Windows cannot be installed to this disk bios

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How do you fix Windows cannot be installed on this drive? The message Windows cannot be installed on this drive typically appears during the Windows installation process, indicating that there is an error preventing you from continuing the Windows installation. In addition to the error, there can be another message appearing along with it, providing additional information. And the accompanying error message varies depending on the underlying cause of the issue, and thus it is useful to read the error message to get clues to solutions. The error message can be caused by several reasons, such as, improper file system format, incorrect partition table type, insufficient disk or partition size, bad sectors, wrong BIOS/UEFI settings, etc.

You can follow troubleshooting mentioned below to identity and fix the error. It is important to back up any data you don’t want to lose before making changes to the drive, because some solution involves deleting or formatting data and partitions. It’s always a good idea to keep backups for important data.

Fix 1: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.

You may receive the error message »
The selected disk is of the GPT partition style
» when installing Windows OS to a GPT-style disk, see picture below. You will ask why Windows cannot be installed to this GPT disk. Generally, the main cause is motherboard. There are two types of boot modes: BIOS Boot Mode and UEFI Boot Mode. Most Windows versions have UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) boot mode, while some versions since older days of Window XP have BIOS (Basic Input Output System) boot mode. Due to different boot modes, there are two types of partitioning schemes: MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table). If you want to boot system from a GPT disk, the motherboard should support UEFI; while on BIOS you should use MBR partition table. Thus, if you install Windows on BIOS system, the GPT partition table comes in your way. The installation will be blocked by the error.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Solution #1: Configure BIOS settings (boot mode)

First of all, you should ensure the Boot Mode in your BIOS is set to Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI. At present, most motherboards support both legacy BIOS boot and UEFI boot. Thus, you need to make sure the proper boot mode is selected in BIOS setting. The picture shows the boot mode is modified to Legacy. Please note that the BIOS menu may look different on your computer, as it varies based on the models of the motherboard on your computer.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Solution #2: Convert the GPT disk to MBR without losing data

Since Windows cannot be installed on the GPT disk, you can fix the error by converting the GPT disk to MBR format. The converting does not deleting existing partitions and files if you use third-party free partition manager software to finish the task.

DiskGenius is free partition manager software for all Windows users and it is able to convert GPT disk to MBR without risking any data loss. If you prefer a user-friendly alternative to the Command Prompt,
DiskGenius Free Edition
is an excellent choice, as it is easier and safer to use. Additionally, this partition tool enables you to create a WinPE bootable USB disk, allowing you to manage your disks and partitions even if your system fails to boot. Furthermore, DiskGenius can assist you in backing up your data, imaging your system, recovering lost data or partitions, and backing up your partition table, migrating Windows 11/10 to HDDs or SSDs, etc.

Step 1. Download, install and launch DiskGenius from your computer. If your computer cannot boot to system, you can
create a bootable USB disk
to boot computer, and then carry out rest tasks.

Step 2. Select the GPT disk to be converted and click «Disk» menu to choose «Convert to MBR Partition Table«, as below:

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 3. Click Save All button from toolbar and click «Yes» from pop-up message box to save changes on partition table.

Tips: If capacity of the GPT disk is larger than 2TB, system can only make use of 2TB after it is converted to MBR.

Solution #3: Clean up the disk and convert to MBR using Command Prompt

It’s important to note that the conversion from GPT to MBR using Command Prompt will result in data loss on the disk, as the process involves deleting all partitions and data on the disk. it’s strongly recommended to back up all important data from the disk to a separate storage device to prevent data loss before trying following steps.

Step 1. Backup all of your data on the GPT disk you want to convert, as the process will erase all data.

If you can’t afford to clean the disk or do not want to take efforts to back up data, you can convert GPT to MBR following steps in Solution 2 which does not disturb existing data.

Step 2. Run Command Prompt.

Boot computer from the Windows installation disk and click «Repair your computer» when you see following screen.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

You will then be directed to the Advanced Recovery mode and see the Troubleshoot screen. The click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 3. Type diskpart in the command prompt and press Enter.

Step 4. Type in list disk and hit Enter key to view which one is of GPT style. The GPT disk is marked with asterisk in the GPT column. Remember the disk number you need to clean and convert.

Step 5. Type select disk # (# is the disk number and you should replace it with the actual number in your computer) to select disk.

Step 6. Type clean and press Enter.

Notice: this step will completely clean up selected disk, and all partitions and data will be deleted. Please make sure you have a backup before performing this command.

Step 7. Type convert mbr and press Enter, and the disk will be converted to MBR. Then you can execute exit command to exit or continue creating partition on this MBR disk.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Fix 2: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks.

When you attempt to install Windows in UEFI mode on your computer, you cannot select the disk you want. You may click Show details to view the reason which says »
The selected disk has an MBR partition table
. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks». That means you cannot install UEFI mode on a disk using MBR partition table and it can only install to GPT disks, as image below:

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

GPT (GUID Partition Table) was introduced as part of UEFI which is the acronym for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. Compared to the traditional MBR partitioning scheme, GPT offers a more flexible approach to disk partitioning. Partitions or volumes are contiguous areas on a physical or logical disk, visible to both the system firmware and the installed Windows operating system. The system firmware controls access to partitions before the operating system boots, and once booted, the partitions are managed by the OS.

Many modern computers support the UEFI version of BIOS, which speeds up boot and shutdown speed as well as provides security features. If you want to boot computer in UEFI mode, the disk installs operating system should be of GPT style. Many computers are able to use UEFI and they also provide CSM (compatibility support module) so that legacy version of BIOS can be used in necessary. The GPT drive format allows users to set up drives larger than 4TB and does not impose a limit on the number of partitions.

Solution #1: Change BIOS Boot Settings

The first try to solve the problem should be going through BIOS and changing UEFI boot settings. You can manually switch boot mode to legacy BIOS compatibility instead of UEFI mode.

Step 1. Restart computer and enter BIOS by pressing the specified key prompted by your motherboard manufacturer.

The prompt appears on screen before computer boots into Windows.

Step 2. Go to Boot tab and locate boot order option. Then disable EFI Boot Source and change boot mode to Legacy.

Step 3. Save changes and exit.

