How can I convert my partition from GPT to MBR and make my system dual boot Kali and Windows?

Question

I want someone to help me how to install Kali on my laptop and want to know how to convert a GPT partition to MBR.

I searched on YouTube but most of the popular tutorials didn’t work. Even after successfully installing it not booting in Kali rather than that its booting in Windows 8.1.

I contacted one laptop service center he said that its not possible to install it on Windows 8.1 you have to upgrade it to 10 and then he can install Kali on my laptop for 700 rupees which is very expensive amount for me. I tried to convince the service center that I am a student give some discount he turned me away.

I tried to install Kali more than 15 times but I failed. I think its my mistake because I don’t like reading stuffs. I decided to use it inside a VM (VMware)buy it hangs very much and cannot use it efficiently.

Recently I tried to install it with Rufus. 

• kali-linux-2020.2-installer-amd64 I selected as ISO image.
• file system was fat32.
• DD image I selected
• After making the pendrive bootable
• turned off secure boot
• turned on legacy boot
• restarted my system.
• selected graphical install
• clicked all the options.
• partitioning my disk
• first partition was root ext4
• second partition was home ext4
• third partition was swap
• Mount I selected as MBR
• Started installing software left it as it was.

Then it displayed the message that Kali has been successfully installed and message displayed to remove my USB flash drive and restart.

I did, but could not see the grub boot loader.

I want to mention that in Rufus I also tried use in all possible combination like MBR and file system is NTFS.

My sys configuration

brand         : dell inspiron 5000 series
HD            : western digital
OS            : windows 8.1 original
BIOS  version : A02:

Question 1: I would be grateful if someone could guide me to install Kali.

I installed Kali Linux on my system but it didn’t boot in to it rather that it boot into Windows 8.1. So after installing I tried to used EasyBCD when I runs it it shows a message that boot mode it set to EFI by Microsoft due to that full functionality is not accessible to it so I can’t make a way for Kali.

Then I decided to change the partition to MBR but failed.

I have one hard disk and a USB flash drive. I have made the USB flash drive bootable and but could not install Kali and make it dual boot with Windows 8.1. After searching like hell I found that I must change partition to MBR from GPT.

There was no free software available to do that.

Here is the software I have tried to convert my disk partition to MBR:

• EaseUS Partion
• MiniToolPartition
• MacroritPartition

I found some links but it doesn't assure that my Windows install will not be deleted and I could make dual boot.

Question 2: How can I convert my partition from GPT to MBR and make my system dual boot?

Answer 1

It is strongly advisable you backup your information. Even more so under the circumstances you describe.

I found several sources mentioning that grub does not show up after a dual boot installation, and related, see below. Some of them refer to Kali, and some do not; many (but not all) of the comments there should apply anyway, since it is Debian-based.

As per your description, I am not certain what sequence you tried, and what is the current state of your system. I guess it is set to UEFI boot. Dual booting with Kali should work. There seems to be no need to

1. Convert from GPT to MBR (it is advisable that you link the sources you mention)
2. Upgrade from Win 8.1 to Win 10, although it is strongly advisable. Most of the sources mention Win 10 anyway, so I would not be certain the upgrade is not needed.

The answer can be fine tuned upon your feedback on:

1. What you see in the UEFI boot menu (a description plus an image helps). Extra info as mentioned here helps.

The possible solutions show a significant spread. I post a summary, while I wait for your feedback:

1. The bcdeditway. Run from within Windows bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path /EFI/Kali/grub64.efi (source). This is alternative to the Ubuntu version Fix Grub Not Showing For Windows 10 Linux Dual Boot bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi. Apparently both slash or backslash work. See also How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Linux using BCDEdit and Windows 7: How to use BCDEDIT to create a new entry for Linux?
2. Reinstall GRUB.
3. Set the Kali partition to bootable.
4. Last resort #1: Use rEFInd boot manager.
5. Last resort #2: Install a triple boot with Ubuntu.

Related links

1. Grub is not showing on windows 10 computer
2. Restore Dual Boot of Kali and Windows 10
3. Solved -Kali Linux Grub Error Problem with Windows 10 dual boot Problem
4. Kali 2.0 GRUB Problem Windows 10
5. Dual-boot boot menu does not show up after installing Ubuntu 15.10 alongside Windows 10
6. Installed Debian alongside Windows 10 but GRUB does not show
7. How to Get Ubuntu to Boot Before Windows
8. How To Access UEFI Firmware Settings In Windows 10

Answer 2

As far as i can see, you haven't installed Kali on your system, but instead you've made your USB drive bootable through Rufus.

Upon booting, click the F2 key and you should enter the BIOS menu. From there choose boot options or something similar and select your USB. It should boot into Kali.

Choose “Try Now” or some similar option. If you want to dual boot, you can choose “Install Now” but I'd refrain from making Kali a permanent OS.

Answer 3

I remark that you do not need dual boot in order to run Kali Linux on Windows 10 WSL. This will avoid the need to convert the disk and the possibility of loosing everything.

Kali Linux is available from the Microsoft Store.

It is advisable to first update Windows 10 to version 2004 and to enable WSL2. You will need to enable the Windows features of "Windows Subsystem for Linux" and "Virtual Machine Platform", then install Kali from the Microsoft Store.

For details see the article How to install Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 on Windows 10.

I advise to take good backups before starting, up to taking a backup image of the disk. For taking an image backup of the system disk one product is AOMEI Backupper Freeware. Make a bootable media, and test booting it to see that it can see both the hard disk and the backup image, just in case you will want to restore the last working version of Windows.