Ошибка windows cannot be installed to this disk

Поскольку ПК приобретается раз в несколько лет, а его комплектующие периодически заменяются, программные и аппаратные компоненты порой плохо соответствуют друг другу. Сам ПК может быть достаточно старым, но вы укомплектовали его современным SSD. Уже не первый год доступна Windows 10, а вы до сих пор отдаете предпочтение привычной «семерке».

Помимо таких заметных каждому вещей, как производительность процессора и интерфейс ПО, есть значимые характеристики, которые начинают представлять интерес только в тех случаях, когда становятся причиной сбоев.

К ним относится и формат таблиц разделов HDD или SSD. Вы могли и не слышать о существовании характеристики накопителя, которая неожиданно огорчила, препятствуя установке Windows 7, 10 или 8.

ПК «говорит», что установка Windows невозможна. Причина: таблица разделов диска — GPT или MBR. Увы, технологии прошлого не всегда «дружат» с современными. К счастью, это легко исправимо.

Не получается поставить ОС на GPT-диск. Решения, которые помогут

Существуют две возможности:

1. Установка ОС на диск GPT.
2. Преобразование в MBR.

Настоящее (UEFI и GPT) и прошлое (BIOS и MBR)

Раньше материнская плата ПК оснащалась ПО BIOS. Оно осуществляло диагностику и анализ железа, а затем загружало ОС, опираясь на загрузочную запись раздела MBR.

В более современных моделях роль BIOS выполняет UEFI. Загружается быстрее и поддерживает:

• Безопасную загрузку.
• HDD, зашифрованные на аппаратном уровне.
• Драйвера UEFI.
• GPT-диски.

GPT превосходит MBR по важным параметрам:

• Работает с HDD большего объема.
• Большее число разделов на HDD.

Выбор метода

Пытаться все же установить систему на «несовместимый HDD» или преобразовать его в MBR и тем самым сделать так, что ошибка больше появляться не будет. В каждом случае решение зависит от ряда факторов:

• Для старого ПК со старомодным BIOS и 32-битным процессором оптимальным решением будет преобразование GPT в MBR.
• Обладателям ПК с 64-битным процессором и UEFI предпочтительно установить систему на GPT-диск.

Помните:

• Предельный объем MBR-диска — 2 терабайта.
• Возможность создания на MBR-диске более четырех разделов затруднено.

BIOS или UEFI

Когда вы заходите в BIOS и видите старомодный синий экран — перед вами традиционный BIOS. Если интерфейс с современной графикой и поддержкой мыши — это UEFI.

Чаще всего не получается установить Windows 7

Сложности с установкой системы на GPT-диск с большей вероятностью возникают у пользователей, которые предпочитают Windows 7.

Для установки Windows на диск со стилем разделов GPT необходимо соблюсти два условия:

1. 64-битная ОС.
2. Загрузка в режиме EFI.

Исхожу из того, что вы устанавливаете 64-битную версию Windows. Это означает, что сообщение об ошибке появляется по причине несоответствия второму требованию.

Не исключено, что будет достаточно поменять настройки BIOS. Зайдите в него, нажав предусмотренную для этого клавишу. Вы увидите, какую клавишу нажимать в процессе загрузки компьютера. В ноутбуках чаще всего применяется F2, в настольных моделях — Delete.

Поменяйте загрузку CSM (Compatibility Support Mode) на UEFI.

Ищите в разделах «BIOS Setup», «BIOS Features» или подобных по смыслу. В SATA определите режим AHCI, а не IDE.

Для седьмой (и еще более древних) версий Windows нужно также выключить Secure Boot.

BIOS вашей модели компьютера может выглядеть иначе. Названия пунктов меню также могут быть другими. Но смысл всегда сохраняется.

После изменения и сохранения вами новых параметров BIOS у вас появится возможность установки системы на GPT-диск. Если вы устанавливаете ОС с DVD, то сообщение об ошибке при повторной попытке установки, скорее всего, не появится.

В случае установки с USB-накопителя сообщение может отобразиться опять. В этой ситуации необходимо пересоздать установочную флешку таким образом, чтобы она поддерживала загрузку UEFI.

Не забудьте подписаться на наш Дзен

Если накопителем поддерживаются два метода загрузки, удалите файл «bootmgr» в корневой директории флешки. Тем самым вы предотвратите возможность загрузки в режиме BIOS. Если нужна загрузка в режиме BIOS, удалите каталог «efi». Не делайте этого в тех случаях, когда есть хоть малейшие сомнения. Можно повредить дистрибутив.

Преобразование GPT в MBR

Если вы располагаете ПК с классическим BIOS и собираетесь поставить Windows 7, этот вариант будет лучшим (и, возможно, единственным). В процессе преобразования вся информация с накопителя будет удалена.

Во время работы мастера установки ОС нажмите F10 и Shift. В некоторых моделях ноутбуков — F10, Fn и Shift. В открывшейся командной строке последовательно введите такие команды:

— diskpart
— list disk (запишите номер подлежащего преобразованию диска)
— select disk N (вместо N — записанный номер)
— clean (команда очистит диск)
— convert mbr
— create partition primary
— active
— format fs=ntfs quick (быстрое форматирование в файловой системе NTFS)
— assign
— exit

Невозможно поставить ОС на диск с MBR-разделами

Вероятна обратная ситуация. Появляется ошибка:

«Установка Windows на данный диск невозможна. На выбранном диске находится таблица MBR-разделов. В системах EFI Windows можно установить только на GPT-диск»

Она означает, что вы пытаетесь установить систему с DVD или USB-накопителя в режиме EFI. Таблица разделов HDD или SSD старая — MBR. В этом случае вы можете:

• Преобразовать SSD или HDD в GPT.
• В UEFI или BIOS поменять установленный способ загрузки с Legacy на EFI.

Первый вариант предпочтительнее, поскольку проще и быстрее. Помните, что информация со всех разделов накопителя будет полностью потеряна.

Преобразование MBR в GPT. Вся информация будет удалена

В установщике системы запустите командную строку:

• F10 и Shift (на настольных ПК).
• F10, Fn и Shift (на некоторых ноутбуках).