Solution 2: Convert MBR disk to GPT using DiskGenius Free

DiskGenius Free Edition is able to convert an MBR disk to GPT without losing data and the process is quite easy to follow:

Step 1. Install and launch DiskGenius Free. You can download this free partition manger software from the download center.

Step 2. Locate and select the MBR disk to be converted to GPT and click «Disk» menu to choose «Convert To GUID Partition Table«.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 3. Click «OK» button on the message box. Then click «Save All» button to make the converting work

When the disk is converted to GPT, you can retry installing Windows again and check if the error is fixed.

Fix 3: Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported for installation.

The «The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported for installation» error is likely to appear when you attempt to install Windows on a dynamic disk. Users are allowed to make a fresh Windows installation on a dynamic volume only when the volume was converted from a basic disk and retained an entry in partition table. However, simple volumes (except system or boot volumes before conversion) that have been converted from basic disks do not have an entry in partition table, thus the installation will end up with the following error.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

What is basic disk and dynamic disk? A basic disk is a storage type mostly used in Windows operating system, providing a solution to accommodate an array which changes storage requirement scenarios. A basic disk consists of partitions, such as primary and logical partitions, which can be formatted with a file system to store data. Generally, basic disks use MBR partition style since the disk is used by Microsoft MS-DOS operating system and all versions of Windows. Also, it supports GPT partitions on systems that support it. With basic disks you can create and delete primary, extended and logical partitions as well as format a partition or mark it as active.

On the other hand, a dynamic disk offers additional features not found in basic disks, for example, it is able to create volumes crossing multiple disks and create fault-tolerant volumes. Either MBR or GPT partition table styles can be used by a dynamic disk. Dynamic disks provide greater flexibility for managing volumes by utilizing a database to track information for volumes and other dynamic disks. Additionally, dynamic disk volumes can be created on noncontiguous scope or physical disks, while volumes on a basic disk should be located on a contiguous area on a single physical disk.

Solution #1: Convert the dynamic disk to basic disk in Disk Management

Step 1. Back up all volumes and data on the dynamic disk to be converted to basic, as this converting method removes all partitions and data on the disk.

If you don’t want to spends too much effort on data backup and transferring, you can try Solution 3 which can do the converion without deleting data.

Step 2. Open Disk Management. Right-click the Start menu (the Windows icon) and click «Disk Management».

Step 3. Delete all volumes on the disk. Right-click each volume on the disk you want to change to basic disk and select Delete Volume.

The disk will be converted to basic automatically after all volumes are deleted from the disk. If the converting does not happen, then move to step 4.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 4. Right-click the disk and select Convert to Basic Disk. Once the disk is converted to basic disk, you can create partitions on the disk.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Solution #2: Change a dynamic disk to basic disk using command line

Warning: If you want to keep your files on the disk, back up files or copy data to another disk before starting following steps.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt. If there in not operating system on your computer, you can use a Windows installation CD or bootable disk to boot computer and open CMD.

After the computer boots from the installation disc, choose «Repair your computer» and then access «Troubleshoot» to locate «Command Prompt».

Step 2. Delete all volumes on the dynamic disk by typing following commands with pressing Enter after each command.

  diskpart

  list disk

  select disk # (# is the number of the dynamic disk)

  detail disk

  select volume 0

  delete volume

To delete other volumes, you can continue typing «select volume 1» -> «delete volume» one more time.

Step 3.  After all volumes are deleted, type convert basic and the disk will be converted into a basic disk.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Solution #3: Convert a dynamic disk to basic disk without data loss

Both methods above require you delete all volumes and data before converting, thus you should make sure there are not important data or you’ve created a full backup beforehand. Here is an alternative solution which is able to complete the conversion without losing data. DiskGenius is a professional dynamic disk converter, it is able to convert the dynamic disk to basic without deleting volumes within several seconds. Let’s see the entire converting process.

Step 1. Run DiskGenius and you can see the dynamic disk on the main interface.

Step 2. Locate and right-click on the dynamic disk and select Convert to Basic Disk option, as below:

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 3. Click OK button from the pop-up message box to make the changing work.

Fix 4: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS

Due to compatibility problems on file system, most versions of Windows operating system can be installed to partitions formatted to NTFS, and only few versions can be installed to a FAT partition. If the volume is formatted to an improper file system, you’ll receive error «Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS». Since the target partition has a file system issue, we can fix this error easily by changing its files system to NTFS.

Solution #1: Convert FAT file system to NTFS using Convert.exe

Converting the file system has the potential to result in data loss, and it is recommended to back up important data on the drive you are going to convert.

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt. Click Start button and enter cmd in searching box and press Enter.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt, type the following command convert G: /fs:ntfs and press Enter.

G is the drive letter of the partition that you want to change file system. You can open Windows Explorer to view the drive letter. Make sure the drive letter is correctly entered here. If it asks to enter the volume name, type in the name and press Enter.

Step 3. Convert.exe attempts to convert file system into NTFS and the process won’t take too long. After the conversion is complete, you might be prompted to restart your computer.

Solution #2: Format the partition into NTFS

Step 1. Copy the folder where DiskGenius installs to your bootable disk and then use the disk to boot computer.

Besides, you can create a bootable disk with DiskGenius: Click «Tools» menu and choose «Create WinPE Bootable USB Drive of DiskGenius» option.

Step 2. Launch DiskGenius, select the system partition you want to format to NTFS, and click «Format» button.

Step 3. Set the file system as NTFS and click Format button.

As to options like Cluster Size, Volume Label, Surface Scan, etc., you can follow the default value set by the partition manager.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 4. Click Yes from the message box which prompts all files on this partition will be lost after formatting.

Fix 5: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer’s hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk’s controller is enabled in the computer’s BIOS menu

You may receive the warning message «This computer’s hardware may not support booting to his disk. Ensure the disk’s controller is enabled in the computer’s BIOS menu» when you try to install Windows. If you click Next to continue and you will receive another error «Windows cannot find a system volume that meets requirements for installation».

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

This error may indicate that BIOS settings of your computer are not properly configured, thus you can try setting BIOS to factory and go back to default settings. Plus, please ensure that your computer’s firmware (BIOS/UEFI) is up to date. Manufacturers often release updates that can improve compatibility and fix bugs.

