Windows 10: GPT Partition Style Problem for Clean Install of Windows 10

Having upgrade Windows 8.1 to W10, I wish to now do a clean install, but cannot install over current installation due to
it being a GPT Partition style boot. I have heard this can be deleted and replaced with MBR but then will I have to format the partition?

:)

 

can't install win 10 on both gpt and mbr partition

I have a hp laptop which came preinstalled with windows 8.1

so yesterday I was trying to install windows 10 pro 64 bit but an error occurred which said that windows can't be installed on gpt partition style.

therefore using AOMEI partition assistant I converted gpt to mbr partition style.

then again I tried to install windows 10 but this time it shows an error that windows can't be installed on mbr partition style with motherboard supporting EFI or UEFI. It can only be installed on gpt style.

so again I converted mbr to gpt partition and tried to install windows but still it showed the former error.

so now I ask that what should I do to install windows 10 ???

 

DismHost.exe Windows 10

Hello, I tried to Clean Install Windows 10 from SD Card Boot. However, when I delete the partition it tells me:
Windows cannot be installed to the disk. The Selected disk is of the GPT partition style. What should I do?

 

You'll want to keep GPT if you have a UEFI system, I think.

I did a clean install by booting from a USB flash drive. I used the Win 10 installer to delete all the partitions on my boot drive (SSD). It then proceeded to create and format new partitions (4 of them, one not visible in Disk Management).

In case you don't know: when asked for a key, press the small "skip" button. No key is needed. If you've installed and activated 10, it will activate for a clean install on the same hardware.

 

A Clean install is just that - your data and programs will not exist after the process.
Make sure you have backups of any data you want to keep, and you have the discs and keys for any purchased software.

See: How to Clean Install Windows 10 (TenForums.com)
Read through the instructions, especially the color boxes
Ask questions about a step if you have any

Step 7 Blue Note box: If you have the free Windows 10 offer, then you will need to click/tap on Skip since you will not have a product key.

Step 11 is a branch to step 12 (no UEFI) OR step 13 (UEFI)

You do NOT have to create the partitions manually.
Windows install will create the partitions if the drive is unallocated as shown in the tutorial.

Disconnect all other drives before the Clean install - then Windows can only write to that drive

 

I have cleaned installed many times over the years, but for the first time, I have come across a GPT partition to deal with which is where the Windows 10 upgrade is located.It selects a different partition, which is the old Windows 8.1 Recovery partition. That's fine, I don't want this any more, and don't have a problem installing on it, but I do have a partition I created which is for all my data, and hope that it this is left intact. I also have to remove the old Windows 10 installation of C: drive.

 

Ok, good to know that you've done this before.

Please post a screen shot of Disk Management, so members can be specific on how to get the best results.
See: How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

 

Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link

 

Since your system is already setup for UEFI_GPT -
the issue is your setup media is booting the PC in MBR_Bios mode..

You can disable legacy Boot option in Bios setting
or you can rename BOOTMGR to BOOTMGR.old on your setup media
either one of the above options will prevent your setup media from booting in Legacy (Bios-mbr mode)
and force the pc to boot UEFI

 

Windows install will figure out the BIOS/UEFI, disk schema if you let it. If you burn the install media to a DVD, you don't have to think about any of those things, you just have to back up you personal data, find the keys and discs for 3rd party purchased software and install Win10 to an unallocated/unformatted drive.

The upgrade is even easier - just upgrade.

 

Not really understand what you mean by this ?. The screenshots show the real partitioning scheme for real fresh install of Windows 10 for both MBR & UEFI.

 

This was my clue *Wink

 

Gotcha. However, they are the same in the real environment. I guess he did in VM so he can take the screenshot.

 

*Thumbs

The schema is the same - but I'm trying to figure out what the physical disk looks like now.
I'm not sure why I want to know that, because I also know that Windows creates the proper schema on a blank drive. Just curious I guess.

I'm not certain there is an issue other than perhaps a misundertanding (post# 1)

Win10 can be installed on a GPT drive with UEFI.
Win10 can be installed on a MBR drive without UEFI.

If the firmware is UEFI, the disk needs to be GPT.
If the firmware is BIOS, the disk needs to be MBR (maybe that's changed and BIOS can boot GPT drives)

There need not be any real consideration about converting GPT to MBR.

 

I am not the OP of this thread.