Windows 10: Laptop. Windows 10, Trying to install W7. MBR / GPT issue

Hi,

Got a new Lenovo Yoga 500 with Windows 10 64bit.

I want to change to W7 - I have a windows 7 image on a disk. No DVD reader.

I copied the contents of the image to a clean, formatted NTFS external HDD. It's connected via USB3.

When I try to install W7 on the main system HDD, it says it's in GPT format and needs to be on MBT.

But I can't convert the system partition to MBT, because the system is there.
Also making a new virtual partition doesn't work, because the "diskpart" command doesn't recognize it as a separated disk.

Any advice here?

Thanks.

:)

 

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 ???

 

How to restore or convert an mbr system image to gpt format

Hi,

Are you talking about TWO instances of Win 10 running, or are you wanting to overwrite the Win 10 GPT partition with the MBR Image ?...

Loading the MBR image onto the GPT partition might work without any issues, but there may be some... The GPT installation probably uses a EFI partition and "Windows Boot Manager" to boot... the MBR installation does not...

If it does not, a Startup Repair may resolve the problem...

I have had mixed success switching between MBR and GPT installations of Win 10...

Depending on how you created the System Image, it may refuse to load onto a GPT drive... The Windows imaging method is pretty finicky about stuff like that...

 

Well.
based on several of your statements, I have come to the conclusion
that you would be better off keeping the current OS...

We'll see what others pickup on in your post and what they have to suggest..

 

Hi, thanks for the reply.
W10 has way more compatibility issues than I can handle, I really need W7 back.

What if I manage to boot from the external HDD?

 

Reformat/reset your target drive to MBT or legacy in BIOS, then boot from your USB Drive and perform the install.

 

You would face several levels of difficulty, not least of which being whether, once you have configured the BIOS appropriately and the disk so you could actually begin installation, you are confident you can find a set of compatible drivers.

Is there a precedent for this running '7?

 

you would have to boot external, I see some caught on and some did not..

 

If I create a Windows To Go from my external HDD and boot from it, will it be possible to format the system partition and install W7 on it?
The installation image of W7 can be also on the external HDD.

 

FIRST, create a recovery drive or system image of the current system..
Either via control panel > recovery > create a recovery drive
or via an OEM Utility...
As once you go messing around - you will want to have saved the current and working factory OS Image,,,

Second you will have to boot from an external device to gain access to the internal disk..
Bootable PE Rescue in my sig below..

Then you can clean, convert and repartition the current HDD, then apply the win7 image..

then you can reboot and hope winows 7 activates and can find the need drivers for your Newer PC hardware..

 

Hey Kyhi,

Thank you. I managed to get the system working. It's currently running with Windows To Go (with the external HDD).

I managed to get the internal disk online, assigned a letter etc.





What's the safest way to clone the operating system to the internal one?

 

Windows 7 can be installed on uefi pc but you need to turn off secure boot.

 

Sorry for the confusion. I just my W10 back.

I've got a functioning W10 on an External HDD.

The internal one is set to read-only, and it's not about administrator rights.

I think it has to do with the fact it has some residue of boot files; Paragon Hard Disk Manager detects an OS there (internal), and DISKPART can't format or do anything about it, actually.

 

I am confused now. Let's get back to basics.

1) Are you trying to install windows 10 or 7.

2) you cannot just clone a windows to go drive to an internal drive to install windows 10 as it will not boot properly.

3) you need a usb flash drive or dvd to install windows on a pc.

4) you may need to nuke existing internal drive using diskpart clean command or a tool like dban in some cases.

 

Use Windows PE
Not Windows To Go (which is Locking the internal disk)

use any one of my Bootable PE Rescue Disks...