Also, this issue is caused by improperly configured hard disk mode; in that case, you need to change AHCI to Compatibility in BIOS. If there is not Compatibility option, you can select IDE. Additionally, if your system uses RAID, ensure that the RAID configuration is set up correctly in the BIOS/UEFI settings.

Fix 6: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The disk may fail soon. If other hard disks are available, install Windows in another location

There might be something wrong with the hard drive if you get the error «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The disk may fail soon. If other hard disks are available, install Windows in another location.» You should be cautious if the hard drive is damaged, as data on that disk may get lost, which is similar to the system warning
Windows detected a hard disk problem
, you should have a check for hard drive health condition.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 1. Check hard drive or SSD health via accessing S.M.A.R.T. data.

Select the hard disk that may fail soon and click Disk menu to choose View S.M.A.R.T. Information. If the health status is NOT Good, then backup data and verify bad sectors following Step 2.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

Step 2. Check bad sectors for the hard drive in questions.

Still in DiskGenius, select the disk you want to check bad sectors, click «Disk» and choose «Verify Or Repair Bad Sectors«. Then click Start Verify button to start scanning sectors for selected area.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

If the hard disk contains bad sectors, you can try repairing it with DiskGenius. However, it is crucial to backup all files before proceeding the repairing, as the process of repairing bad sectors can result in data loss. It is important to note that certain bad sectors caused by physical damages may be irreparable. In that situation, you can manually create a hidden partition on that area to isolate bad sectors. Moreover, it is recommended to install Windows operating system on a health hard drive or SSD that does not have bad sectors.

Fix 7: Windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error: 0x80300001

While installing Windows 7, you might run into an error saying «Windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error: 0x80300001». This error typically occurs when you are asked to exchange hard drives in order to install required drivers on the system and the system disk hasn’t been put back. It can also be caused by other reasons, so you may have to try more than one solution to solve it.

Solution #1: Reconnect Windows installation disk

Step 1. Boot computer using a Windows installation CD or USB disk to access the setup wizard. Go to the step which requires selecting a partition and click «Load Driver». When you see the error message, ignore it.

Step 2. Reinsert the installation disk and click Refresh link and then Advanced Drive Options to create a new partition with any size. If Windows prompts it has to carry out some operations, click «OK». Then you can see a new system partition and a new primary partition.

Step 3. Select the new primary partition and click «Next» button. Then the setup should continue without any errors.

Solution #2: Change boot order

It’s possible that this error occurs when the disk is not set as the boot disk provided that you are not using RAID. In that circumstance, you can get rid of the problem by changing boot order in BIOS.

Step 1. Enter BIOS Setup Utility. Turn on or restart your computer and watch message appearing on screen. A specific key such as Del or F2 will be promoted on the screen to enter BIOS. Press that key.

Step 2. Select the «Boot» tab. All BIOS utilities look different, but boot option is definitely included. Locate and select it.

Step 3. Set the hard drive where you want to install system as the boot device. Any attached storage devices like external hard drives, USB flash drives, floppy drives, etc. are listed here too, and you can change their order manually. Save changes and exit.

Fix 8: Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partition 1

People who try to install Windows using internal SAS controllers for hard drives will encounter the message «Windows cannot be installed to disk # partition #». Usually this issue occurs due to SAS driver issues or corrupted $MFT. The Microsoft Windows partition manager is out of touch with drivers after changes were made on partitions. Here is an approach to troubleshoot the problem.

Step 1. When the Windows installation process asks where you want to install Windows, load the SAS driver from a USB key. If the disk is larger than 2TB and needs to be converted to GPT, you can follow steps in previous solutions to do the conversion.

Step 2. View and check all possible partitions available for system installing. If the disk does not show up, have a check whether the drive is correctly installed.

Step 3. Delete partitions until there is only unallocated Space on the disk. Click «New» and you can see recommended partition size. Continue «OK» and you can see 3 partitions: system partition, MSR partition and large partition.

For this step, you can also use DiskGenius to
repartition the hard disk
and choose GUID partition table, which is easier and intuitive.

Step 4. Select the big partition and click «Refresh». Then click «Next» to start the installation.

Conclusion

This guide addresses 8 scenarios that the «Windows cannot be installed to this disk» error appears during the Windows setup process. If the selected disk is of improper partition table style corresponding to BIOS settings, Windows installation will be blocked by errors. This article provides step by step solutions to each situation. If you have better solutions, please feel free to contact us or share with other readers. It is important to note that certain approaches mentioned in this article, such as disk formatting and partition deletion, may result in data loss. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that all files and partitions are backed up prior to executing these steps. The free partition manager DiskGenius provides proper and effective functions to help fix this error occurring in different cases, and it is a qualified partition and disk management tool as well as data recovery program for both beginners and professional users.

В этой инструкции подробно о том, что делать, если при установке Windows вам сообщают, что невозможно установить Windows в раздел диска, а в подробностях — «Установка Windows на данный диск невозможна. Возможно, оборудование компьютера не поддерживает загрузку с данного диска. Убедитесь, что контроллер данного диска включен в меню BIOS компьютера». Похожие ошибки и способы их исправить: Установка на диск невозможна, выбранный диск имеет стиль разделов GPT, Установка на данный диск невозможна, на выбранном диске находится таблица MBR-разделов, Нам не удалось создать новый или найти существующий раздел при установке Windows 10.

Если же все-таки выбрать этот раздел и нажать «Далее» в программе установки, вы увидите ошибку сообщающую, что нам не удалось создать новый или найти существующий раздел с предложением просмотреть дополнительные сведения в файлах журнала программы установки. Ниже будут описаны способы исправить такую ошибку (которая может возникать в программах установки Windows 10 — Windows 7).

По мере того, как все чаще на компьютерах и ноутбуках пользователей встречается разнообразие в таблицах разделов на дисках (GPT и MBR), режимов работы HDD (AHCI и IDE) и типов загрузки (EFI и Legacy), учащаются и ошибки при установке Windows 10, 8 или Windows 7, вызванные этими параметрами. Описываемый случай — как раз одна из таких ошибок.