В открывшемся окне:

• Последовательно вводите показанные команды.
• Нажимайте Enter после ввода каждой из них.

Последовательность команд:

— diskpart
— list disk (запишите номер подлежащего преобразованию диска)
— select disk N (вместо N — записанный номер)
— clean (команда очистит диск)
— convert gpt
— exit

Когда команды применены:

• Закройте окно командной строки.
• Нажмите «Обновить» в окне выбора разделов.
• Нажмите «Создать» для формирования нескольких разделов на HDD или SSD.
• Выберите свободное пространство и запустите установку ОС.

Более простой способ преобразования с потерей информации на накопителе:

• Удалите все разделы на HDD или SSD.
• Выберите свободное пространство.
• Нажмите «Далее».

Результатом ваших действий станет автоматическое преобразование в GPT. Следующим шагом стартует установка ОС.

Как не потерять данные при преобразовании

Используйте стороннюю утилиту Minitool Partition Wizard Bootable. Скачайте ISO-образ и запишите его на флешку, отформатированную в FAT32. Необходимые условия:

• Используется загрузка EFI.
• В BIOS выключена функция «Secure Boot».

Загрузите ПК с созданного вами накопителя. В окне программного инструмента:

• Выберите HDD или SSD таблицу разделов которого нужно преобразовать.
• В левой части окна программы выберите пункт «Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk».
• Примените изменения нажатием кнопки «Apply».
• Дайте положительный ответ на предупреждение утилиты.
• Ждите завершения преобразования. Время, которое потребуется, зависит от объема накопителя и занятого пространства на нем.

Если диск системный, может появиться сообщение о том, что его преобразование невозможно. Чтобы все же преобразовать его:

• Выберите раздел загрузчика ОС, который располагается в самом начале.
• Удалите его, нажав «Delete» и подтвердив действие кнопкой «Apply». Вместо него вы можете тут же создать новый раздел загрузчика, но уже в файловой системе FAT32.
• Повторите действия для преобразования таблицы разделов.

Как обойтись без преобразования

Зайдите в BIOS и установите режим загрузки CSM (Compatibility Support Mode) или Legacy, отключив EFI. Отключите «Secure Boot».

Ранее я подробно рассмотрел процессы чистой установки Windows 10 и Windows 7.

Какие другие затруднения возникали у вас при установке Windows?

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. 

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. 

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.»

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».

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.

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.

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

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.

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 «Convert MBR to GPT» and click «Next» to continue.

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

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».

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.»

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)

Fixes to Remove «Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk» Error

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 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.

0:00 — 0:18 Convert Basic to Dynamic Disk; 0:19- 0:36 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 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. 

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: Transfer Windows 10 to New Hard 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. 

Installing Windows isn’t always simple, and sometimes certain issues can occur. One of the most problematic issues is Windows cannot be installed to this disk error, so let’s see how to fix it.

This isn’t the only installation error, and many have reported Installation failed in the safe_os phase, so the problem can appear during any parts of the setup.

In most cases, the error is caused by hardware incompatibility. After that, check your SATA device or use the diskpart tool.

For full instructions, check the guide below.

What can I do if Windows 10/11 cannot be installed to this disk?

1. Windows 10 can’t install to this disk
2. Can’t install on GPT partitions Windows 10
3. Windows 10 can’t install on MBR partitions
4. The computer hardware may not support booting
5. Windows cannot be installed to this disk SSD
6. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes

Windows 10 can’t install to this disk

1. Make sure that no additional hard drives are connected

Sometimes additional hard drive or storage devices can cause this error to appear, therefore you need to disconnect all hard drives except the one that you’re going to use to install Windows 10.

Users also reported that sometimes USB flash drives or SD cards can interfere with Windows 10 installation, so be sure to remove them all. If needs be, try to install Windows 10 from a DVD.

2. Check your SATA device

According to users, this error can appear if your primary hard drive is attached to eSATA port, so be sure to connect it to a different port. In addition, be sure that your SATA controller is set to AHCI or RAID mode.

If you have CD, DVD or Blu-ray drive attached to eSATA or SATA 3 port, be sure to disconnect them and attach them to SATA 2 controller.

Also, do not use an enclosure casing with a SATA 3 HDD that is connected to a SATA 3 controller.

Keep in mind that a faulty drive will cause you to get Windows cannot be installed to this disk the disk may fail soon error, so be prepared to replace your drive.

Windows 10 can’t install on GPT partitions

1. Use diskpart tool

1. During the Windows 10 setup, press Shift + F10 keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt.
2. When Command Prompt opens, enter diskpart and press Enter.
3. Now enter list disk and press Enter.
   
4. List of all available hard drives will appear. Typeselect disk 0 and press Enter.
   
5. Enter clean and press Enter.
   
   
6. Optional: Use convert gtp or convert mbr command to convert your drive to the desired type.
7. Enter exit and press Enter.
   
   
8. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

Once again we have to mention that the clean command will delete all files and partitions from a selected hard drive.

Therefore be sure to back up important files or use this solution if you have a new computer that doesn’t have any important files on it.

2. Use legacy BIOS mode

1. While your computer boots press the appropriate key to open Boot Menu. Usually that key is set to Esc, F2, F9 or F12, but it can be different depending on your motherboard.
2. Once the Boot Menu opens, select BIOS USB Drive option and press Enter and you’ll boot from that flash drive using the BIOS Legacy mode.
   
3. Proceed with installation and install Windows 10.

3. Use Rufus to create a bootable USB flash drive

1. Get a 8GB or 16GB flash drive and connect it to your PC.
2. Download Windows Media Creation tool.
   
3. Run the software and choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click on Next.
   
4. Check your PC settings. If they aren’t correct, uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC and change the settings accordingly.
   
