Windows cannot be installed on this disk the selected disk has an MBR partition table is a very common error found when you try to install Windows operating system on your computer. When the boot system is not compatible with the selected disk, this error occurs. There can be UEFI mode or the SATA or legacy mood on the boot system. On the EFI system, the windows can only be installed on a GPT disk. It doesn’t support the MBR disk to install windows.
When there is BIOS like is UEFI mode, and you are trying to install windows to MBR disk, you will get the error message. In this case, you have to change the boot settings to SATA or Legacy mode. This, legacy mode supports the MBR disk. So, to fix the error, either you have to change the boot settings to the legacy mode or you have to convert the MBR disk to gpt disk.
Table of Contents
Method 1. Convert MBR to GPT with EaseUS Partition Master
To fix the error: the selected disk has an MBR partition and Windows cannot be installed on this disk, follow these steps.
Step 1: First, you have to prepare a disc or drive. You have to prepare a storage bootable media, like a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD.
Step 2: Then, you have to connect the drive to another bootable computer properly.
Step 3: Now, you have to download and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. You have to download the free version of the software.
Step 4: Once you open the EaseUS Partition Master, you have to go to the “WinPE Creator” feature. You will find it at the top of the window. You have to simply click on it.
Step 5: Next, you have to select the USB or CD/DVD which you have connected to the computer.
Step 6: You have to connect the WinPE bootable disk to the computer and restart your device. Mind that it is restarting, not resetting.
Step 7: When the computer starts to open, you have to press F2/Del to open the BIOS. You have to set the computer from “Removable Devices” or “CD-ROM Drive” to boot in the BIOS.
Step 7: You have to press “F10” to save the changes and exit.
Step 8: After that, you have to open EaseUS Partition Master. There, you have to right-click the GPT disk and select the “Convert to GPT” option.
Step 9: Finally, you have to click the “Execute Operation” button. You will find it at the top-left corner of the window. Then, you have to click “Apply” and begin converting the MBR disk to GPT.
Method 2. Convert MBR to GPT with Disk Management
Step 1: First, you have to open the Computer Management on your computer. For this, you have to go to Control Panel and select the Administrative Tool.
Step 2: There, you have to choose “Computer Management”. Another way to open the Computer Manager is to simply search for it in the search engine.
Step 3: Once you are there, you have to click Disk Management. There, you will find all your disk volumes. You have to right-click one volume and choose “Delete Volume” from the menu bar. By the same process, you have to delete all the volumes.
Step 4: Now, you have to right-click the MBR disk and choose the option of “Convert to GPT Disk”.
Step 5: Finally, you have to wait to complete the process and then check the error.
By following above steps, you can fix the error: the selected disk has an MBR partition and that is why Windows cannot be installed on this disk, follow these steps.
Method 3. Convert MBR to GPT with Diskpart
Step 1: First, you have to turn off the PC and put in the Windows installation DVD or USB in an active USB port.
Step 2: Then, you have to boot the PC from the DVD or USB.
Step 3: Now, you have to open the command prompt on your computer. You have to go to the search engine and type cmd in the command line and press Enter. From the results, you have to select the command prompt.
Step 4: Once the command prompt opens, you have to run the following command there:
- diskpart
- list disk
- select disk 1 (choose the disk you want to install Windows on)
- clean
- convert gpt
- exit
Step 5: Finally, you have to close the Command Prompt and try to install the windows again.
Method 4: Convert MBR Disk to GPT With PartitionGuru
Step 1: First, you have to install and launch PartitionGuru on your computer. You have to download the free version of the software.
Step 2: Then, you have to find and select the MBR disk which you want to convert to GPT in PartitionGuru.
Step 3: Now, you have to click the Disk menu at the top of the window. You have to choose “Convert To GUID Partition Table” from the menu bar.
Step 4: Next, a message box will appear in the window. You have to click the OK button on the message box.
Step 5: Now, you have to click Save All button to save the changes.
Step 6: Finally, you have to wait to complete the converting process. After completing it, you have to try to install the windows again. You should keep in mind that which version of Windows you are installing: 32 or 64-bit version.
Method 5: Convert MBR to GPT with DiskGenius
Step 1: First, you have to install and launch DiskGenius on your computer. You have to download the free version of the software.
Step 2: Then, you have to find and select the MBR disk which one you want to convert to GPT in DiskGenius.
Step 3: Now, you have to click the Disk menu. You will find it at the top of the window. You have to choose Convert To GUID Partition Table from the menu bar.
Step 4: Next, a message box will appear. You have to click the OK button on the message box.
Step 5: Finally, you have to click Save All button to save changes and try to install windows again.
Method 6: Change BIOS Boot Settings
Step 1: First, you have to go to the BIOS setting on your computer. When the computer is on UEFI mode, it can’t install any MBR disk. Because the mode is not compatible with the MBR disk. For this, you have to change the UEFI boot configuration. You have to set the BIOS mode from EFI boot to SATA or legacy mode so that Windows can be installed to Legacy + MBR booted the computer.
Step 2: Now, you have to restart your computer and enter BIOS settings. You have to press Del or F10 altogether before booting the system. This entering key is different from the Motherboard brand to another. So, you have to see the key of your device on the screen.
Step 3: Once you are in the BIOS, you have to go to Boot Devices and find Boot order. There you have to disable EFI sources or change the DVD drive from UEFI to SATA or Legacy Mode.
Step 4: Next, you have to save the changes and exit the BIOS.
Step 5: Finally, you have to boot your computer and try to install the windows again.
Conclusion
There are some methods described above to fix the error. You have two choices to solve the error message and complete the windows installation process. You can convert the MBR disk to a gpt disk which can be installed in the EFI mode. Or, you have to change the boot settings and install Windows on the MBR disk. After reading this whole article, now we hope you know to fix the error: the selected disk has an MBR partition and Windows cannot be installed on this disk. You can read about how to convert MBR to GPT without losing any data.