Примечание: если сообщение о том, что установка на диск невозможна сопровождается информацией об ошибке 0x80300002 или текстом «Возможно, этот диск скоро выйдет из строя» — это может быть вызвано плохим подключением диска или кабелей SATA, а также повреждениями самого накопителя или кабелей. Данный случай не рассматривается в текущем материале.

Исправление ошибки «Установка на данный диск невозможна» с помощью настроек БИОС (UEFI)

Чаще всего указанная ошибка происходит при установке Windows 7 на старых компьютерах с БИОС и Legacy загрузкой, в тех случаях, когда в БИОС в параметрах работы SATA устройств (т.е. жесткого диска) включен режим AHCI (или какие-либо режимы RAID, SCSI).

Ошибка Установка Windows на этот жесткий диск невозможна

Решение в данном конкретном случае — зайти в параметры БИОС и изменить режим работы жесткого диска на IDE. Как правило, это делается где-то в разделе Integrated Peripherals — SATA Mode настроек БИОС (несколько примеров на скриншоте).

Включение режима IDE для SATA в БИОС

Но даже если у вас не «старый» компьютер или ноутбук, этот вариант также может сработать. Если же вы устанавливаете Windows 10 или 8, то вместо включения IDE режима, рекомендую:

  1. Включить EFI-загрузку в UEFI (если она поддерживается).
  2. Загрузиться с установочного накопителя (флешки) и попробовать установку.

Правда в этом варианте вам может встретиться другой тип ошибки, в тексте которой будет сообщаться, что на выбранном диске находится таблица MBR-разделов (инструкция по исправлению упомянута в начале этой статьи).

Почему такое происходит я и сам не до конца понял (ведь драйвера AHCI включены в образы Windows 7 и выше). Более того, воспроизвести ошибку я смог и для установки Windows 10 (скриншоты как раз оттуда) — просто изменив контроллер диска с IDE на SCSI для виртуальной машины Hyper-V «первого поколения» (т.е. с БИОС).

Не удалось найти или создать раздел при установке Windows

Будет ли появляться указанная ошибка при EFI-загрузке и установке на диск, работающий в IDE-режиме, проверить не смог, но допускаю подобное (в этом случае пробуем включить AHCI для SATA дисков в UEFI).

Также в контексте описываемой ситуации может оказаться полезным материал: Как включить режим AHCI после установки Windows 10 (для предыдущих ОС все аналогично).

Сторонние драйвера контроллера дисков AHCI, SCSI, RAID

В некоторых случаях проблема вызвана специфичностью оборудования пользователя. Наиболее распространенный вариант — наличие кэширующих SSD на ноутбуке, многодисковые конфигурации, RAID-массивы и SCSI карты.

Эта тема затронута у меня в статье Windows не видит жесткий диск при установке, а суть сводится к тому, что, если у вас есть основания предполагать, что особенности оборудования являются причиной ошибки «Установка Windows не данный диск невозможна», первым делом следует зайти на официальный сайт производителя ноутбука или материнской платы, и посмотреть, а есть ли там какие-то драйвера (как правило, представленные в виде архива, а не установщика) для SATA-устройств.

Если есть — загружаем, распаковываем файлы на флешку (там обычно присутствуют inf и sys файлы драйвера), а в окне выбора раздела для установки Windows нажимаем «Загрузить драйвер» и указываем путь к файлу драйвера. А уже после его установки, становится возможной и установка системы на выбранный жесткий диск. 

Установка драйвера SATA при установке Windows

Если предложенные решения не помогают, пишите комментарии, будем пробовать разобраться (только упоминайте модель ноутбука или материнской платы, а также какую ОС и с какого накопителя устанавливаете).

If you are trying to install Windows on your computer and you encounter the error message “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT or MBR partition style,” don’t worry. This is a common error that many people encounter, and there are ways to fix it. There are Several Reasons for the “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” error. In most cases, the error is caused by hardware incompatibility.

You may face this type to error “Windows cannot be installed to disk”, When you attempting to install Windows. This is one of the common errors that might occur during Windows installation. When you try to install Windows 10/8/7 on your computer. Windows installation setup may show you an error like “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.” 

If your computer has a disk with a partition style that is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to install, you will see the error message “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT or MBR partition style.” This error message tells you that you need to change the partition style of your disk in order to install Windows.

Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk

Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk

We Explain here some ways to fix this error “Windows cannot be installed to this disk”. It can be very helpful to resolve this error.

What are the Reasons of Windows cannot be installed to this disk error?

First, let’s understand what this error message means. When you install Windows, it needs to be installed on a specific type of partition. There are two types of partitions: GPT and MBR. GPT stands for “GUID Partition Table,” and MBR stands for “Master Boot Record.” GPT is the newer and more advanced partition style, while MBR is the older and more traditional partition style.

This error may occur when your hard drive partition style doesn’t match to your existing BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) Setting. In the old BIOS mode, Windows can only be installed on MBR disks, because standard BIOS cannot recognize GPT partitions, but read/write data from GPT disks can be used as long as Windows supports it.

These times, BIOS has two types of versions: First Legacy BIOS and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). UEFI is more modern while Legacy BIOS is very old. Each of these versions only works with a specific disk partition style. If there is a discrepancy, you get the “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” error.

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Method 1 . Fix the “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” Error using the BIOS Setting.

To fix this error windows cannot be installed on this disk. First, you need to go into the BIOS setting and check which boot mode is currently set. Start/reboot your computer and press and hold the BIOS key to enter the BIOS before the Windows logo appears. Different computers may require different keys, so it’s best to See this article “How to Find Bios and Boot Menu Option Keys for All Brands Laptops & Desktops” to find the exact key.

BIOS Setting for “The selected disk is of the GPT partition style”

If you are getting this type of error “The selected disk is of the GPT partition style,” it means that your PC has a Legacy BIOS. Legacy BIOS doesn’t support the GPT Partition Style, so In BIOS, Go to Boot Tab Set the UEFI Boot Mod, or Enable Secure Boot in your Bios. The following image is an example of this BIOS setting.

