


how to fix 'windows cannot be installed to this disk. the selected disk has an mbr partition table' on uefi win systems
Aug 02, 2025 am 06:14 AMTo resolve the error "Windows cannot be installed to this disk", you must convert the MBR disk to GPT format, because the UEFI system only supports GPT disk installation Windows; 2. Press Shift F10 on the Windows installation interface to open the command prompt, enter diskpart, list disk, select disk X (X is the target disk number), clean, convert gpt, exit, and then refresh and continue the installation; 3. The optional but not recommended method is to enter the BIOS to enable CSM and Legacy Boot mode to support MBR disk installation; 4. Preventive measures include using the latest Media Creation Tool to create installation media, and ensure that the BIOS is set to UEFI Only mode. After correctly matching UEFI and GPT, the installation error will be eliminated and the system can be installed normally.
You're seeing the error "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On UEFI systems, Windows can only be installed to a GPT disk" when trying to install Windows on a UEFI-based system. This is a common issue during Windows installation, especially when using older installation media or reusing a drive previously used on legacy BIOS systems.

Here's how to fix it:
? 1. Understand the Problem
- UEFI systems require the disk to use the GPT (GUID Partition Table) format.
- Your current disk is using MBR (Master Boot Record) , which is older and incompatible with UEFI booting.
- You cannot install Windows in UEFI mode to an MBR disk — the partition style must be converted to GPT.
? 2. Fix: Convert MBR to GPT During Installation
You'll need to delete all partitions on the disk so you can convert it to GPT. This eras all data , so back up if needed.

Steps:
- At the Windows installer screen (where you see the error), press Shift F10 to open a Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt, type the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
diskpart
list disk
Find the disk you want to install Windows on (eg, Disk 0).
select disk 0
Replace
0
with your target disk number.
Clean
This removes all partitions and data, and converts the disk to GPT automatically when you create new partitions.
convert gpt
Ensures the disk is now using GPT.
exit
Exits diskpart.
exit
Closes the Command Prompt.
- Now click "Refresh" in the installer window.
- Select the unallocated space on the disk and proceed with installation.
? Windows should now install without the error.
?? 3. Alternative: Use UEFI CSM (Not Recommended)
Some motherboards allow CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to boot MBR disks in "legacy mode" even on UEFI firmware.
- Go into your BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or F12 at boot).
- Look for CSM , Legacy Boot , or Boot Mode .
- Enable CSM and change boot mode to Legacy or Legacy UEFI .
- Save and reboot into Windows installer.
?? Downsides :
- Slower boot.
- Can't use Secure Boot.
- Disk remains MBR, limiting drive size to 2TB.
- Not ideal for modern systems.
? This is a workaround, not a fix. Use GPT UEFI for best performance and security.
? 4. Prevent This in the Future
- Always create Windows installation media using the latest Media Creation Tool from Microsoft — it defaults to UEFI/GPT-friendly formats.
- If installing on a new drive, pre-convert to GPT using diskpart before starting.
- Ensure your BIOS is set to UEFI Only mode (disable CSM) for a clean UEFI install.
? Summary
Solution | When to Use |
---|---|
clean convert gpt in diskpart |
Best for fresh installs; wipes disk |
Enable CSM/Legacy Boot | Temporary fix if you must keep MBR |
Recreate install media (UEFI-only) | Prevents issue on future installs |
Basically, the key is matching UEFI firmware with a GPT-formatted disk . Once you convert the disk using diskpart
, the error goes away and installation procedures normally.
The above is the detailed content of how to fix 'windows cannot be installed to this disk. the selected disk has an mbr partition table' on uefi win systems. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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