When it comes to installing the latest Windows operating system, some Windows users may find themselves with the error message i.e. “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style”.‘
What Is GPT Partition Style?
GPT is part of the UEFI standard, which means a UEFI-based system should be installed on a GPT disk. GPT partition style allows you to create theoretically unlimited partitions on the disk and enables you to fully use disks that are larger than 2TB. Besides, compare GPT and MBR, GPT is safer and has better compatibility with modern hardware.
If you see the prompt saying “Windows Cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style”, that’s because your PC is booted in UEFI mode, but your hard drive is not configured for UEFI mode.
How to take care of this GPT partition style issue? Technically, you got two options:
- #1. Convert MBR to GPT partition style to fit the PC’s UEFI firmware features.
- #2. Keep the existing MBR partition style, but reboot the PC in legacy BIOS mode.
Convert MBR To GPT By Reformatting The Drive
Since you are attempting to install Windows on the disk, you must have a Windows installation DVD or USB, with which you can also convert to GPT. However, this method needs you to manually wipe a drive and convert it to GPT.
Reformatting will erase all the data on the drive. Hence, if the data matters, feel no hesitate to preserve your data and convert to GPT using EaseUS Partition Master, or at least create a full backup before reformating the drive.
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.
Step 6. Continue the Windows installation.
After the conversion, the drive will appear as a single area of unallocated space. Choose the unallocated space and click Next. Windows will begin the installation without sending the same error.
Boot To UEFI Mode
This solution is not universally applicable. Why? That’s because not all computers have the firmware with both UEFI and BIOS-compatible. Although most of the desktops and laptops running Windows 10 have UEFI-based motherboard with legacy BIOS-compatibility mode, there are some expectations. Older computers running Windows 7 only support legacy BIOS mode and the latest Surface Pro allows only UEFI mode.
When you receive “Windows Cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style”, it suggests that your computer is currently booted in legacy BIOS. To boot to UEFI, you need to check whether the firmware supports UEFI in BIOS and then change to it if the mode is available.
Step 1. Completely shut down your computer.
Step 2. Power on the system. Once you see the logo appears, press the BIOS key, be it Esc, Delete, F1, F2, F10, F11, or F12, to enter BIOS. (Generally, the computer screen will show you what the BIOS key is.)
Step 3. Use the arrow key to select and enter the “Boot” tab.
Step 4. Use the down arrow to select UEFI.
Step 5. Save the changes and exit BIOS.
Step 6. Continue Windows installation.
If there is no UEFI mode available, it means that your computer only allows for BIOS mode. In such a situation, you can only change GPT to MBR to fix the “Windows cannot be installed to this disk” error.