  • Boot your PC.
  • Now, you need to access the BIOS setup of your computer. You might need to press the F1, F2, or Del keys to open Bios Setting. However, the key for accessing the BIOS screen varies, depending on the brand of your PC. So, it is best that you consult your manual to know which key to press.
  • Once you’ve accessed the BIOS setup, look for the boot configuration of your PC.
  • Make sure that your Boot Mode is set as the UEFI in the Boot Mood. or Enable Secure Boot in Secure Mode.
  • Save the changes you’ve made, then exit BIOS.
Choose UEFI Boot Mood

BIOS Setting for “Selected Disk Has an MBR Partition Table”

If you are shown this error “The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks,” it means your system BIOS has been set for UEFI BIOS or Secure Boot is Enabled and you are using MBR Base Bootable USB Drive, On UEFI System, you can install Windows only to GPT partition style disks. So In BIOS, Go to Boot Tab Set the Legacy Boot Mod or disable Secure Boot in your Bios.

  • Boot your PC.
  • Now, you need to access the BIOS setup of your computer. You might need to press the F1, F2, or Del key to do this. However, the key for accessing the BIOS screen varies, depending on the brand of your PC. So, it is best that you consult your manual to know which key to press.
  • Once you’ve accessed the BIOS setup, look for the boot configuration of your PC.
  • Make sure that your Boot Mode is set as the Legacy in the Boot Mood. or Disable Secure Boot in Secure Mode.
  • Save the changes you’ve made, then exit BIOS.

Method 2. Fix the “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” Error using Diskpart Utility.

If you want to continue with the UEFI boot mode on your computer, then you can simply format the drive in the GPT partition style. Before formatting the drive Backup your all data to another Drive. You can use the Diskpart utility at the time of Windows installation. You can fix the “The selected disk is of GPT partition style” on your computer, follow these steps.

How to Fix the “Selected Disk Is of the GPT Partition Style” Error

You cannot install Windows on a GPT partitioned disk if your PC uses legacy BIOS. In this case, you should convert the drive before installing Windows. When you are in BIOS, you should find the boot mode. Again, You have to check all the tabs, but usually there is a Boot tab and there you will find Boot mode.

If you do not see a notification that you are using a UEFI motherboard as shown in the picture below, you may be using an older motherboard that only supports legacy BIOS. The only solution in this case is to convert the GPT disk to MBR disk.

How to Fix the Selected Disk Is of the GPT Partition Style Error - Windows cannot be installed to this Disk Error

Convert From GPT Disk to MBR Using Command Prompt During the Windows Setup

You can use the Command Prompt if no other operating system is installed on the other hard drive. This method will delete all data stored on the drive which you want to convert.

  • Press the Shift +F10 Keyboard shortcut button to open Command Prompt.
  • Type diskpart and press Enter.
  • Type list disk to show a list of drives on your computer.
  • Type Select disk 1 to Choose the disk which you want to convert to GPT.
  • Run clean to clean all partitions and partition styles.
  • then convert mbr to convert the Drive to MBR Disk.
GPT to MBR using CMD - Windows cannot be installed to this Disk Error

GPT to MBR using CMD

When done, exit the command prompt. Return to your Windows installation setup and run the windows installation again.

How to Fix the “Selected Disk Has an MBR or GPT Partition Table” Error

If your PC has UEFI BIOS, you will need a GPT partitioned disk to install Windows. If you have MBR partitions, you need to convert them to GPT partitioned disks. If you don’t want to convert the partition, go into your BIOS and see if you can disable the UEFI boot source. Once you’re in the BIOS, go to the Boot Order section and look for UEFI Boot Sources. Disable it and run Windows Setup. if you are not able to access BIOS, You have to Covert your disk into GPT Partition Style.

Convert From MBR to GPT Using the Command Prompt

  • Press the Shift +F10 Keyboard shortcut button to open Command Prompt.
  • Type diskpart and press Enter.
  • Type list disk to show a list of drives on your computer.
  • Type Select disk 1 to Choose the disk which you want to convert to GPT.
  • Run clean to clean all partitions and partition styles
  • then convert gpt to convert the Drive to GPT Disk.
convert mbr to gpt during windows Setup

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Method 3. “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” Error using UEFI Bootable USB Drive

It is very easy for new users to create a bootable UEFI flash drive for installing Windows using the popular Rufus GUI tool. Rufus version 3.21 is now available on the developer’s website (https://rufus.ie). The tool is very compact (around 1 MB), requires no installation and is completely free. Plus, it works faster than analog. you can only solve the “Selected Disk Is of the GPT Partition Style” error with the help of this way.

  • Run the Rufus tool with administrator privileges and specify the following settings:
  • Device: select your USB flash drive;
  • Boot selection: specify Windows ISO image file (you can create an ISO image with the latest Windows 10 build using the Media Creation Tool);
  • Partition scheme: GPT;
  • Target system: UEFI (non-CSM);
  • File system: FAT32.
rufus create uefi gpt usb stick windows - Windows cannot be installed to this Disk Error

Rufus GUI tool

Click START to write a Windows image to a USB flash drive. After 10-15 minutes, your bootable USB flash drive with Windows install image for the UEFI computer is ready.

In conclusion,

“Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT or MBR partition style” is a common error that can be fixed by changing the partition style of your disk. If you are installing Windows on a new computer, you can change the partition style during the installation process. If you are installing Windows on a disk that already has an operating system installed, you will need to back up your data, wipe the disk, and then install Windows with the correct partition style. With these steps, you should be able to successfully install Windows on your computer.

«Windows cannot be installed to this disk» problem is caused by mismatch between boot method (UEFI/non-UEFI) and disk layout (GPT/MBR). Windows assumes GPT layout for UEFI boot method, and MBR layout for non-UEFI boot method.

This Windows installation problem can be resolved either by switching boot method between UEFI and non-UEFI in BIOS/UEFI setup or by changing disk layout from GPT to MBR or vice versa.

Contents
  • 1. Symptoms of this problem
  • 2. UEFI, non-UEFI, MBR and GPT compatibility
  • 3. How to resolve «Windows cannot be installed to this disk» problem

1. Symptoms of this problem

During Windows installation the following error message appears:

Windows cannot be installed to this disk. (Show details)

Windows cannot be installed to this disk

After clicking on (Show Details) link,
one of the following error messages is displayed:

  • Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.

  • Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table.
    On EFI systems, Windows can be only installed to GPT disks.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table.

2. UEFI, non-UEFI, MBR and GPT compatibility

Modern computers support two methods of booting: UEFI and non-UEFI.
Latter method is also called CSM (Compatibility Support Module), Legacy or BIOS.

Also, there are two possible partitioning layouts (ways to create partitions on the hard disk drive
or solid state drive): MBR and GPT. MBR is an old layout, supported since IBM PC DOS released in 1980s.
Size of MBR-compatible storage device is limited to 2 Terabytes.
GPT is a relatively new layout, supported since Windows Vista released in 2006.
GPT does not impose any practical limitations on storage device size.

Windows compatibility with combinations of these technologies is shown below:

  Boot Method
UEFI non-UEFI
Disk layout GPT
MBR

Also it is very important to boot Windows Installation Media and
Installed Windows using the same boot method:

  Boot Method for Windows Installation Media
UEFI non-UEFI
Boot Method for Installed Windows UEFI
non-UEFI

3. How to resolve «Windows cannot be installed to this disk» problem

(A) Make your choice between UEFI and non-UEFI boot method

  1. If you must install Windows to bootable HDD or bootable SSD larger than 2 TB,
    then you must use GPT partitioning layout, so UEFI boot method.
  2. If your computer is manufactured before 2012, and does not support UEFI boot method,
    then you must use non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot method, so MBR partitioning layout.
  3. If your computer is too new and too restricted (supports UEFI boot method only, and does not have
    support for non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot method),
    then you must use UEFI boot method, so GPT partitioning layout.
  4. Otherwise, choose between UEFI and non-UEFI boot method
    depending on existing disk layout (GPT or MBR correspondingly).

(B) If you have chosen UEFI boot method:

  1. Format your Windows installation USB thumbdrive in such way that it will have GPT
    layout and one FAT32 partition. Or just use
    «Windows Vista/7/8.x/10/11
    installer (for UEFI-based computers)» option in FlashBoot Free.
  2. If you are installing Windows 8.x, 10 or 11, enable Secure Boot in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
    If you are installing Windows 7 or Vista, disable Secure Boot in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
  3. Enable UEFI boot mode and disable non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot mode for external
    USB storage devices
    in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
  4. Enable UEFI boot mode and disable non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot mode for internal
    HDD/SSD storage devices
    in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
  5. For extra safety, temporarily disconnect all internal HDDs/SSDs except bootable HDD/SSD.
    Red warning below explains why this is important.
  6. Boot from Windows installation USB thumbdrive.
  7. If your internal HDD/SSD has GPT layout, just install Windows normally.
  8. If your internal HDD/SSD has MBR layout, save all useful data from all partititions to external USB HDD
    (for example, using Emergency Boot Kit File Manager
    or using Windows To Go on USB thumbdrive prepared with FlashBoot Free),
    then delete all partitions on internal HDD/SDD and convert it to GPT layout. Assuming all important
    data is already saved, this can be done right from Windows setup. Press Shift+F10 to open console
    and type in the following commands:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk 100

    Warning: diskpart will permanently erase/destroy all data on the selected disk.
    Please double-check that you are erasing expected disk. Substitute correct disk number from «list disk» command
    instead of 100.

  9. clean
    convert gpt
    exit
    exit

    MBR disk converted to GPT disk in Windows setup

    Then click on Refresh link. Starting from this point,
    Windows setup will continue normally and «Windows Cannot Be Installed To This Disk»
    problem will be resolved.

    Windows cannot be installed to this disk is resolved_for_gpt

  10. Since Windows 10 1703 (Creators Update) there’s a new console command
    (mbr2gpt)
    which can do in-place conversion of MBR disk layout to GPT disk layout, without moving
    data to external USB HDD and without deleting partitions. Even if you are installing Windows 7,
    you can temporarily boot from Windows 10 1703+ or Windows 11 installation media, apply
    mbr2gpt,
    and then return to Windows 7 installation.
  11. After Windows installation is finished, you can reconnect
    non-bootable internal HDDs/SSDs, if you have ones.

(C) If you have chosen BIOS boot method:

  1. Format your Windows installation USB thumbdrive in such way that it will have MBR
    layout and one FAT32 partition. Or just use
    «Windows
    Vista/7/8.x/10/11 installer (for BIOS-based computers)» option in FlashBoot Free.
  2. Disable Secure Boot in BIOS/UEFI Setup, regardless of Windows version you are installing.
  3. Enable non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot mode and disable UEFI boot mode for external
    USB storage devices
    in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
  4. Enable non-UEFI/CSM/Legacy/BIOS boot mode and disable UEFI boot mode for internal
    HDD/SSD storage devices
    in BIOS/UEFI Setup.
  5. For extra safety, temporarily disconnect all internal HDDs/SSDs except bootable HDD/SSD.
    Red warning below explains why this is important.
  6. Boot from Windows installation USB thumbdrive.
  7. If your internal HDD/SSD has MBR layout, just install Windows normally.
  8. If your internal HDD/SSD has GPT layout, save all useful data from all partititions to external USB HDD
    (for example, using Emergency Boot Kit File Manager
    or using Windows To Go on USB thumbdrive prepared with FlashBoot Free),
    then delete all partitions on internal HDD/SDD and convert it to MBR layout. Assuming all important
    data is already saved, this can be done right from Windows setup. Press Shift+F10 to open console
    and type in the following commands:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk 100

    Warning: diskpart will permanently erase/destroy all data on the selected disk.
    Please double-check that you are erasing expected disk. Substitute correct disk number from «list disk» command
    instead of 100.

  9. clean
    convert mbr
    exit
    exit

    GPT disk converted to MBR disk in Windows setup

    Then click on Refresh link.
    Starting from this point, Windows setup will continue normally and
    «Windows Cannot Be Installed To This Disk» problem will be resolved.

    Windows cannot be installed to this disk is resolved_for_mbr

  10. After Windows installation is finished, you can reconnect
    non-bootable internal HDDs/SSDs, if you have ones.

Are you having problems installing Windows on your target GPT or MBR drive? On this page, we’ll thoroughly discuss this issue in two parts and you can follow to find respective solutions toward different errors. 

