Page 1 of 2

IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sat May 03, 2025 7:41 pm
by rustleg
I tried to install IFL to a GPT partition on my new UEFI system but it says MakeHDD can't use a GPT partition. So does that mean I can't have IFL as a separate OS on my system booted with BIU? This is how I have used IFL in the past instead of via a USB stick. Is this a technical issue or have you not been asked for this before? In which case I would like to request this in a near future update. After all UEFI and GPT have been around now for a long time so it does seem odd.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sat May 03, 2025 7:52 pm
by rustleg
Thinking more, is it because IFU is the preferred tool? I guess I used IFL in the past because of the shortcomings of IFD.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sat May 03, 2025 9:23 pm
by Brian K
rustleg, this is what I do.
Create an IFL UFD.
In BIU Part Work, create 150 MiB of Free Space on any drive.
Using IFU, copy the UFD IFL partition to the 150 MiB of Free Space. The data will fit. (Be careful not to copy the IFL Entire Drive)
Create a Boot Item.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 7:52 am
by rustleg
Thanks Brian, this worked but I still don't understand booting in a UEFI system. In this case I just set the boot partition as the new IFL partition in the GPT drive not really expecting it to work as there was no EFI system partition specified. Why was this not needed whereas it is needed for my Linux Mint installation? I have asked Perplexity AI for an explanation of how a UEFI system boots and it involves an EFI system partition.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:01 am
by Brian K
My Boot Item has the Boot File as...

\efi\boot\grubx64.efi

That is the EFI folder on the UFD.
The IFL item appears in the Boot Menu. You can boot it from Windows if you desire, using BootNow.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 10:47 am
by rustleg
When I looked in my boot item I found \efi\boot\grubx64.efi in the boot field. I had left it blank so I guess BIU must have put it in there.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 3:48 pm
by rustleg
Mmm. Now I have used IFU I am inclined to remove IFL. I presume any update to BIU will also update IFU so no need to keep updating IFL. Does this seem logical?

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:17 pm
by Brian K
I use IFL for restoring images. It's the fastest TeraByte Unlimited app in my computers.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:43 pm
by rustleg
Thanks. As I've installed it I'll leave it there as it takes up little space.

Re: IFL on GPT partition

Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 3:07 pm
by rustleg
Yes, I timed making an image of a Linux partition with IFL against BIU. IFL was 18 seconds, BIU 55 seconds. Quite a speed difference! I will keep using IFL.