so do NOT change anything in Windows and ALWAYS create a new hybrid MBR after changing from Linux or OS X. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paologas91 Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 This is possible by creating/destroying a Hybrid MBR layer over the default GPT. Protective MBR = UEFI, Hybrid MBR = legacy. Note that Windows will see the drive as MBR, which does not sync back with GPT, so do NOT change anything in Windows and ALWAYS create a new hybrid MBR after changing from Linux or OS X. Thanks for replying! Btw on the external drive (GPT formatted) i have these partitions: 1) EFI partition with clover 2) el capitan install 3) yosemite install 4) mavericks install 5) windows 10 install 6) windows 8.1 install My intention is that when i want to format a computer, i plug in USB and i am able (trought clover) to choose which installation start. As u said, I have to create an hybrid MBR...but i never heard about it...how to do it? I have to format external drive again creating hybrid MBR? Or can i leave the GPT scheme that i already have? Thanks man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaeuser Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Thanks for replying! Btw on the external drive (GPT formatted) i have these partitions: 1) EFI partition with clover 2) el capitan install 3) yosemite install 4) mavericks install 5) windows 10 install 6) windows 8.1 install My intention is that when i want to format a computer, i plug in USB and i am able (trought clover) to choose which installation start. As u said, I have to create an hybrid MBR...but i never heard about it...how to do it? I have to format external drive again creating hybrid MBR? Or can i leave the GPT scheme that i already have? Thanks man. You cannot chose between UEFI and legacy just like that at boot. If Windows is installed in 'UEFI mode' and the HDD is GPT, it will boot the UEFI way. If Windows is installed in 'legacy mode' and HDD is (Hybrid) MBR, it boots legacy. Maybe there is a workaround for 'UEFI mode' vs 'legacy mode' via some command fiddling, but that still doesn't resolve that you would need to convert between Hybrid MBR and Protective MBR at every single switch... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paologas91 Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 You cannot chose between UEFI and legacy just like that at boot. If Windows is installed in 'UEFI mode' and the HDD is GPT, it will boot the UEFI way. If Windows is installed in 'legacy mode' and HDD is (Hybrid) MBR, it boots legacy. Maybe there is a workaround for 'UEFI mode' vs 'legacy mode' via some command fiddling, but that still doesn't resolve that you would need to convert between Hybrid MBR and Protective MBR at every single switch... ok it's better i use another external drive MBR formatted to install various windows versions (legacy mode way). Thanks for explanation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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