5. Select USB flash drive and click Next.
   
6. Wait for the process to finish. This could take a while depending on your download speed, so be patient.

After the download is finished, you need to use Rufus to create a bootable media. You can do that by following these steps:

1. Visit Rufus page and download it.
   
2. Once the software is downloaded, run it.
3. Select your flash drive on the list of devices.
   
4. Set Boot selection to Disk or ISO image. Click on Select button and choose your Windows ISO file.
   
5. Click Start to start the process.
   
6. You’ll be asked to format the drive, so click on OK to proceed.
   
7. Wait for the process to finish.

Windows 10 can’t install on MBR partitions

1. Disable EFI boot sources

1. While your computer boots press the appropriate key to enter BIOS. Usually that’s Del or F2, but it can be different on your PC.
2. Once you enter BIOS, you need to locate Boot Order section and disable EFI Boot Sources.
   
3. Save changes and restart.

After disabling EFI Boot Sources you should be able to install Windows without any issues. If the installation is successful, you need to go back to BIOS and enable EFI Boot Sources.

2. Delete the partition and format it again

1. Boot your device from installation USB.
2. Click on Install now.
   
3. Select Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).
   
4. Choose the drive on which you want to install Windows and click on Delete.
5. Now click on New to create a new drive.
6. Select the new drive and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you’re getting Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk MBR partition table on EFI system, then your only option might be to format your drive.

3. Use a DVD drive

If you’re having this problem you should be able to circumvent it by using a DVD drive to install Windows 10. When installing the operating system from a DVD users are suggesting to use ODD option instead of EFI.

In addition, you can also try to use an external DVD drive to fix this problem.

4. Disable UEFI boot

Newer motherboards support UEFI boot option, but sometimes UEFI boot can give you Windows cannot be installed to this disk error. To fix it, you need to enter BIOS and enable Legacy Boot option.

For more information on how to enter BIOS and how to use Legacy Boot, we strongly advise you to check your motherboard manual.

Some motherboards support both UEFI and Legacy boot so you can use both modes without having to disable anything. In some situations, you can even fix this problem by disabling Legacy boot and using UEFI instead.

5. Use diskpart to delete the problematic partition

1. Open Command Prompt. If you’re trying to install Windows 10 you can use Shift + F10 shortcut to start Command Prompt.
2. Enter diskpart.
   
3. Now enter list disk.
   
4. Select the disk that you want to use. Enter select disk #. Replace # with the appropriate number that represents a certain disk. We used disk 0, but it might be different on your PC.
   
5. Enter list partition.
   
6. Locate the partition that you want to delete and enter select partition #. Replace # with the appropriate number that represents the partition.
   
7. Lastly, enter delete partition.
   
8. After that, try to install Windows 10 again.

If this process seems complicated to you, you can always use third-party tools that come with graphical interface, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant.

With such tools you can easily delete partitions, format them or perform any other disk-managing actions easily and in a matter of seconds.

⇒ Get AOMEI Partition Assistant

6. Wait until Press any key to boot from disk message appears again

Many motherboards support both UEFI and Legacy boot, and some motherboards will start UEFI boot first. If you see Press any key to boot from disk message, do not press anything.

If your motherboard has UEFI and Legacy boot enabled the same message will appear again. When Press any key to boot from disk message appears for the second time press any key to boot from a designated device.

7. Use a USB 2.0 flash drive

Users reported that USB 3.0 flash drives don’t give them the option to choose MBR or Legacy boot while choosing a boot device, but you can fix this problem by using a USB 2.0 flash drive instead.

Alternatively, you can use USB 2.0 port on your PC if you have one.

The computer hardware may not support booting

1. Delete all partitions and convert your hard drive to GPT

To fix Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk GPT without losing data error you might have to delete all your partitions. This procedure will delete all your files, therefore we urge you to create a backup before you start.

If your hard drive is larger than 2TB, you must convert it to GPT. To do that, use diskpart tool to clean your hard drive and then convert it to GPT.

For more instructions on how to do that be sure to check our guide on how to convert MBR to GPT disk.

2. Format your hard drive from Linux

If you don’t want to use command line to fix this problem, you can start your PC from a Live Linux CD. After Linux starts, locate the appropriate disk management tool and format it to FAT32 drive.

Be sure to use the slow method to completely clean your hard drive. This procedure will delete all files from your hard drive, so be sure to back them up.

After your hard drive is formatted, try to install Windows 10 again.

3. Disable unnecessary boot devices in BIOS

1. While your system boots, press F2 or Del to enter BIOS.
2. Now navigate to the Boot section.
   
3. Disable all unnecessary boot devices.

For more information on how to disable boot devices be sure to check your motherboard manual.

4. Connect your hard drive to Intel SATA 3 port instead of Marvell port

1. Restart your PC.
2. While it boots, press F2 or Del. This should take you to BIOS.
3. Now locate settings for Intel SATA 3 controller and set it to run in AHCI Mode.
   
4. Turn on SMART option for Intel SATA 3.

These types of problems can sometimes appear if your hard drive is not connected to Intel SATA 3 port, so be sure to connect it to Intel SATA 3 port on your PC.

5. Connect your hard drive and optical drive to correct SATA ports

Some motherboards require that you connect your hard drive and optical drive to appropriate ports. Users reported that after connecting the hard drive and optical drive to SATA 5 and SATA 6 ports on their motherboard the issue was resolved.

For more information on which SATA ports you should use, we strongly suggest checking your motherboard manual.

6. Remove your USB installation media after the first restart

Few users reported that you can avoid this issue simply by removing your USB installation media. According to users, you need to remove your installation media before your computer restarts during the setup process.

After the USB media is removed, the installation should continue without any issues. In addition, be sure that you don’t have any additional USB drives or devices attached to your PC.

We don’t know if this solution works, but a couple of users reported that it fixed the issue for them, so feel free to give it a try.

7. Check if your hard drive is on the list of boot devices

1. Restart your PC and keep pressing F2 or Del to enter BIOS.
2. Navigate to the Boot section.
3. Make sure that your hardware is added as a boot device.
   

Few users reported that their hard drive had an exclamation mark before it in Boot options menu, meaning that the hard drive is disabled.

According to them, you can enable your hard drive again simply by using Ctrl + 1 shortcut. Keep in mind that different versions of BIOS might use different shortcuts, so check your motherboard manual for detailed explanation.

