Boot up problem on Win7 using GPT partiton without UEFI.

[Migration User]

I've got 2 netbook machines that I recentlly purchased and am trying to get the encyption software to work.

 

The machines come preinstalled with Windows 7 Pro 64bit.

I would have usually used Safeguard encryption but is does not support GPT partition tables so I am trialing Symantec Encryption with a view to purchasing if it works okay.

After installation of encryption, the password screen at boot up just flashes continuously as though the return key is held down and woult allow you to type anything.

If I change the BIOS Boot Mode to UEFI the screen is okay and allows me to type in the password, but when I do, windows wants to boot to recovery mode and then crashes with an error about windowsefi.dll.

I'm guessing this is all normal as Windows would have to have been installed using UEFI bios at the time to allow this to work.

I would reinstall windows but because of licencing and the way Acer supply their restoration system, this is not and option as I would have to purchase a new windows licence. If this were an option I would have reformatted the hard disk to MBR and reinstalled anyway using my exisiting product.

 

Is there any way to fix this setup so that you can use Legacy Bios boot mode with a GPT partition?

[_Adam_]

Hi, maaarcooose

Here you can find some information about converting GPT to MBR depending on if you use Microsoft media (standard installation) or if it's an OEM system (OEM installation). See if this can be of any help but it is rather a tricky task. If this is not going to help then the only option is to FORMAT the drive again. Also please make sure that you use the current version of our product which is SED 10.3.2 MP3

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=580

 

http://www.firewing1.com/node/610

http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/mbr2gpt.html#gpt2mbr

http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/GPT-disk-partition-manager/convert-gpt-disk-to-mbr-disk.htm

 

Technically speaking I don't see how Legacy BIOS mode can work with GPT partition.

MBR and GPT are two different standards of partition tables. MBR can address 32 bits for storing logical block addresses where GPT allocates 64 bits for logical block addresses and these are not the only differences between them.

More information you can find here as well please:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_boot_record

Have a look to our Best Practies as well:

Best Practices: Symantec Drive Encryption
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH149543

and

Symantec Encryption Desktop 10.3.2 compatibility with Microsoft Windows 8/8.1
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH203071

HTH

[Migration User]

Indeed.

The whole legacy bios mode with GPT partition table issue is something I've messed around with for weeks but not been able to solve. The system seems to have an EFI partion on the begining with a GPT partiton table. I can't explain it either.
 

Converting from GPT to MBR was not an option either as it mosly would require reinstallation of Windows which was not an option.

 

I have solved the issue though as follows:

1. Enable UEFI Bios Mode.
2. Set a Supervisor password.
3. Reboot.
4. In BIOS, disable secure boot.
5. Reboot
6. Set suprvisor password back to blank.
7. Reboot.
8. All working now.

I suspect that ACER does something strange with it's Windows 8 to Windows 7 downgrade machines and as such just changes a BIOS setting and then restores an image which have a GPT partition table. It boots and works like this but is a bit strange.

 

 

[_Adam_]

Hi maaarcooose,

 

Happy the you resolved the problem and manage to disable a secure boot which was also a part of the KB:

Symantec Encryption Desktop 10.3.2 compatibility with Microsoft Windows 8/8.1
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH203071

If you can Mark as Solution your response or request split solution please do it as this will help others to find a solution in this thread.

Thank you.