Windows Setup: Installing using the

MBR or GPT partition style

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Updated: December 9, 2013
Applies To: Windows 8.1
When installing Windows on UEFI-based PCs using Windows Setup, your hard
drive partition style must be set up to support either UEFI mode or legacy BIOScompatibility mode.
For example, if you receive the error message: Windows cannot be installed to
this disk. The selected disk is not of the GPT partition style, its because your PC
is booted in UEFI mode, but your hard drive is not configured for UEFI mode.
Youve got a few options:
1. Reboot the PC in legacy BIOS-compatibility mode. This option lets you
keep the existing partition style. For more info, see Boot to UEFI Mode or
Legacy BIOS mode.
2. Reformat the drive for UEFI by using the GPT partition style. This option
lets you use the PCs UEFI firmware features.
You can do this yourself by reformatting the drive using the instructions
below, or if you need to preserve the data, use a third-party utility to
convert the drive to GPT format.

Why should I convert my drive?

Many PCs now include the ability to use the UEFI version of BIOS, which can
speed up boot and shutdown times and can provide additional security advantages.
To boot your PC in UEFI mode, you'll need to use a drive formatted using the
GPT drive format.
Many PCs are ready to use UEFI, but include a compatibility support module
(CSM) that is set up to use the legacy version of BIOS. This version of BIOS was
developed in the 1970s and provides compatibility to a variety of older equipment
and network configurations, and requires a drive that uses the MBR drive format.

However, the basic MBR drive format does not support drives over 4TB. It's also
difficult to set up more than four partitions. The GPT drive format lets you set up
drives that are larger than 4 terabytes (TB), and lets you easily set up as many
partitions as you need.

Reformatting the drive using a different partition

style
To wipe and convert the drive by using Windows Setup
1. Turn off the PC, and put in the Windows installation DVD or USB key.
2. Boot the PC to the DVD or USB key in UEFI mode. For more info, see
Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode.
3. When choosing an installation type, select Custom.
4. On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, select each of
the partitions on the drive, and select Delete. The drive will show a single
area of unallocated space.
5. Select the unallocated space and click Next. Windows detects that the PC
was booted into UEFI mode, and reformats the drive using the GPT drive
format, and begins the installation.

To manually wipe a drive and convert it to GPT:

1. Turn off the PC, and put in the Windows installation DVD or USB key.
2. Boot the PC to the DVD or USB key in UEFI mode. For more info, see
Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode.
3. From inside Windows Setup, press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt
window.
4. Open the diskpart tool:
5. diskpart

6. Identify the drive to reformat:

7. list disk

8. Select the drive, and reformat it:

9. select disk <disk number>

10. clean
11. convert gpt
12. exit

13. Close the command prompt window.

14. Continue the Windows Setup installation.
When choosing an installation type, select Custom. The drive will appear
as a single area of unallocated space.
Select the unallocated space and click Next. Windows begins the
installation.

Make sure Windows Setup boots to the correct

firmware mode
To automate this process, you'll need to run Windows Setup through Windows PE,
and use a script to detect which mode youre in before installing Windows. For
more info, see WinPE: Boot in UEFI or legacy BIOS mode.

See Also
Tasks
Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows
PE and DiskPart
Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode