Lab 3

MBR & GPT

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Computer boot process
• When you turn on your computer, the power
supply sends power to the motherboard which in
turn activates the boot process.
• The CPU sends signals to the BIOS (Basic
Input/Output System) firmware.
• The BIOS evaluate the hardware and reads the
first sector of the hard disk which contains the
master boot record (MBR).
• MBR contains a special program called the boot
loader. The BIOS loads it into the memory.
• The bootloader reads the content of the partition
table and loads the active partition.
• Power-on-self-test (POST): are instructions stored
in a ROM (Read Only Memory) as part of the BIOS.
• The POST runs a series of tests to make sure that
everything is working. It checks the video card,
CPU, RAM, keyboard and mouse.
• Then OS takes over.
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Partitioning
• Partitioning is a crucial aspect of hard drive management,
helping organize and structure data on storage devices.
• Over time, two primary partitioning schemes have
emerged: Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition
Table (GPT).
• These schemes have distinct characteristics, benefits, and
limitations that affect system performance, capacity, and
compatibility.
• Understanding the differences between MBR and GPT is
essential for choosing the right partition style for specific
tasks or hardware configurations.

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MASTER BOOT RECORD
(MBR)
Master Boot Record (MBR)
• The Master Boot Record (MBR) is one of the oldest partitioning
systems, introduced in 1983 with IBM PCs. It is still widely used in
various systems, especially older ones.
• The MBR structure resides in the first sector of a storage device
(usually at the 512th byte), and it contains two main components:
o The Bootloader: This is a small code that the system's BIOS (Basic Input/Output
System) reads during the startup process to load the operating system.
o The Partition Table: The MBR partition table can define up to four primary
partitions, limiting the number of distinct data sections on a hard disk. One of
these partitions can be an "extended partition," which can contain additional
"logical" partitions, effectively bypassing the four-partition limit.

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Master Boot Record (MBR)
• MBR is one of the most
important processes in the
boot process.
• MBR is a small piece of code
which located in the very
beginning of the hard drive.
• It is only 512 bytes in size
(ends with 0x55 & 0xAA).
• MBR is exactly one sector space.
• MBR contains information about
the disk partitioning scheme
(partition table).

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Master Boot Record (MBR)
MBR is consisting of three main parts:
1. Bootloader code (the first 446 bytes) which is responsible for loading the operating
system into memory and starting its execution.
2. Partition table (the next 64 bytes): describes the location for the individual partitions.
It is divided into 4 partitions. Each partition is 16 bytes in length.
3. Boot signature (the last two bytes 55 AA): which means that the MBR is valid and
can be used to boot the operating system.

• MBR has maximum 2TB for 1 partition.

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Master Boot Record (MBR)
• Advantages of MBR:
o Compatibility: MBR has been around for decades and is supported by
almost all operating systems, including legacy systems such as DOS and
early Windows versions.
o Simple Structure: Its structure is relatively easy to understand and
implement, making it suitable for systems with basic partitioning needs.
• Limitations of MBR:
o Partition Limitations: MBR supports only four primary partitions. If more
partitions are needed, users must create an extended partition, which can
lead to complexity in managing logical drives.
o Size Limitations: MBR can only address up to 2 terabytes (TB) of storage.
As hard drives continue to grow in size, this limit has become a critical
drawback.
o Reliability: The MBR is located in a single sector at the beginning of the
drive, and if this sector becomes corrupted (e.g., by malware or disk
failure), the entire drive can become unbootable. There is no redundancy
or backup for the MBR.

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Master partition table
• Contains only four entries.
• Only one can be bootable.

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Common disk partition types

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 GLOBALLY UNIQUE
IDENTIFIER PARTITION
TABLE (GPT)
Globally unique identifier Partition
Table (GPT)
• The GUID Partition Table (GPT) is a newer partitioning scheme
that was introduced as part of the Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface (UEFI) standard.
• GPT is designed to overcome the limitations of MBR and offers
a modern solution for partitioning, especially for large-capacity
drives.
• GPT uses globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) to define partitions
and offers several advantages over the MBR system.
• It is called GUID Partition Table because every partition on your
drive will have a “globally unique identifier”.
• Windows can have up to 128 partitions with GPT partitioning
scheme.
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Globally unique identifier Partition Table (GPT)
• Advantages of GPT:
o Unlimited Partitions: GPT allows for an almost unlimited number
of partitions (128 on Windows systems), eliminating the four-
partition constraint found in MBR.
o Larger Disk Size Support: GPT can handle disks larger than 2 TB,
supporting sizes up to 9.4 zettabytes (ZB), a staggering amount
that makes it future-proof for modern storage requirements.
o Improved Reliability: GPT stores multiple copies of the partitioning
and boot data across the disk, typically at the beginning and end of
the drive. This redundancy ensures that the drive can recover from
corruption of critical data in one section of the disk.
o CRC Protection: GPT uses Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) values
to ensure the integrity of its header and partition table. If
corruption is detected, GPT can attempt to repair the issue using a
backup copy of the data.

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Globally unique identifier Partition Table (GPT)
• Limitations of GPT:
o Compatibility Issues: Older operating systems (such as Windows
XP and earlier) do not support GPT without special software or
workarounds. BIOS-based systems also cannot boot from GPT
disks, as UEFI is required for booting from a GPT partition.
o Complexity: GPT’s structure is more complex compared to MBR,
which can make it less intuitive for users accustomed to the
simpler MBR system.

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When to Use MBR vs. GPT
• Choose MBR if:
o You are working with a drive smaller than 2 TB.You need
compatibility with older operating systems (e.g., Windows XP or
older).
o The system you are working with uses BIOS rather than UEFI.
• Choose GPT if:
o You are working with a drive larger than 2 TB.
o You need more than four primary partitions.
o Your system is modern and uses UEFI, or you are planning for
future-proofing.
o You prioritize data integrity and redundancy in case of corruption.

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Thank you
• Salma Abo-Bakr Abo-Zaid
• [email protected]

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