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Unable to install Windows 10

I've recently bought a new Dell Inspiron 14 5406 with a pre-installed non-English copy of Windows 10. I was trying to install a clean copy of an English version of Windows 10 from a bootable external hard drive (created using microsoft's media installation tool) but was unsuccessful due to the following two errors:

"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."

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port."

Having checked in Disk Management and Windows Power Shell, I found that my hard drive's partition style was GPT. The same goes for the external hard drive I've used to install Windows. 

What can I do to resolve this issue?

Any assistance will be appreciated. 

Hi,

To convert MBR partition scheme to GPT, you need to delete all the partitions at the time of reinstallation. GPT is more modern and as your device is new, I suggest using that.

You can convert MBR to GPT using the tool as well, from the recovery environment CMD. Click Repair your computer at the first screen, troubleshoot>Avdanced options>Command Prompt. Then use the tool.

Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk in Windows 10 | Tutorials (tenforums.com)

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Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not represent the views or opinions of Microsoft.

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My hard drive is already GPT, and when I was trying to install Windows it was listed as unallocated space. Deleting it wasn't an option. 

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You need to delete partition 1 ESD-USB as well. Then the disk can be deleted and a new partition can be created.

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Partition 1 is the installation media. Plus, I don't have the option to delete it. 

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That's very odd - to confirm, are you booting from a USB drive?

Ideally it looks like this.

Clean Install Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

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Yes, I'm booting from a USB drive. It is very strange. I had addressed Dell as well but wasn't able to resolve the issue.

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Last updated January 26, 2024 Views 2,433 Applies to: