WinPE GPT MFT Corruption and Fix
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:51 am
The following is based on Intel AHCI drivers in a Terabyte WinPE. This is to pass on what I found as a solution and Terabyte is NOT responsible for the Intel drivers inside a WAIK installation or in Windows installation that causes the MFT corruption to a GPT drive.
Before posting, I had searched the forum for GPT problems. The ones I found were not related to this. I would like to hear if anyone has had similar issues with their GPT drives.
To begin, as I stated in am earlier post, after installing a GPT data drive, 3TB drive, I received MFT corruption when installing a new Windows 7 partition. A work around to that problem is turning the GPT drive off in the bios, install Windows 7 and update the Intel drivers AHCI drivers to 11.2.0.1013 and lastly re-enable the GPT drive in the bios to avoid any MFT corruption. This time, I have included the versions of the drivers listed.
I just now built a WinPE using, the tools in tbwinpe.zip and downloading the WAIK for Windows 7. I also upgraded the WAIK to the latest SP1. The build went smoothly and I am really impressed with the TB Launcher and the other goodies that were added.
As a test, after booting into the TB WinPE without doing anything, I restarted the machine back into Windows 7 with the GPT drive still enabled. The MFT corruption came back again because of the Intel drivers in the WinPE. Inside Windows 7, chkdsk fixed the MFT corruption.
I identified the initial WinPE drivers as Intel version 8.6.2.1014 dated 11/20/2010. I used the DISM utility to update the drivers in the WIM to 11.2.0.1013 dated 11/19/12 and it fixed the MFT problem when rebooting, like the above test. After doing a test backup and validation inside WinPE and validated again within Windows 7, I am happy to say that all went well with no problems.
FYI, I originally setup the drive, changed it to GPT, and formatted inside Bootit BM. I see two partitions, Microsoft's reserved partition and one data partition that is the rest of the drive. I am assuming this is the best way to set the drive up, correct?
If possible, I would like to be able to remove or hide the GPT drive without removing it from the bios, when needed, in the Menu Edit Item in each boot item. From the Menu Edit Item's, here is what I found for each drive type.
EMBR partition - Can be cleared or hidden with the appropriate tab, Clear or Hide
MBR drives - Can be hidden from the Volumes tab, select partition
GPT drives - All options are grayed out
I realize this may not be option with a GPT drive, but you don't know if you don't ask.
Thanks,
Rich071
Before posting, I had searched the forum for GPT problems. The ones I found were not related to this. I would like to hear if anyone has had similar issues with their GPT drives.
To begin, as I stated in am earlier post, after installing a GPT data drive, 3TB drive, I received MFT corruption when installing a new Windows 7 partition. A work around to that problem is turning the GPT drive off in the bios, install Windows 7 and update the Intel drivers AHCI drivers to 11.2.0.1013 and lastly re-enable the GPT drive in the bios to avoid any MFT corruption. This time, I have included the versions of the drivers listed.
I just now built a WinPE using, the tools in tbwinpe.zip and downloading the WAIK for Windows 7. I also upgraded the WAIK to the latest SP1. The build went smoothly and I am really impressed with the TB Launcher and the other goodies that were added.
As a test, after booting into the TB WinPE without doing anything, I restarted the machine back into Windows 7 with the GPT drive still enabled. The MFT corruption came back again because of the Intel drivers in the WinPE. Inside Windows 7, chkdsk fixed the MFT corruption.
I identified the initial WinPE drivers as Intel version 8.6.2.1014 dated 11/20/2010. I used the DISM utility to update the drivers in the WIM to 11.2.0.1013 dated 11/19/12 and it fixed the MFT problem when rebooting, like the above test. After doing a test backup and validation inside WinPE and validated again within Windows 7, I am happy to say that all went well with no problems.
FYI, I originally setup the drive, changed it to GPT, and formatted inside Bootit BM. I see two partitions, Microsoft's reserved partition and one data partition that is the rest of the drive. I am assuming this is the best way to set the drive up, correct?
If possible, I would like to be able to remove or hide the GPT drive without removing it from the bios, when needed, in the Menu Edit Item in each boot item. From the Menu Edit Item's, here is what I found for each drive type.
EMBR partition - Can be cleared or hidden with the appropriate tab, Clear or Hide
MBR drives - Can be hidden from the Volumes tab, select partition
GPT drives - All options are grayed out
I realize this may not be option with a GPT drive, but you don't know if you don't ask.
Thanks,
Rich071