8. Disable External Device Boot

1. Open BIOS settings. You should be able to do that by pressing the Assist button on your laptop.
   
2. Go to External Device Boot settings and disable this option.
3. Save changes and try to install Windows 10 again.

Few users reported that you can fix this issue on Sony Vaio devices by disabling External Device Boot. According to them, the device finds more than one boot option from BIOS, but you can fix that by following these steps:

9. Disable Intel Boot Security

1. While your PC boots, press F2 to access BIOS. Note, your PC might use a different key.
2. Navigate to Secure Boot section.
   
3. Now disable Intel Boot Security.

If your device supports Intel Boot Security feature you should disable it from BIOS. Users reported that Intel Boot Security feature can interfere with Windows 10 installation, therefore be sure to disable this option in BIOS.

After disabling Boot Security Windows 10 should be installed without problems.

10. Disable the AHCI mode

1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS. You can do that by pressing F2 during boot.
2. Now look for storage settings.
3. Locate the AHCI mode for your drive and disable it.
   

After using this solutions, the Windows cannot be installed to this disk ensure disk controller is enabled in BIOS message will be gone.

11. Unplug your Ethernet cable

Many users reported that they fixed this issue simply by unplugging the Ethernet cable.

We don’t know why Ethernet cable caused this problem, but if you’re getting The computer hardware may not support booting error be sure to try this solution.

12. Set the boot order properly

1. Restart your PC.
2. While the PC boots, keep pressing F2 or Del to access BIOS.
3. Navigate to Boot section.
   
4. Now make sure your flash drive is set as first boot device.

Few users reported this error while selecting their USB drive as the boot device. According to them, the only way to fix this issue was to enter BIOS and set the USB flash drive as the first boot device.

For some strange reason the quick boot menu option wouldn’t work for them, but after changing the boot order in BIOS the issue was resolved.

13. Set the partition to active

1. Start Command Prompt. If you’re trying to install Windows 10 you can start Command Prompt by pressing Shift + F10.
2. After Command Prompt opens, enter diskpart and press Enter.
3. If you have two or more hard drives, enter list disk command. Locate your the hard drive that you want to use to install Windows 10.
   
4. Enter select disk #. Replace the # with the appropriate number. If you have only one hard drive use disk 0.
   
5. Now enter list partition.
   
6. Locate your desired partition and enter select partition #. Replace the # with the appropriate number.
   
7. Enter active.
8. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

Sometimes you might get Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk the selected disk is of the GPT partition style error, but that can be fixed with diskpart.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk SSD

1. Be sure that your SSD is clean

According to users, installation problems with Windows 10 can occur if your SSD drive isn’t clean. To fix this problem be sure to remove all partitions and files from your SSD and try to install Windows 10 again.

In addition, be sure that AHCI is enabled.

2. Try non-UEFI boot

1. Restart your PC.
2. While the PC boots, press F2 or Del.
3. Now go to the boot section and disable UEFI boot.
   

Few users reported that you can fix this problem simply by using non-UEFI boot, so you might want to try it.

3. Disconnect other SSD

If you have two or more SSDs on your PC you might experience this error. One of the simplest solutions is to disconnect all other SSD drives and check if that fixes the problem.

In addition, be sure to disconnect any storage devices from your PC.

4. Use SATA 2 port

Users reported that this issue can occur if the SATA 3 expansion board is faulty, so you might want to try using SATA 2 port instead.

According to users, they were able to install Windows 10 after connecting their SSD to SATA 2 port, so be sure to try that.

5. Connect your DVD drive to the motherboard

It seems that this issue appears when you connect both your SSD and DVD to the controller.

One of the simplest solutions is to disconnect your DVD drive and connect it to the motherboard while keeping the SSD connected to the controller.

After doing that, Windows cannot be installed to this disk setup does not support USB message will be gone.

6. Remove RAID configuration

1. Restart your PC.
2. During the boot, keep pressing F2 to access BIOS.
3. Navigate to Storage settings.
4. Set the SATA Mode to anything else then RAID.
   

Users reported this problem while using RAID, and according to them, removing RAID configuration from BIOS fixed this issue.

After removing RAID, create it again, make it bootable and you should be able to install Windows 10.

7. Make sure that your USB flash drive and SSD don’t match

This is a very unlikely issue, but users reported that Windows 10 installation can fail if you’re trying to install it with USB flash drive.

Users reported that they had problems with Corsair USB flash drive and SSD, but after replacing the Corsair flash drive with a different brand the issue was fixed.

The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes

Convert your dynamic disk to a basic disk

1. During Windows setup, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Now type diskpart.
   
3. Enter list disk. Locate the disk that you want to convert.
   
4. Enter select disk #. Replace # with the appropriate number.
   
5. Enter clear.
   
6. Now enter convert basic.
   
7. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

After your disk is converted to basic, try to install Windows 10 again.

What can I do if Windows 11 cannot be installed to this disk?

This issue affects all versions of Windows, and in most cases it’s caused by your configuration, so adjusting the BIOS settings will fix the problem.

Since this is such a common issue and caused by BIOS, fixing it on Windows 11 is exactly the same like on the older versions.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk error can be a big problem and prevent you from installing Windows 10, but you should be able to fix this issue by using one of our solutions.

In case the problem is still there, read our Windows cannot install required files article for more easy-to-follow solutions.

If you found another way to solve this error or you have any other questions, feel free to share in the comments section below.

Installing Windows isn’t always simple, and sometimes certain issues can occur. One of the most problematic issues is Windows cannot be installed to this disk error, so let’s see how to fix it.

This isn’t the only installation error, and many have reported Installation failed in the safe_os phase, so the problem can appear during any parts of the setup.

In most cases, the error is caused by hardware incompatibility. After that, check your SATA device or use the diskpart tool.

For full instructions, check the guide below.

What can I do if Windows 10/11 cannot be installed to this disk?

1. Windows 10 can’t install to this disk
2. Can’t install on GPT partitions Windows 10
3. Windows 10 can’t install on MBR partitions
4. The computer hardware may not support booting
5. Windows cannot be installed to this disk SSD
6. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes

Windows 10 can’t install to this disk

1. Make sure that no additional hard drives are connected

Sometimes additional hard drive or storage devices can cause this error to appear, therefore you need to disconnect all hard drives except the one that you’re going to use to install Windows 10.

Users also reported that sometimes USB flash drives or SD cards can interfere with Windows 10 installation, so be sure to remove them all. If needs be, try to install Windows 10 from a DVD.

2. Check your SATA device

According to users, this error can appear if your primary hard drive is attached to eSATA port, so be sure to connect it to a different port. In addition, be sure that your SATA controller is set to AHCI or RAID mode.

If you have CD, DVD or Blu-ray drive attached to eSATA or SATA 3 port, be sure to disconnect them and attach them to SATA 2 controller.

Also, do not use an enclosure casing with a SATA 3 HDD that is connected to a SATA 3 controller.

Keep in mind that a faulty drive will cause you to get Windows cannot be installed to this disk the disk may fail soon error, so be prepared to replace your drive.

Windows 10 can’t install on GPT partitions

1. Use diskpart tool

1. During the Windows 10 setup, press Shift + F10 keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt.
2. When Command Prompt opens, enter diskpart and press Enter.
3. Now enter list disk and press Enter.
   
4. List of all available hard drives will appear. Typeselect disk 0 and press Enter.
   
5. Enter clean and press Enter.
   
   
6. Optional: Use convert gtp or convert mbr command to convert your drive to the desired type.
7. Enter exit and press Enter.
   
   
8. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

Once again we have to mention that the clean command will delete all files and partitions from a selected hard drive.

Therefore be sure to back up important files or use this solution if you have a new computer that doesn’t have any important files on it.

2. Use legacy BIOS mode

1. While your computer boots press the appropriate key to open Boot Menu. Usually that key is set to Esc, F2, F9 or F12, but it can be different depending on your motherboard.
2. Once the Boot Menu opens, select BIOS USB Drive option and press Enter and you’ll boot from that flash drive using the BIOS Legacy mode.
   
3. Proceed with installation and install Windows 10.

3. Use Rufus to create a bootable USB flash drive

1. Get a 8GB or 16GB flash drive and connect it to your PC.
2. Download Windows Media Creation tool.
   
3. Run the software and choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click on Next.
   
4. Check your PC settings. If they aren’t correct, uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC and change the settings accordingly.
   
5. Select USB flash drive and click Next.
   
6. Wait for the process to finish. This could take a while depending on your download speed, so be patient.

After the download is finished, you need to use Rufus to create a bootable media. You can do that by following these steps:

1. Visit Rufus page and download it.
   
2. Once the software is downloaded, run it.
3. Select your flash drive on the list of devices.
   
4. Set Boot selection to Disk or ISO image. Click on Select button and choose your Windows ISO file.
   
5. Click Start to start the process.
   
6. You’ll be asked to format the drive, so click on OK to proceed.
   
7. Wait for the process to finish.

Windows 10 can’t install on MBR partitions

1. Disable EFI boot sources

1. While your computer boots press the appropriate key to enter BIOS. Usually that’s Del or F2, but it can be different on your PC.
2. Once you enter BIOS, you need to locate Boot Order section and disable EFI Boot Sources.
   
3. Save changes and restart.

After disabling EFI Boot Sources you should be able to install Windows without any issues. If the installation is successful, you need to go back to BIOS and enable EFI Boot Sources.

2. Delete the partition and format it again

1. Boot your device from installation USB.
2. Click on Install now.
   
3. Select Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).
   
4. Choose the drive on which you want to install Windows and click on Delete.
5. Now click on New to create a new drive.
6. Select the new drive and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you’re getting Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk MBR partition table on EFI system, then your only option might be to format your drive.

3. Use a DVD drive

If you’re having this problem you should be able to circumvent it by using a DVD drive to install Windows 10. When installing the operating system from a DVD users are suggesting to use ODD option instead of EFI.

In addition, you can also try to use an external DVD drive to fix this problem.

4. Disable UEFI boot

Newer motherboards support UEFI boot option, but sometimes UEFI boot can give you Windows cannot be installed to this disk error. To fix it, you need to enter BIOS and enable Legacy Boot option.

For more information on how to enter BIOS and how to use Legacy Boot, we strongly advise you to check your motherboard manual.

Some motherboards support both UEFI and Legacy boot so you can use both modes without having to disable anything. In some situations, you can even fix this problem by disabling Legacy boot and using UEFI instead.

5. Use diskpart to delete the problematic partition

1. Open Command Prompt. If you’re trying to install Windows 10 you can use Shift + F10 shortcut to start Command Prompt.
2. Enter diskpart.
   
3. Now enter list disk.
   
4. Select the disk that you want to use. Enter select disk #. Replace # with the appropriate number that represents a certain disk. We used disk 0, but it might be different on your PC.
   
5. Enter list partition.
   
6. Locate the partition that you want to delete and enter select partition #. Replace # with the appropriate number that represents the partition.
   
7. Lastly, enter delete partition.
   
8. After that, try to install Windows 10 again.

If this process seems complicated to you, you can always use third-party tools that come with graphical interface, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant.

With such tools you can easily delete partitions, format them or perform any other disk-managing actions easily and in a matter of seconds.

⇒ Get AOMEI Partition Assistant

6. Wait until Press any key to boot from disk message appears again

Many motherboards support both UEFI and Legacy boot, and some motherboards will start UEFI boot first. If you see Press any key to boot from disk message, do not press anything.

If your motherboard has UEFI and Legacy boot enabled the same message will appear again. When Press any key to boot from disk message appears for the second time press any key to boot from a designated device.

7. Use a USB 2.0 flash drive

Users reported that USB 3.0 flash drives don’t give them the option to choose MBR or Legacy boot while choosing a boot device, but you can fix this problem by using a USB 2.0 flash drive instead.

Alternatively, you can use USB 2.0 port on your PC if you have one.

The computer hardware may not support booting

1. Delete all partitions and convert your hard drive to GPT

To fix Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk GPT without losing data error you might have to delete all your partitions. This procedure will delete all your files, therefore we urge you to create a backup before you start.

