GPT drive Installation not allowed

[Guest]

Well I'm disappointed! One of my main reasons for wanting to move to Vista
has been crippled. Only a few months ago (Windows and GPT FAQ Version 1.1
Updated: May 3, 2006) Microsoft stated:

"16. Can Windows Vista and Windows Server codename Longhorn read, write, and
boot from GPT disks?
Yes, all versions can use GPT partitioned disks for data. Booting is only
supported for EFI-based systems. "

But it seems that MS has backed off and at least RC1 refuses to use a GPT
partition as either the system or even the boot partition. The system
partition (cunningly devised name for the one you boot from) I can partially
understand since the interactions with EFI create new problems, but the boot
partition (cunningly devised name for the one you put the system on) seems an
artificial restriction, since all the bootup file processing is complete
before accessing the system.

I had hoped to get out of all the problems in XP with accessing my 6TB of
data (creating logical raid arrays, joining them into a single dynamic
volume) and all the performance overhead that introduced.

Is nobody else trying to get over 2TB support?

I'll either have to cut out a "logical array" out of the real array for a
boot/system drive (which causes different problems in adding drives to the
array) or I'll have to add a few more drives for the boot/system partition
and access the the GPT volume as pure data (which takes up drive slots in my
system)

Can someone from Microsoft explain why the support has been crippled?

 

[Jack]

Microsoft, where are you???????????

 

[Bill Frisbee]

CVP,

I wish I could test this, but Microsoft says that an EFI-based system is
required to boot from GPT. Right now since there is little interest from the
major PC manufacturers, none support EFI based systems (even though the
Intel 945 and up chipsets full support it).

Microsoft has warned that because of the hardware manufacturers disinterest
in supporting EFI, the 32-bit version of Vista will not support EFI booting.
However support for x64 versions will hit in SP1 as the x64 market expands
and overtakes that of the 32-bit market. Blame the motherboard makers for
not investing in EFI technologies and getting off of the ancient BIOS
stuff...

http://apcmag.com/apc/v3.nsf/0/E666E4A0A303D9AACA25712C008166C4


Bill F.

 

[Guest]

Bill, many thanks for the pointer to the updated strategy. I must have
missed hearing about that change.

I guess I'll fumble along until the unspecified 'subsequent release of
Windows client' and hope it's not "the next-generation of Windows" - waiting
for Vista was bad enough.

... the 32-bit version of Vista will not support EFI booting.

Makes sense to me (if not to Apple!). I've decided to take this (Vista)
opportunity to move to 64-bit. I've got another machine or two running XP
anyway, and that makes it easier to move hardware (printers etc.) and special
apps to where they're supported best and liberal use of Remote Desktop ties
it all together.

Of course none of this really explains why the restriction also applies to
the "boot" partition as opposed to the "system" one. I'd have been quite
happy with a separate "system" drive just to get the OS started. But... it is
what it is...!

 

[Guest]

Yes, the motherboard manufactures are a little behind the times, but I know
Gateway has been making an EFI compliant system for several years now, and of
course there's Apple. Is this a chicken and egg problem? Maybe if Vista
outright supported EFI then more motherboard manuafactures would support it
too.

I'm not an EFI expert, but I suppose that the only thing necessary to
support EFI is a boot-PROM change???

Bill, do you know of any special support need in the chipset for EFI?

Cheers, Eric

 

[AJR]

Not that simple - EFI is specific to Intel and eliminates "BIOS" although
GPT and MBR drives can co-exist.