How To Fix “Windows Cannot Be Installed To This Disk GPT” Error

The process of reinstalling Windows can be lengthy and difficult. While some users may breeze through the procedure without so much as a warning light, others will likely run across issues that will require intervention.

While many issues may prevent Windows from being installed to disk, the following are the most prevalent. Fortunately, there are solutions to these issues that allow the Windows installation to proceed.

Whether you’re having trouble with the partition style or trying to migrate Windows to a brand-new solid-state drive, we can assist you.

Solutions to Error ‘Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk GPT’

As the underlying causes of the errors are fixed, all machines will eventually use either UEFI or BIOS to start up. If your PC has the UEFI firmware, you must use a GPT drive to install Windows.

Similarly, if your PC boots from a BIOS, you’ll need to use an MBR disk to install Windows. That’s because GPT isn’t supported by legacy BIOS, which is why you’re getting an error message “windows cannot be installed to this disk GPT”. Now that we know what’s going on, fixing the problem is a breeze.

Method 1. Convert MBR to GPT Without Losing Data

In order to start Windows in UEFI mode, which is what the error message suggests, the system drive must have a GPT partition style. To fix “The selected disk is of the GPT partition style,” just convert the MBR disk to GPT.

We recommend using EaseUS Partition Master, a robust third-party partition program that transforms MBR to GPT without compromising data, as the means by which to perform this conversion.

Step 1: Get EaseUS Partition Master from their website and install it on your PC.

Step 2: Launch Disk Converter and then to choose “Convert MBR to GPT” and then to click “Next.”

Step 3: Decide which MBR disk you want to convert to GPT, and then click the “Convert” button.

Method 2. Convert MBR to GPT by Reformatting the Drive

In order to convert the drive to GPT and install Windows, you will need a Windows installation disc or USB. However, you’ll have to format the drive by hand and switch it to GPT mode if you go this route.

All of the information on the drive will be lost if you reformat it. Therefore, if the information is important to you, use EaseUS Partition Master to do the conversion to GPT and keep the data intact. Or at least make a complete backup before performing the reformatting.

Step 1: Shut down your computer and insert the Windows installation disc or flash drive.

Step 2: Start up the computer using the disc or stick.

Step 3: Launch Command Prompt by pressing “Shift + F10” while in Windows Setup.

Step 4: Type each of these commands in sequence:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk
• clean
• convert gpt
• exit

Step 5: Exit the Command Prompt.

Step 6: Keep on installing Windows.

After the process is complete, the drive will seem as a continuous free space. Select the free slot, then continue. Instead of sending the same error, Windows will begin the installation.

Method 3. Boot to UEFI Mode

This is not a generalizable fix. Why? This is due to the fact that not all PCs’ firmware is compatible with both UEFI and BIOS. Even though most Windows 10 PCs and laptops use UEFI-based motherboards with legacy BIOS-compatibility mode.

There are still some requirements and expectations users should keep in mind. The current Surface Pro only supports UEFI mode, whereas older devices running Windows 7 can only use the ancient BIOS mode.

Step 1: Power down your machine entirely.

Step 2: Turning the system on is the second step. After the boot logo appears, press the key designated for entering the BIOS (often Esc, Delete, F1, F2, F10, F11, or F12). (The BIOS key is usually displayed on the screen.)

Step 3: Navigate to the “Boot” menu using the arrow keys.

Step 4: Click the down arrow till you reach UEFI.

Step 5: Leave BIOS after saving the modifications.

Step 6: Proceed with Windows setup.

Conclusion

We need to know the GPT partition style in order to resolve this issue. The GPT partition style is widely used to store information, including the operating system, on hard drives. When the partition style is selected during disk initialization, only then can the hard drive be used.

This will help you to fix windows cannot be installed to this disk GPT. We refer to the complete hard drive set as a GPT disk. The MBR partition style is the antithesis of the modern GPT partition style.

Most users are still making use of MBR disks despite the fact that it is incompatible with more modern operating systems and has a lower restriction on the number of primary partitions and hard disk storage than GPT.