If your hard drive is larger than 2TB, you must convert it to GPT. To do that, use diskpart tool to clean your hard drive and then convert it to GPT.

For more instructions on how to do that be sure to check our guide on how to convert MBR to GPT disk.

2. Format your hard drive from Linux

If you don’t want to use command line to fix this problem, you can start your PC from a Live Linux CD. After Linux starts, locate the appropriate disk management tool and format it to FAT32 drive.

Be sure to use the slow method to completely clean your hard drive. This procedure will delete all files from your hard drive, so be sure to back them up.

After your hard drive is formatted, try to install Windows 10 again.

3. Disable unnecessary boot devices in BIOS

1. While your system boots, press F2 or Del to enter BIOS.
2. Now navigate to the Boot section.
   
3. Disable all unnecessary boot devices.

For more information on how to disable boot devices be sure to check your motherboard manual.

4. Connect your hard drive to Intel SATA 3 port instead of Marvell port

1. Restart your PC.
2. While it boots, press F2 or Del. This should take you to BIOS.
3. Now locate settings for Intel SATA 3 controller and set it to run in AHCI Mode.
   
4. Turn on SMART option for Intel SATA 3.

These types of problems can sometimes appear if your hard drive is not connected to Intel SATA 3 port, so be sure to connect it to Intel SATA 3 port on your PC.

5. Connect your hard drive and optical drive to correct SATA ports

Some motherboards require that you connect your hard drive and optical drive to appropriate ports. Users reported that after connecting the hard drive and optical drive to SATA 5 and SATA 6 ports on their motherboard the issue was resolved.

For more information on which SATA ports you should use, we strongly suggest checking your motherboard manual.

6. Remove your USB installation media after the first restart

Few users reported that you can avoid this issue simply by removing your USB installation media. According to users, you need to remove your installation media before your computer restarts during the setup process.

After the USB media is removed, the installation should continue without any issues. In addition, be sure that you don’t have any additional USB drives or devices attached to your PC.

We don’t know if this solution works, but a couple of users reported that it fixed the issue for them, so feel free to give it a try.

7. Check if your hard drive is on the list of boot devices

1. Restart your PC and keep pressing F2 or Del to enter BIOS.
2. Navigate to the Boot section.
3. Make sure that your hardware is added as a boot device.
   

Few users reported that their hard drive had an exclamation mark before it in Boot options menu, meaning that the hard drive is disabled.

According to them, you can enable your hard drive again simply by using Ctrl + 1 shortcut. Keep in mind that different versions of BIOS might use different shortcuts, so check your motherboard manual for detailed explanation.

8. Disable External Device Boot

1. Open BIOS settings. You should be able to do that by pressing the Assist button on your laptop.
   
2. Go to External Device Boot settings and disable this option.
3. Save changes and try to install Windows 10 again.

Few users reported that you can fix this issue on Sony Vaio devices by disabling External Device Boot. According to them, the device finds more than one boot option from BIOS, but you can fix that by following these steps:

9. Disable Intel Boot Security

1. While your PC boots, press F2 to access BIOS. Note, your PC might use a different key.
2. Navigate to Secure Boot section.
   
3. Now disable Intel Boot Security.

If your device supports Intel Boot Security feature you should disable it from BIOS. Users reported that Intel Boot Security feature can interfere with Windows 10 installation, therefore be sure to disable this option in BIOS.

After disabling Boot Security Windows 10 should be installed without problems.

10. Disable the AHCI mode

1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS. You can do that by pressing F2 during boot.
2. Now look for storage settings.
3. Locate the AHCI mode for your drive and disable it.
   

After using this solutions, the Windows cannot be installed to this disk ensure disk controller is enabled in BIOS message will be gone.

11. Unplug your Ethernet cable

Many users reported that they fixed this issue simply by unplugging the Ethernet cable.

We don’t know why Ethernet cable caused this problem, but if you’re getting The computer hardware may not support booting error be sure to try this solution.

12. Set the boot order properly

1. Restart your PC.
2. While the PC boots, keep pressing F2 or Del to access BIOS.
3. Navigate to Boot section.
   
4. Now make sure your flash drive is set as first boot device.

Few users reported this error while selecting their USB drive as the boot device. According to them, the only way to fix this issue was to enter BIOS and set the USB flash drive as the first boot device.

For some strange reason the quick boot menu option wouldn’t work for them, but after changing the boot order in BIOS the issue was resolved.

13. Set the partition to active

1. Start Command Prompt. If you’re trying to install Windows 10 you can start Command Prompt by pressing Shift + F10.
2. After Command Prompt opens, enter diskpart and press Enter.
3. If you have two or more hard drives, enter list disk command. Locate your the hard drive that you want to use to install Windows 10.
   
4. Enter select disk #. Replace the # with the appropriate number. If you have only one hard drive use disk 0.
   
5. Now enter list partition.
   
6. Locate your desired partition and enter select partition #. Replace the # with the appropriate number.
   
7. Enter active.
8. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

Sometimes you might get Windows 10 cannot be installed to this disk the selected disk is of the GPT partition style error, but that can be fixed with diskpart.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk SSD

1. Be sure that your SSD is clean

According to users, installation problems with Windows 10 can occur if your SSD drive isn’t clean. To fix this problem be sure to remove all partitions and files from your SSD and try to install Windows 10 again.

In addition, be sure that AHCI is enabled.

2. Try non-UEFI boot

1. Restart your PC.
2. While the PC boots, press F2 or Del.
3. Now go to the boot section and disable UEFI boot.
   

Few users reported that you can fix this problem simply by using non-UEFI boot, so you might want to try it.

3. Disconnect other SSD

If you have two or more SSDs on your PC you might experience this error. One of the simplest solutions is to disconnect all other SSD drives and check if that fixes the problem.

In addition, be sure to disconnect any storage devices from your PC.

4. Use SATA 2 port

Users reported that this issue can occur if the SATA 3 expansion board is faulty, so you might want to try using SATA 2 port instead.

