Windows 10: UEFI installation on non-UEFI system

Hi there,
I wanted to boot an existing Windows 10 install taken from a UEFI notebook into an older non-UEFI notebook and I only get a flashing cursor. Booted with an installation media and the automatic startup repair did not work.
Browsing online I tried re-creating the boot sector but in the end I understand that to do so I need to attempt the fix from a UEFI system.

I perfectly understand that a Windows installation should not be moved to a different system but I was hoping to manage to boot it up to save some files. Alternatively, I can plug the HDD into another PC.

Is there anybody aware of a way to make this installation work?
Thanks
Tony

:)

 

Cannot find the option to enable intel vt-x in Windows 10

Based solely on my installation (via upgrade + clean install) of W10 on UEFI and non-UEFI bios pc's: The option to enter UEFI settings via Advanced Startup only appears when W10 has been properly installed as UEFI- more specifically- if you reinstall W10
via usb meda- the UEFI INSTALLATION option should be selected (vs other compatibility choices) to ensure UEFI is retained.

 

Win 10 - Changed boot to UEFI. Can i also setup the non-UEFI to boot?

I just fixed my pc to use UEFI. Is it possible to set this up to boot either as UEFI or into the non-UEFI mode from the same disk C:?

just beyond my knowledge level. This is a desktop system. ASUS p9x79 Pro, 32gb, 2tb system drive.

thanks

MattGinOK.

 

The main problem is that you will have to convert the drive from GPT style partitioning to MBR partitioning so that you can mark a partition as active to be able to boot from it in legacy BIOS. The easiest way to do that is to create an image of your Windows and any data partitions using a program like Macrium Reflect Free, then convert the drive to MBR, then restore the partitions back and create your boot files required to boot in legacy mode.

Alternatively, you can copy the partitions to a second HDD/SSD partitioned as MBR, create the boot files on it, and then install that in the legacy BIOS computer.

 

Maybe a slightly easier way to do this for a beginner (creating boot files is slightly tricky) is

1) backup c drive partition (recommending Macrium Reflect Free of course)

2) use MS media creation tool and install Windows 10 on PC (may need to convert drive to mbr first)

3) Restore C drive partition image over new C drive.


It's a pity we do not have the reverse tool of mbr2gpt i.e. gpt2mbr to make conversion dead easy.

 

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. I'll educate myself on the difference between EUFI/non EUFI, GPT/MBR!

 

One way I've done it with older computers is to boot to a GPARTED CD, delete all partitions to give the drive an as-shipped condition then boot to the version of Windows desired and install, seems to take care of the problems encountered when trying to change an existing condition. It has worked with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

 

OP is not wanting to clean install.

No need to use gparted really.

Just boot from usb drive installation drive, press shift+f10 to get to command prompt and run diskpart to wipe drive.

 

or just go to the custom install option and on the next screen delete all the existing partitions - but I don't know if that would allow Windows 10 to install in legacy BIOS (MBR) mode like diskpart would.

diskpart
select disk 0
clean <-This erases the ENTIRE drive!
exit
exit

 

I only recommend GPARTED as there are times when Windows won't allow what is desired, one of the times is in changing from 32-bit to 64-bit or 64-bit to 32-bit and the other has been when changing a drive to fit what the BIOS allows.

 

op

You may need to add "convert mbr" after clean.