Windows Can’t be Installed on This Disk MBR | Easy Solutions

Windows can’t be installed in this disk MBR, this error occurs when you try to install the Windows operating system on your computer with a flash drive or bootable external drive. This error indicates that windows can’t be installed to MBR disk and the selected disk may be in MBR partition style. This error occurs because the computer has an EFI system and this system is not compatible with the MBR disk. So, you have to solve the issue to continue the installation process. You have to select a GPT disk for this installation. There are some easy methods to change MBR disk to GPT disk.

Why Windows Can’t be Installed to This Disk MBR

Users find this error while installing the windows operation system using the media creation tool or other methods. When the Windows operating system is installed on the computer, an error occurs and it prevents the users from installing the system on their PC. This error message is Windows can’t be installed to this disk MBR. It is because the selected disk might be an MBR partition table. But windows can only be installed on GPT disks. In the MBR disk, the computer’s hardware may not support booting due to the lack of architecture and software compatibility. So, before installing a new operating system on Windows, you have to select GPT disk. As this problem has become very common, here are some solutions to fix the issue.

[Solved] Windows Can’t Be Installed on This Disk MBR

Here are some easy solutions to this issue.

Method 1: Changing BIOS Boot Settings

Step 1: Before accessing BIOS, first, you have to EFI boot to SATA or legacy mode. It is because Windows can be installed on Legacy + MBR booted computer.

Step 2: Then, you have to restart the computer. You have to enter BIOS by pressing Del or F10 before the system boots. This is specific but it varies from one Motherboard brand to another, so you have to look at the screen soon after the computer is powered on.

Step 3: Now, once you are in BIOS, you have to go to Boot Devices. Then, you have to find Boot order 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 you have made and exit.

Step 5: Finally, you have to boot your computer by installing CD or disk. And then, try again to install windows.

Method 2: Converting MBR Disk to GPT Without Losing Data

There is another way to solve this error is by converting the MBR partition table to GPT. If you convert the disk to GPT, the problem will be no longer. You can use the command line to convert MBR to GPT. But doing so, you may lose the data of the disk. So, you have to make sure that all the data are backed up. There is also much third-party software to make this conversion. This software will save your effort and time. AOMEI partition or DiskGenius is one kind of converting software. It will convert the MBR disk to GPT without losing any data.

Step 1: First, you have to install and launch DiskGenius. You have to install the free version.

Step 2: Then, you have to locate and select the MBR disk to be converted to GPT in DiskGenius. For this, you have to click the Disk menu and select Convert To GUID Partition Table.

Step 3: Now, A window will appear and you have to click OK. 

Step 4: Next, to save the changes to the partition table and the conversion takes effect, you have to click Save All. When the disk is converted to GPT, you can try to install Windows again.

Method 3: Converting MBR Disk to GPT Disk via Command Prompt

This method of converting the MBR disk to GPT can erase the data of the disk. So, you may lose data and partition on the disk. That’s why, you have to transfer the data to another external hard drive and then, try this method.

Step 1: First, you have to go to the Command Prompt. You can search it in the search engine or you can simply press the Shift and F10 keys to open it directly.

Step 2: Then, you have to type the following commands in Command Prompt. You have to press Enter after typing each command.

1. Diskpart
2. List disk
3. Select disk #

Here “#” will be replaced with the number of the disk that you want to convert. So, you have to remember the disk number which you want to convert to GPT.

• Clean

This command will remove all partitions and data of the disk.

• Convert GPS

Step 3: When the disk is converted to GPT, then you can create partitions on the disk.

Step 4: Finally, you can install Windows without errors.

Method 4. Converting MBR to GPT with EaseUS

This EaseUS can convert between MBR and GPT easily. And it converts with no data erasing or partition deleting.

Step 1: First, you have to prepare a disc or drive. you have to prepare storage media, like a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD for creating a bootable disk of EaseUS Partition Master.

Step 2: Then, you have to launch EaseUS Partition Master. For this, you have to go to the “WinPE Creator” feature on the top and click on it.

Step 3: Now, you have to choose USB or CD/DVD according to the device.

Step 4: Next, you have to connect the WinPE bootable disk to the computer.

Step 5: You have to restart your computer and press F2+Del to enter BIOS. You have to set the boot of the PC from Removable Devices or CD-ROM Drive.

Step 5: You have to press F10 to save and exit.

Step 6: After that, you can launch EaseUS Partition Master. You have to right-click the GPT disk that you want to convert. You have to select Convert to GPT.

Step 7: Finally, you have to click the Execute Operation button. You will find it at the top-left corner. Next, you have to click Apply.

Method 5. Converting MBR to GPT with Disk Management

Step 1: First, you have to open Computer Management. For this, you have to go to Control Panel and select Computer Management. You can also right-click to This PC and choose Manage from the menu bar to open the Computer Management.

Step 2: Then, you have to delete the Target MBR Volume. For this, you have to click Disk Management and you can find all disk volumes there. You have to right-click one volume and select Delete Volume. You have to delete all the volumes one by one.

Step 3: Now, you have to choose to Convert to GPT Disk. You have to right-click the MBR disk and select Convert to GPT Disk.

Method 6: Converting MBR Disk via PartitionGuru

Step 1: First, you have to install and launch PartitionGuru for free. You can easily download this free from the Eassos download center.

Step 2: Then, you have to locate and select the MBR disk which you want to convert to GPT in PartitionGuru. You have to click the Disk menu and select Convert To GUID Partition Table.

Step 3: Now, you have to click OK. Then, you have to click Save All button. When the disk is converted to GPT, you can retry installing Windows again.

Step 4: Finally, you have to click Save All to save the changes.

Conclusion

If you change the selected disk from MBR to GPT, you can easily install the windows operating system on your computer. There are several methods of converting MBR disk to GPT disk. Again, some software is for free, and using them you can easily convert the disk to GPT.