If when installing Windows 7, 8 o Windows 10 On your computer, You get a message that Windows cannot be installed on this disk because the selected disk has a GPT partition style, below you will find detailed information about why this happens and what to do to install the system on this disk. Also there is a video on how to convert a GPT partition style to MBR at the end of the tutorial.
The instruction will cover two solutions to the problem of not being able to install Windows on a GPT disk: In the first case, we will still install the system on that disk, and in the second case, we will convert it to MBR ( in this circumstance the error will not be displayed). At the same time, In the final part of the post I will try to tell you which of these two variants is better and what we are talking about. Similar errors: we could not create a new partition or find an existing one when installing Windows 10, Windows cannot be installed on this disk.
What way to use
As i previously wrote, there are two options to correct the error “The selected drive has a GPT partition style”: install on a GPT drive, regardless of the operating system version, or convert the unit to MBR.
Recomiendo seleccionar uno de ellos en base a los siguientes parametersThe "parameters" are variables or criteria that are used to define, measure or evaluate a phenomenon or system. In various fields such as statistics, Computer Science and Scientific Research, Parameters are critical to establishing norms and standards that guide data analysis and interpretation. Their proper selection and handling are crucial to obtain accurate and relevant results in any study or project....
- If you have a relatively new computer with UEFI (when you enter BIOS, see a graphical interface, with a mouse and a design, not just a blue screen with white letters) and you are going to install a system 64 bits, Better to install Windows on a GPT disk, In other words, use the first method. At the same time, you probably already had Windows 10, 8 O 7 installed in GPT, and that at this moment you are reinstalling the system (even when it is not a fact).
- If the computer is old, with a normal BIOS, is installing Windows 7 of 32 bits, is better (and probably the only option) convertir GPT a MBR, how will I write in the second method. Despite this, there are a couple of restrictions you need to pay attention to: MBR disks cannot be more than 2 TB and it is difficult to create more than 4 partitions on them.
Later I will write more about the difference between GPT and MBR.
Windows installation 10, Windows 7 Y 8 on a GPT disk
Users installing Windows 7 are more likely to encounter problems when installing to a GPT partition style disk, but also you can get the same error with the text that the installation on this disk is not feasible in the version 8.
To install Windows on a GPT disk, we will need the following conditions to be met (some of them are not fulfilled at this time, since the error appears):
- Install a system 64 bits
- Boot in EFI mode.
Most likely, the second condition is not met and, therefore, immediately about how to solve it. One step is probably enough (change BIOS settings), maybe two (add preparation of bootable UEFI drive).
First, must look at the BIOS (software UEFI) from your computer. As a general rule, to enter BIOS, you must press a certain key immediately after turning on the computer (when the information about the motherboard manufacturer appears, the laptop manufacturer, etc.), Generally Del for Desktop PC and F2 for Desktop PC. laptop (but it may be different, usually says Press Key name To get into settings or something like that).
If the computer is currently running Windows 8 Y 8.1, you can enter the UEFI interface in an even easier way: through the panelA panel is a group of experts that meets to discuss and analyze a specific topic. These forums are common at conferences, seminars and public debates, where participants share their knowledge and perspectives. Panels can address a variety of areas, from science to politics, and its objective is to encourage the exchange of ideas and critical reflection among the attendees.... de accesos (the right one) go to change computer settings – update and recovery – Recovery – special boot options and click “Restart now”. Then, you will need to choose Diagnostics – Advanced Options – Firmware UEFI. Also the details of How to enter the Windows BIOS and UEFI 10.
The following two important options must be enabled in the BIOS:
- Enable UEFI boot instead of CSM (Compatibility support mode), which is generally found in BIOS Features or BIOS Settings.
- Set SATA operating mode to AHCI instead of IDE (regularly configured in Peripherals)
- Windows only 7 and earlier versions: disable secure boot
Different interface and language variants may have different locations and slightly different designations, but in general they are not difficult to identify. The screenshot shows my variant.
After saving settings, your computer is simply ready to install Windows on a GPT disk. If you are installing from a disk, most likely this time you will not be told that Windows cannot be installed on that disk.
Despite this, if you are using a bootable flash drive and the error reappears, I recommend that you rewrite the USB installation to be compatible with UEFI boot. There are several alternatives to do it, but I would suggest how to create UEFI bootable USB stick using command line, that will work in almost any circumstance (as long as there are no errors in the BIOS settings).
More information for experienced users: if the distribution supports both boot options, you can prevent booting in BIOS mode by deleting the bootmgr file in the root of the drive (similarly, by deleting efi folder you can prevent booting in UEFI mode).
That is all for now, since I assume you already know how to boot from flash drive in BIOS and install Windows on your computer (but, there is this information in my web portal in the respective section).
GPT to MBR conversion during operating system installation
In case you prefer to convert a GPT disk to MBR, your computer has a BIOS “normal” (o UEFI with CSM de arranque mode), and apparently planning to install windows 7, the optimal possibility to do so is throughout the operating system installation. .
Note: All data on the disc will be erased (of all partitions on the disk) while performing the following steps.
To convert GPT to MBR, presione Shift + F10 (o Shift + Fn + F10 for some laptops) in windows installer, then the command line will open. Then enter the following commands in order:
- disc piece
- list disk (after executing this command you will have to mark yourself the number of the disk to convert)
- select disk N (where N is the disk number of the previous command)
- clean up (clean the disk)
- convert mbr
- create primary partition
- active
- fs format = fast ntfs
- Shall
It can also be useful: Other alternatives to convert a GPT disk to MBR. At the same time, from another statement describing a similar error, you can use the second method to convert to MBR without giving up data: the selected disk has an MBR partition table when installing Windows (you will just have to convert to MBR instead of GPT, as in the instruction).
If you were in the disk configuration stage during installation when you ran these commands, click on “Update” to update disk configuration. The rest of the installation proceeds regularly and no message will be displayed stating that the disk has a GPT partition style.
What to do if the disk has a GPT partition style – video
The following video shows only one solution to the problem, what is to convert the disk from GPT to MBR, with or without data loss.
If during the conversion by the tested method without data loss, the program reports that it cannot convert the system disk, you can erase the first hidden partition with the bootloader using the same program, and then the conversion will be feasible.
UEFA, GPT, BIOS and MBR: What is?
In computers “ancient” (not really that old yet), BIOS software installed on motherboard, who performed an initial scan and diagnosis of the computer, and then started the operating system focusing on the disk boot record. MBR duro.
UEFI software comes to replace BIOS in computers (motherboards to be exact) that are made today and most manufacturers have switched to this option.
UEFI benefits include faster boot speeds, security features such as Secure Boot and support for hardware-encrypted hard drives and UEFI drivers. At the same time, as explained in the guide, handles GPT partition styles to help support larger drives with more partitions. (At the same time, in most systems, UEFI software has BIOS and MBR support features).
What is better? As a user, for the moment, I don't think one option has any advantage over the other. Besides, I'm sure there won't be a short-term alternative: UEFI and GPT only, and hard drives of more than 4 TB.
