When installing Windows on your computer, you may have encountered this issue when a dialogue box appears with the message that Windows can’t be installed on this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table.
In this article, we’ll explain how to fix it and go on with your Windows installation in a jiffy. You can fix it either in BIOS or by changing your partition format.
Table of Contents
How to Fix the Selected Disk Has an MBR Partition Table
We will mention various methods to solve the issue. Let’s begin with the easiest one.
Fix 1: Change BIOS Settings
Step 1: First, you have to go to the BIOS setting of your device. You have to switch the current mood into SATA or legacy mood. You can easily boot into safe mode on your PC.
Step 2: Then, you have to restart your computer. When the computer starts booting, you have to open the BIOS. For this, you have to press Del or F10 to enter the BIOS. These keys can be different in your device. You have to check the BIOS key of the specific device. You may find the BIOS key on the computer screen when it is powered on.
Step 3: Once you enter the BIOS, you have to go to the Boot Devices.
Step 4: Under the Boot Devices, you have to find Boot order. There, you have to disable EFI sources. You have to set the DVD drive to SATA or Legacy Mode from UEFI.
Step 5: Now, you have to save all the changes and exit the window.
Step 6: Finally, you have to boot your computer with a system installing CD or USB flash drive. Then, you have to try to install the windows again.
Fix 2: Convert MBR Disk to GPT With Command Line
Step 1: First, you have to move all your important data to the basic MBR disk.
Step 2: Then, you have to open the Command Prompt on your computer. For this, you have to type cmd in the search engine, or in Cortana and press Enter. From the search results, you have to select the Command Prompt.
Step 3: You have to right-click on the command prompt and select Run as Administrator from the menu bar.
Step 4: Once, you open the command prompt, you have to type diskpart in the command line.
Step 5: When you enter the DISKPART window, you have to type the list disk there. You have to note down the disk number which you want to convert to GPT.
Step 6: Now, you have to type clean in the DISKPART prompt. This command will clean all the partitions or volumes on the disk.
Step 7: Next, you have to type convert gpt in the DISKPART prompt.
Step 8: Finally, you have to close the window and check the error.
Fix 3: Convert MBR to GPT Without Data Loss
Step 1: First, you have to download EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. You have to download the free version of the software.
Step 2: Then, you have to create a bootable disk of EaseUS Partition Master. You have to prepare storage media, like a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD.
Step 3: Now, you have to connect the drive properly to another bootable computer. You have to launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.
Step 4: Once, you open the software, you have to click on the “WinPE Creator” feature. You will find it at the top of the window.
Step 5: Next, you have to choose a USB or CD/DVD. It depends on what device you connect to the computer.
Step 6: After that, you have to connect the WinPE bootable disk to the computer. Then, you have to restart your computer.
Step 7: Before booting the computer, you have to open the BIOS. For this, you have to press F2 or Del from the keyboard to enter BIOS. Then, you have to set to boot the PC from “Removable Devices”.
Step 8: You have to save the changes. For this, you have to press “F10” to save and then, exit.
Step 10: Now, you have to right-click the GPT disk which you want to convert and then, select “Convert to GPT” from the menu.
Step 11: Finally, you have to click on the “Execute Operation” button. You will find it at the left corner of the top of the window and click “Apply” to start the converting process.
Fix 4: Convert MBR to GPT with Disk Management
Using Disk Management, you can convert the MBR disk to a GPT disk. But, in this method, the files can be missing. So, before applying this method, you have to make a backup of your important files.
Step 1: First, you have to open the Computer Management on your computer. You can open it in two ways. Firstly, you have to go to Control Panel and run it as an administrative tool. There, you have to choose “Computer Management”. In a second way, you have to simply right-click on “This PC” on your computer. There, you have to choose “Manage” and select Computer Management.
Step 2: Once, you enter the computer management, you have to delete the MBR Volume. You have to click on “Disk Management” at the top of the window. There, all the disk volumes will appear. You have to right-click on any volume and choose “Delete Volume” from the menu bar. You have to continue the process to delete all the volumes.
Step 3: Finally, you have to right-click on the MBR disk and choose the “Convert to GPT Disk” from the menu bar.
Fix 5: Convert MRB to GPT with DiskGenius
Step 1: First, you have to download DiskGenius Free. You have to download the free version of this software. Then, you have to install the app.
Step 2: Then, you have to select the MBR disk which you want to convert to GPT.
Step 3: Once, you open the software, you have to right-click on the Disk menu and choose Convert To GUID Partition Table from the menu bar.
Step 4: Next, you have to click OK.
Step 5: Finally, you have to click Save All button to save the changes and then, exit.
At this point, now you must have a clear idea about different types of partition table for Hard disk and SSD. You can also learn about the functionalities and one kind of comparison between MBR and GPT partition.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Can I repair MBR?
Yes, repairing MBR is possible. Run bootrec.exe command via the command prompt. In Windows versions lower than Windows 8, you need the installation media (USB stick, CD, DVD, etc.) to run this command.
Does Windows 10 need GPT or MBR?
Windows 10 supports both GPT and MBR. But your computer doesn’t. So if your computer runs on a BIOS-based firmware it can only handle windows 10 on a GPT disk. For UEFI based computers, it’s MBR only.
Which is better GPT or MBR?
Both are good in their own rights. However, if you want to use more than 4 primary partitions in your computer, you need GPT. Because MBR supports a maximum of 4 primary partitions, while for GPT, it can handle up to 128 primary partitions.
Conclusion
When you face the error message the selected disk has an MBR partition table that indicates that you are using an MBR partition disk and your computer’s operating system doesn’t compatible with the disk to install the windows. Until you solve it, this error message frequently comes to the screen.