According to users, they were able to install Windows 10 after connecting their SSD to SATA 2 port, so be sure to try that.

5. Connect your DVD drive to the motherboard

It seems that this issue appears when you connect both your SSD and DVD to the controller.

One of the simplest solutions is to disconnect your DVD drive and connect it to the motherboard while keeping the SSD connected to the controller.

After doing that, Windows cannot be installed to this disk setup does not support USB message will be gone.

6. Remove RAID configuration

1. Restart your PC.
2. During the boot, keep pressing F2 to access BIOS.
3. Navigate to Storage settings.
4. Set the SATA Mode to anything else then RAID.
   

Users reported this problem while using RAID, and according to them, removing RAID configuration from BIOS fixed this issue.

After removing RAID, create it again, make it bootable and you should be able to install Windows 10.

7. Make sure that your USB flash drive and SSD don’t match

This is a very unlikely issue, but users reported that Windows 10 installation can fail if you’re trying to install it with USB flash drive.

Users reported that they had problems with Corsair USB flash drive and SSD, but after replacing the Corsair flash drive with a different brand the issue was fixed.

The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes

Convert your dynamic disk to a basic disk

1. During Windows setup, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Now type diskpart.
   
3. Enter list disk. Locate the disk that you want to convert.
   
4. Enter select disk #. Replace # with the appropriate number.
   
5. Enter clear.
   
6. Now enter convert basic.
   
7. Close Command Prompt and try to install Windows 10 again.

After your disk is converted to basic, try to install Windows 10 again.

What can I do if Windows 11 cannot be installed to this disk?

This issue affects all versions of Windows, and in most cases it’s caused by your configuration, so adjusting the BIOS settings will fix the problem.

Since this is such a common issue and caused by BIOS, fixing it on Windows 11 is exactly the same like on the older versions.

Windows cannot be installed to this disk error can be a big problem and prevent you from installing Windows 10, but you should be able to fix this issue by using one of our solutions.

In case the problem is still there, read our Windows cannot install required files article for more easy-to-follow solutions.

If you found another way to solve this error or you have any other questions, feel free to share in the comments section below.

Table of Contents:

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 GPT disk, the motherboard should support UEFI; while on BIOS you should use MBR partition table. Thus, if you install Windows on BIOS system and GPT partition table comes in your way. The installation will be blocked by the error.

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 PC you have.

Solution #2: Clean up the disk and convert to MBR using Command Prompt

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 3 which does not disturb existing data.

Step 2. Run Command Prompt. Boot computer from the Windows installation disk and go to System Recovery Options where you can choose Command Prompt.

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.

Solution #3: Convert GPT to MBR with free partition manager

DiskGenius is free partition manager for all Windows users and it is able to convert GPT disk to MBR without data loss. If you are not comfortable with using Command Prompt, DiskGenius Free can be a good alternative, as it is easier and safer to use. Also, this partition tool can create WinPE bootable USB disk so that you can manage disk or partition when system fails to boot. Besides, it can help you back up data, image system, recover lost data or partition, backup partition table, etc.

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

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

Step 3. Click OK button from the message box which asks confirmation for the conversion.

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

Step 4. Click Save All button from toolbar and click Yes from pop-up message box to save changes on partition table.

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». 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:

GPT (GUID Partition Table) was introduced as part of UEFI which is the acronym for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. GPT offers more flexible approach for disk partitioning than MBR partitioning scheme. A partition or volume is a contiguous area on a physical or logical disk and it is visible to system firmware as well as installed Windows system. System firmware controls the access to a partition before operating system boots and then partitions are controlled by OS.

Currently many computers are capable of using the UEFI version of BIOS in order to speed up boot and shutdown time as well as provide 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 drivers larger than 4TB and does not limit partition number.

Solution #1: Change BIOS Boot Setting

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 specified key prompted by your motherboard manufacturer. The prompt appears on screen before system boots.

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

DiskGenius Free Edition is able to convert 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 free of charge from download center.

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

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 following error.

What is basic disk and dynamic disk?

Basic disk is a storage type mostly used with Windows, providing a solution to accommodate an array which changes storage requirement scenarios. This term refers to a disk containing partitions for example primary partition and logical partition which can be formatted with a file system to storage 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 is as active.

Dynamic disk provides features that basic disk does not, for example, it is able to create volumes crossing multiple disks as well as create fault-tolerant volumes. Both MBR and GPT partition styles can be used by dynamic disks as well. Dynamic disk provides greater flexibility for volume management, as it makes use of database to track information for volumes and other dynamic disks. Besides, dynamic disk volumes can be created on noncontiguous scope or physical disks, while volumes on basic disk should locate on contiguous extents on one disk.

Solution #1: Convert 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.

Step 2. Open Disk Management. Click Start and right click Computer to select Manage. Click Disk Management in the Computer Management window.

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.

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.

Solution #2: Change a dynamic disk back 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 Windows installation CD or bootable disk to boot computer and open CMD. Choose Repair your computer and then 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

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 empty will be converted into a basic disk.

Solution #3: Convert 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 create a copy 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 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:

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 problem on file system, most versions of Windows operating system can be installed to partitions formatted to NTFS only and few versions can be installed to 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 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

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

Step 2. Type convert G:/fs:ntfs in command prompt 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.

Solution #2: Format 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 and right-click the system partition you want to format to select Format Current Partition.

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 partition manager.

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 «Windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error: 0x80300001…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».

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 setting. Also, this issue is caused by 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.

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 hard drive is damaged, as data on that disk may get lost. Similar to system warning Windows detected a hard disk problem, you should have a check for hard drive’s health condition.

Step 1. View hard drive S.M.A.R.T. information. 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.

Step 2. Verify bad sectors for hard drive in questions. Still in DiskGenius, select the disk you want to check and click Disk to choose «Verify Or Repair Bad Sectors«. Then click Start Verify button to start scanning sectors for selected area.

If hard disk contains bad sectors, you can try repairing it with the program. Ensure that all files are backed up first, because bad sector repairing destroys. It’s normal some bad sectors caused by physical damage cannot be repair. In that situation, you can manually create a hidden partition on that area to isolate bad sectors. Moreover, operating system shouldn’t be installed to a hard drive that contains bad sectors.

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

While install 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 Windows install CD or USB disk to 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 install 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 and the setup will continue without any errors.

Solution #2: Change boot order

It’s possible that this error occurs when the disk is not set as 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 computer and watch message appearing on screen, and a particular key such as Del or F2 will be displayed 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 disk. Any attached storage devices like hard drive, USB flash drive, floppy drive, etc. are listed here 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 controller for hard drive will encounter the message «Windows cannot be installed to disk # partition #». Usually this issue occurs due to SAS driver issue or corrupted MFT. The Microsoft Windows partition manager is out of touch with driver after changes were made on partition. 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 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 driver 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 use DiskGenius to repartition the 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 installation.

Conclusion

This guide includes 8 cases that «Windows cannot be installed to this disk» error appears during Windows se tup process. If 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; many approaches in this article such as formatting disk and delete partitions lead to data loss, please make sure files and partitions are backed up beforehand; 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 as well as data recovery program for both average and professional users.

Доброго времени!

При установке Windows нередко возникают разного рода проблемы (хотя, конечно, 10-ка в этом плане сильно прибавила и с ней гораздо легче справится…). Однако, «и на старуху бывает проруха»… 👀

В сегодняшней заметке хотел представить решение одной ошибки, связанной с таблицей MBR-разделов (см. скриншот ниже 👇). Появляется она на этапе выбора диска под установку ОС.

Что характерно: это ошибка, в общем-то, мало о чем говорит начинающему пользователю, и ее нельзя пропустить (закрыть, отменить и т.д.).

Также отмечу, что многие из-за нее форматируют жесткий диск (и теряют данные), но это не всегда помогает. Поэтому, если вы столкнулись с подобной проблемой — прежде чем удалять разделы на HDD, ознакомьтесь с материалом статьи…

*

Варианты решений

📌 1) Через загрузочное меню

В ряде случаев эту проблему можно решить в 2-клика!

После подключения к USB-порту установочной флешки и включения ноутбука — зайдите в Boot Menu (на моем ноутбуке ASUS для этого используется клавиша ESC — нажимать ее лучше несколько раз сразу после кнопки включения!).

*

👉 В помощь! 

Горячие клавиши для входа в меню BIOS, Boot Menu — см. инструкцию

*

Зайдя в Boot Menu, — вы увидите все накопители, с которых можно произвести загрузку. В некоторых случаях, ваша загрузочная флешка будет отображаться сразу 2 раза. Обратите внимание на фото ниже: моя флешка «Kingston Data Traveler». 👇

Так вот, выбирая строку без UEFI — я неоднократно избегал подобной ошибки и устанавливал ОС Windows 10. Способ весьма удобный, но, к сожалению, работает не на всех устройствах. Но попробовать его, разумеется, стоит…

*

📌 2) Запись DVD-диска и запуск установки с него

Если у вас на компьютере/ноутбуке есть привод DVD-дисков — то можно порекомендовать попробовать запустить установку ОС с него. Как бы это не показалось странно, но установка с компакт диска проходит без ошибки, связанной с MBR-разделами…

Подготовить установочный DVD можно с помощью спец. средства с сайта Microsoft (см. 👉 тут подробнее об этом).

*

👉 Примечание

Для загрузки с компакт диска необходимо установить в BIOS спец. режим загрузки Legacy или CSM (Compatibility Support Mode). Более подробно тут

*

📌 3) Удаление всех разделов

Важно! Все данные на диске при этой операции будут удалены!

Если у вас на диске нет нужных данных — то можно просто удалить ВСЕ разделы на нем (см. скрин ниже 👇), затем выбрать под установку ОС Windows 10/11 «Незанятое место на диске 0» и нажать «Далее».

После чего, Windows автоматически преобразует диск в GPT, и установщик продолжит свою работу…

*

📌 4) Конвертация диска в GPT с помощью командной строки

Важно! Все данные на диске при этом способе будут удалены!

При появлении окна ошибки — нажмите OK, а после используйте сочетание клавиш Shift + F10 (для ноутбуков возможно потребуется Fn+ Shift + F10). После этого должно появиться окно командной строки.

Далее необходимо по порядку выполнить следующие команды (после каждой нажимать Enter):

1. diskpart (запускаем утилиту для работы с дисками);
2. list disk (смотрим все подключенные диски к системе);
3. select disk 1 (выбираем диск, на который хотим установить Windows. В моем случае этот диск «1», см. скрин ниже);
4. clean (очищаем диск от всех данных и разделов);
5. convert gpt (конвертация диска в GPT);
6. exit (выход).

После этого закройте командную строку, нажмите по кнопке «Обновить» — среди списка накопителей вы увидите «Незанятое дисковое пространство», на которое и можно продолжить установку ОС…

*

📌 5) Преобразование диска в GPT с помощью спец. утилит

Примечание! Способ без потери данных!

Если у вас есть второй ноутбук, ПК (либо подготовлена LiveCD-флешка) — то конвертировать диск можно и без потери данных, используя спец. утилиты. Как это будет выглядеть:

1. сначала необходимо вынуть диск (на который нужно установить ОС) из ПК (ноутбука) и подключить его к другому устройству (подключение к SATA, подключение M2 накопителя к USB);
2. далее установить программу MiniTool Partition Wizard;
3. после открыть ее, найти в списке диск и кликнуть по нему правой кнопкой мышки — в появившемся меню указать, что требуется конвертация в GPT (пример на скрине ниже);
4. после конвертации, диск необходимо подключить к исходному ПК и начать установку ОС…

Примечание: чтобы не вынимать диск и не подключать его к другому ПК в MiniTool Partition Wizard можно создать загрузочную флешку и с нее преобразовать диск в GPT. Однако, подобная функция стала платной (причем, не только в этой программе…).

*

👉 В помощь!

Несколько способов преобразования MBR к GPT и наоборот без потери данных — см. пошаговую инструкцию

*

На этом пока все, удачи!

👋

Первая публикация: 12.08.2019

Корректировка: 10.10.2021