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix Can’t Install Windows on GPT Disk Fix 1. Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk using EaseUS Partition Master…Full steps
Fix 2. Enable UEFI Boot Option in BIOS…Full steps
Fix 3. Convert MBR to GPT via EaseUS Partition Master…Full steps
Fix 4. Convert MBR to GPT using DiskPart…Full steps
Fix Windows Cannot Be Installed the This Disk Fix 1. Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk…Full steps
Fix 2. Remove HDD Protection and Change SATA Controller Mode…Full steps
Fix 3. Repair Your HDD…Full steps
Fix 4. Format the Partition to NTFS…Full steps

Check out and find the easiest solution to resolve your problem, installing Windows on your PC without any issue now.

Note that if you have saved important data on the target disk, back up your data first as some of the following fixes may remove data on your target drive. 

Part 1. Fix «Can’t Install Windows on GPT Disk» Error

Applies to: Fix «Windows Cannot Be Installed on GPT Partition Drive’ or «Can’t Install Windows on GPT» error.

Problem: Can’t Install Windows on GPT Disk

«I’m trying to install Windows 10 on a new SSD, but the computer keeps giving me this message ‘Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.’ What does this mean? Do I have to convert the GPT disk to MBR? Or to enable UEFI boot mode in BIOS?«

You won’t be able to install Windows on GPT disk if you are receiving this notice from your PC as listed below:

Error 1. «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.»

Can't install Windows on GPT

Error 2. «Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only installed on GPT disks».

Windows can only be installed on GPT disk

Those two errors mean that the Windows cannot be installed on GPT drive. Don’t be panic. In the following, we’ll explain why you cannot install Windows to the selected disk and list practical solutions to help you out.

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Why You Fail to Install Windows on GPT Drive

1. You forget to enable UEFI boot option. Or the motherboard supports Legacy BIOS only. (Error 1)

2. If you receive Error 2, you must learn something about UEFI and BIOS. Know the differences and relations between them.

Usually, when you install Windows on UEFI-based PC using Windows Setup, the target disk must be set up to UIEFI mode or BIOS compatibility mode. If your computer is booted in UEFI mode,while your target disk is not configured UEFI mode, you’ll met Error 2. 

4 Fixes to Resolve «Cannot Install Windows on GPT Disk» Error

Here, we’ll provide you with 4 effective methods to fix this error issue and relative errors. Note that the former method is presented, the higher success rate it will be.

Fix 1. Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk using EaseUS Partition Master [Error 1]

When the computer doesn’t support UEFI, you cannot install the Windows on GPT drive unless you convert the disk from GPT to MBR.

Professional partition manager software — EaseUS Partition Master can organize your hard drive and change the partition style easily. You can easily convert GPT to MBR with the help of this software, making disk available to install Windows again:

Step 1. Install and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer, go to the Disk Converter section.

Step 2. Select «Convert GPT to MBR» and click «Next» to continue.

convert GPT to MBR

Step 3. Select the target GPT disk that you want to convert to MBR, and click «Convert» to start the conversion.

convert GPT to MBR

Read Also: Windows 10 Won’t Install on SSD

Fix 2. Enable UEFI Boot Option in BIOS to Fix Windows Cannot Install on GPT Drive Error

If you are faced with Error 1 —  «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.», you can boot to UEFI mode if your motherboard supports UEFI. 

Step 1. Reboot the PC and press the key that opens the boot device menu. You can press the Esc, F2, F9, F12, or another key to enter the boot menus.

Step 2. Boot into UEFI mode and locate the boot options menu.

Step 3. Confirm in the Boot Priority List that the USB UEFI OS Boot option is at the top of the list. Save your changes and continue to install Windows.

boot to uefi mode

Fix 3. Convert MBR to GPT to using EaseUS Partition Master

If you encounter Error 2, you can fix the «The Selected Disk Has an MBR Partition Table» error by converting MBR disk to GPT disk.

On the UEFI system, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks or something similar. That’s because MBR is compatible with BIOS while GPT is compatible with UEFI.

The steps are similar to those of converting GPT to MBR. The difference is that you need to convert to GPT with the help of EaseUS Partition Master:

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2. Go to Disk Converter, select «MBR => GPT» and click «Next» to continue.

convert MBR to GPT - 1

Step 3. Select the target MBR disk that you tend to convert to GPT, and click «Convert» to start the conversion.

convert MBR to GPT - 2

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Fix 4. Convert MBR to GPT using DiskPart 

Aims to resolve Error 2. 

Step 1. Turn off the PC and put in the Windows installation DVD or USB.

Step 2. Boot the PC from the DVD or USB.

Step 3. In Windows Setup, press «Shift + F10» to start Command Prompt.

Step 4. Enter the following command in order:

  • diskpart
  • list disk
  • select disk
  • clean
  • convert gpt
  • exit

Step 5. Close Command Prompt.

After removing «Can’t install Windows on GPT disk» error, you can now continue installing Windows on your PC. You can refer to Install Windows 10 on GPT disk for a detailed tutorial guide. 

Part 2. Fix «Windows Cannot Be Installed the This Disk» Error

Applies to: Fix «Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk» Error.

Error: Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk

When you are going to install Windows 10/8/7, you might receive different kinds of errors saying Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Here are some common errors that you might receive:

Error 1.  «Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported for installation».

Windows cannot be installed on the disk due to dynamic issue

Error 2. «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer’s hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk’s controller is enabled in the computer’s BIOS menu.»

Windows cannot be installed on the disk due to disk controller issue

Error 3. «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The disk may fail soon. If other hard disks are available, install Windows to another location.»

Error 4. «Windows cannot be installed to the hard disk space. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted in NTFS.»

Why Windows Cannot Be Installed to The Selected Disk

Why you could receive these errors? What are the main reasons? According to the error messages, the main reasons are as follows:

1. Users can only make a fresh install on a dynamic volume only when the volume was converted from a basic disk and was a boot partition or system partition. (Error 1)

2. Hardware protection and SATA Controller mode could bring up Error 2.

3. If you get Error 3, you can take your hard disk failure into account.

4. An incompatible file system of the partition to be installed with Windows. Microsoft rules that Windows must be installed to a partition formatted in NTFS since Windows Vista. (Error 4)

You can now selectively choose one of the solutions to fix Windows cannot be installed to the disk issue on your own PC.

Fix 1. Convert Dynamic Disk to Basic Disk

If you receive Error 1 — «Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported for installation», convert dynamic to basic disk.

EaseUS Partition Master also helps you convert dynamic disk to basic disk easily and quickly.

Here are the detailed steps:

Step 1. Install and open EaseUS Partition Master and go to Disk Converter.

Step 2. Select the disk conversion mode that suits your need:

  • Convert Basic to Dynamic: change a Basic disk to Dynamic.
  • Convert Dynamic to Basic: change a Dynamic disk to Basic.

Step 3. Select the target disk — Basic or Dynamic, confirm you’ve select the correct disk and click «Convert» to start.

Convert Basic to Dynamic Disk

Convert Dynamic to Basic Disk

Fix 2. Remove HDD Protection and Change SATA Controller Mode (for Error 2)

If you receive this message «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer’s hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk’s controller is enabled in the computer’s BIOS menu.» — Error 2, you should do two things:

Phrase 1. Remove Hard Disk Protection

Check if your hard disk protection is enabled. If it is, contact the salesperson and remove the protection according to his instructions.

Here is a quick guide that you can follow to remove write protection from hard drive using DiskPart:

Step 1. Start > Run  -> type CMD and press enter.

Step 2. Type diskpart and press enter.

Step 3. Type the following command lines and hit enter each time:

  • list volume
  • select volume # (# is the number of your HDD.)
  • attributes disk clear read-only
  • clean

Step 4. Type exit and hit Enter. Close DiskPart to finish the process.

After this, you’ve successfully removed write protection from your hard drive. If you need more practical solutions, refer to How to Remove Write Protection on SSD for help.

Phrase 2. Change SATA Controller Mode

This error may indicate that the BIOS settings of your computer are not properly configured. Make sure you have changed the SATA Controller mode in BIOS. Then, you can try setting BIOS to the factory and go back to the default setting.

Fix 3. Repair Your HDD to Fix «Windows Cannot Be Installed to the Hard Disk Space»

Error 3 — «Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The disk may fail soon.» occurs when there’s something wrong with your HDD. What to do with a dying HDD? How to repair it? You should stop Windows installation and then clone or back up important data immediately. Then, you can start repairing your HDD.

Also read: How to Repair HDD without losing data

Fix 4. Format the Partition to NTFS

This method aims to solve Error 4. When partitions on the target disk are not with the NTFS file system, Windows cannot be installed to the disk.

Changing a volume’s file system is not an easy task for those who are not familiar with computer management and command line. Thus, an easy and safe solution is needed.

Comprehensive partition manager software — EaseUS Partition Master can fully meet this requirement. It enables you to format HDD to NTFS easily.

For this case, you need to create a bootable drive and then format hard drive from USB.

After fixing Windows cannot be installed to this disk or GPT/MBR drive error, you can then continue installing Windows on your target disk in your PC. 

Manual Service for Fixing ‘Can’t Install Windows On GPT’ or ‘Windows Cannot Be Installed’ Error

Alongside following the above-provided solutions, you still have another option, which is to customize a manual service and let EasUS experts resolve this issue for you. You no longer need to worry about taking a wrong step while following the guidelines above. Everything can ben efficiently resolved and Windows can run on your GPT disk successfully.

EaseUS experts are available to provide you with 1-on-1 manual services (24*7) and help fix different Windows configuration issues. Our experts will offer you FREE evaluation services and efficiently diagnose and resolve Windows update errors, Windows installation, or daily OS issues using their decades of experience.

  • 1. Fix Windows update errors, such as update failure, unable to upgrade Windows, etc.
  • 2. Serve to download and install the latest Windows operating system on PC with success.
  • 3. Provide fixes for daily Windows system errors with drivers, permission, account settings, etc., issues.

Conclusion

This page covers 4 fixes to get rid of «Can’t install Windows on GPT disk» error and 4 practical methods to remove «Windows cannot be installed to the drive» error for all levels of Windows users. 

If you are faced with any one of the errors, you can find answers here. If your target disk has unsupported partition styles disallow you installing Windows on it, EaseUS Partition Master helps convert GPT to MBR, Convert MBR to GPT, and even change Dynamic to Basic disk.

This software plays an important role during the fixing process. Why not get it now.

Extended Reading: Cannot Install Windows FAQs

Besides the above issues, if you have further concerns about installing Windows on GPTor MBR disk, check the questions and answer below.

You may get a clue:

1. How do I fix Windows cannot be installed to this disk MBR?

How do you fix ‘Windows cannot be installed to this disk’? The solution is easy to conclude: change MBR to GPT.

Here are two methods that you can try:

  • Method 1. Change MBR to GPT using EaseUS Partition Master (as presented on this page in Fix 3 Part 1)
  • Method 2. Run DiskPart to change MBR disk to GPT (as presented on this page in Fix 4 Part 1)

2. Can GPT boot into Windows?

Yes. GPT can be used to boot Windows OS as long as you have a Windows system installed on the disk or you have migrated your computer operating system on the disk.

If you need a guide to migrate OS to GPT, follow this link for help: How to Move Windows 10 to Another Drive (HDD/SSD). 

3. How do I change GPT partition to BIOS?

Mostly, GPT partition supports UEFI boot mode and BIOS compatibility mode. In order to change GPT partition to Legacy BIOS mode, you need to follow the following tips:

  1. #1. Check if your computer motherboard supports BIOS boot mode. (Check BIOS)
  2. #2. If the motherboard supports BIOS boot, then you need to check if your disk is with the MBR partition style.
  3. If not, convert GPT to MBR disk using provided method on this page in Part 1. 
  4. #3. Install Windows that support BIOS boot on the disk.
  5. #4. Finish Windows installation, enter BIOS and set the computer to boot on the MBR disk which was with GPT partition.
  6. #5. Save the changes, and restart PC. 

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