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"windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style."??

fresh computer build, on the screen choosing which partition to use i see  "windows cannot be installed to disk 0 partition 2. (show details)", when i click show details i get the message, "windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style."  What can i do to install window!>>?


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Answer
Trying to swap a hard drive from my mac to an HP laptop, got stuck with an MBR error, so after trying all the above with no success once or ever, I found this solution:
***Be mindful to backup your files prior to trying this. Use an external case and save everything into another hard drive***

Method #1:
1. Boot up to installation DVD/CD.
2. Click install but don't follow through.
3. Press SHIFT-F10 to bring up console.
4. Type "diskpart"
5. Once inside diskpart type:
  -> list disk (find the one you want to convert)
  -> select disk 0 (select the one you want from the list)
  -> convert mbr (should take a second or two)
  -> quit
6. Continue with install

Method #2:
1. Boot up to installation DVD/CD.
2. Click install but don't follow through.
3. Press SHIFT-F10 to bring up console.
4. Type "diskpart"
5. Once inside diskpart type:
  -> list disk (find the one you want to convert)
  -> select disk 0 (select the one you want from the list)
  -> clean (wait an hour or so until its done)
  -> quit
6. Continue with install


First one worked for me, in less than 5 minutes I was ready to install a clean windows 7 in my old laptop using a Mac formatted hard drive. 

Cheers from Aotearoa, New Zealand
 

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Booting from GPT is only supported for 64 bit editions of Windows 7 (and Vista) on UEFI based systems.


Windows and GPT FAQ:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463525.aspx



If your computer does not support UEFI, delete all the hard drives partitions and create a new partition (backup any data first):

1. Boot from the Windows DVD

2. Click Install Now

3. At the setup screen, click Custom (Advanced)

4. Click Drive Options

5. Select the partition(s) you want to format

6. Click Format - this will delete EVERYTHING on that partition

7. Create a new partition and select a partition to install Windows on.

8. Continue with install.



If the Windows install disk doesn’t work for the above you can do the following to reformat your drive:

1. Download and burn a Gparted ISO from here:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

2. Boot from the Gparted disk.

3. Use Gparted to delete all partitions on the hard drive.

4. Under “Device” choose Create Partition Table to make a new partition table.

5. Create a NTFS partition (or you could wait and create a partition when installing Windows).

6. Then boot from the Windows install disk and install Windows.





General installing and reinstalling Windows 7 info:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7





Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?
FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

MCC 2011

TrekDozer

Sharing bits of knowledge.

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Last updated March 16, 2024 Views 541,463 Applies to: