You want to install Windows on your computer, but you encounter a problem: Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The selected disk is GPT or MBR partition style. What does that mean ? How to resolve this error? This article will explain the causes and possible solutions for installing Windows on any disk.
For your convenience, we recommend that you watch this video tutorial if you encounter the error: “ Windows cannot be installed on this disk”
Why can't Windows be installed on this disk?
- If your computer is booted in legacy BIOS mode, you can only install Windows on an MBR disk since traditional BIOS cannot recognize the GPT partition.
- If your computer is booted in UEFI mode, you can only install Windows on a GPT disk since UEFI cannot recognize the MBR partition.
How to resolve “ Windows cannot be installed on this disk” error?
To resolve this error, you have two possible options:
- Change your computer's boot mode to match the disk partition style.
- Change the disk partition style to match your computer's boot mode.
Change your computer's startup mode
To change the boot mode of your computer, you need to enter BIOS or UEFI setup and change the appropriate settings.
Step 1 : Start or restart your computer and continuously press any key to enter BIOS or UEFI before the Windows . The key varies between computer models, but is usually indicated on the screen or in the user manual.
Step 2 : In the BIOS or UEFI, look for options related to boot mode or boot mode. They can be found under different names depending on the manufacturer, such as Boot Mode, Boot Option Priorities, Boot Sequence, etc.
Step 3 : Change the boot mode as needed:
- If you want to install Windows on a GPT disk, choose UEFI or UEFI + Legacy.
- If you want to install Windows on an MBR disk, choose Legacy or Legacy + UEFI.
Step 4 : Save changes and exit BIOS or UEFI. Restart your computer and try installing Windows again.
Change disk partition style
To change the disk partition style, you need to use a partition management tool like Diskpart or AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Caution: Changing the disk partition style deletes all data on the disk. So it is recommended to backup your important data before performing this operation.
Use Diskpart
Diskpart is a tool built into Windows that allows you to run commands to manage disk partitions.
Step 1 Windows installation media (USB drive or DVD) and choose the language, time and keyboard layout.
Step 2 : Click Repair Computer at the bottom left.
Step 3 : Click Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.
Step 4 : Type diskpart and hit Enter to launch the tool.
Step 5 : Type list disk and hit Enter to view all disks connected to your computer.
Step 6 : Type select disk x (x being the disk number where you want to install Windows ) and press Enter to select the target disk.
Step 7 : Type clean and hit Enter to erase all partitions present on the disk.
Step 8 : Type convert gpt or convert mbr as needed and press Enter to change the disk partition style.
- If you want to install Windows in UEFI mode, type convert gpt.
- If you want to install Windows in legacy BIOS mode, type convert mbr.
Step 9 : Type exit and hit Enter to exit Diskpart.
Use AOMEI Partition Assistant
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a free software that can perform advanced operations on disk partitions without data loss.
Step 1 : Download AOMEI Partition Assistant from its official website and install it on another working computer.
Step 2 : Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and click Create Bootable Media on the left sidebar.
Step 3 : Follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable USB drive with built-in AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Step 4 : Boot your computer with the previously created bootable USB drive and choose AOMEI Partition Assistant from the menu.
Step 5 : In AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the disk where you want to install Windows and choose Convert to MBR/GPT as needed.
- If you want to install Windows in UEFI mode, choose Convert to GPT.
- If you want to install Windows in legacy BIOS mode, choose Convert to MBR.
Step 6 : Click Apply in the upper left corner to confirm the operation.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions on the topic “ Windows cannot be installed on this disk”.
What is a GPT or MBR disk?
A GPT or MBR disk is a disk that uses a different partition style to organize data. The partition style determines how the operating system recognizes and accesses the disk.
- A GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk is a disk that uses a modern partition table that allows you to create up to 128 primary partitions, manage disks larger than 2 TB and support UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) booting. .
- An MBR (Master Boot Record) disk is a disk that uses an old partition table which allows you to create up to 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and an extended partition, to manage disks up to 2 TB and to support the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) startup.
How do I know if my computer is in UEFI or legacy BIOS mode?
You can check your computer's startup mode by following these steps:
- Start or restart your computer and continuously press any key to enter BIOS or UEFI before the Windows logo appears.
- In the BIOS or UEFI, look for options related to boot mode or boot mode. They can be found under different names depending on the manufacturer, such as Boot Mode, Boot Option Priorities, Boot Sequence, etc.
- Check if the boot mode is UEFI or Legacy. If you see both options, it means your computer can support both modes.
How do I know if my disk is in GPT or MBR format?
You can check the format of your disk by following these steps:
- Boot your computer with the Windows installation media (USB drive or DVD) and choose the language, time, and keyboard layout.
- Click Install Now and accept the license terms.
- Click Custom (advanced) and view the list of available disks.
- Right-click on the disk where you want to install Windows and choose Disk Details.
- Check if the partition style is GPT or MBR.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of GPT and MBR format?
Here is a comparative table of the advantages and disadvantages of the GPT and MBR format:
| Format | Benefits | Disadvantages |
| GPT | – Allows you to create up to 128 primary partitions. – Allows you to manage disks larger than 2 TB. – Allows you to support UEFI booting. – Offers better data protection through information redundancy. | – Not compatible with legacy BIOS boot. – Not recognized by older operating systems. |
| MBR | – Is compatible with legacy BIOS boot. – Is recognized by all operating systems. | – Allows you to create up to 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and one extended partition. – Allows you to manage disks up to 2 TB. – Does not support UEFI booting. – Provides weak data protection in case of boot sector corruption. |
What is the difference between UEFI and BIOS?
UEFI and BIOS are two types of firmware that allow the operating system to communicate with the computer's hardware.
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a modern firmware that offers more features, such as a graphical interface, network support, enhanced security, etc.
- BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is older firmware that offers fewer features but is more compatible with older operating systems.
Is it possible to install Windows on an external drive?
Yes, it is possible to install Windows on an external drive, but certain conditions must be respected:
- The external drive must be connected via USB 3.0 or higher to ensure sufficient transfer speed.
- The external drive must be formatted in NTFS to support Windows system files.
- The external drive must be partitioned into GPT to support UEFI boot.
- The external drive must have at least 32 GB of free space to install Windows .
Conclusion
Windows cannot be installed on this disk” error Windows on a GPT or MBR disk. We have explained the causes and possible solutions to install Windows on any disk. We hope that this article was useful to you and that you managed to install Windows without any problems. If you are still having difficulty, you can try rebooting your PC and starting the installation again.
