[Fixed] Windows Cannot be Installed to This Disk. The Selected Disk is of the GPT Partition Style

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style." If you meet this error message, it is caused by a mismatch between the partition style of your disk and the boot mode (UEFI or Legacy BIOS) used during Windows installation.

In short, legacy BIOS/CSM/Compatibility mode only works with MBR, while EFI/UEFI only works with GPT. To fix it, you can convert GPT disks to MBR disks via EaseUS Partition Master, Windows Setup, or CMD, or boot to UEFI mode. Before selecting a suitable method, you'd better check some precautions.  

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Error Message: 'Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.'

As shown in the case above, 'Windows cannot be installed to this disk GPT' is one of the common errors that might occur during Windows installation. Then, Windows Setup might show the error "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style." If that happens, you cannot continue installing Windows until you fix it.

Cause of 'The selected disk is of the GPT partition style'

During Windows setup, you need to choose to install Windows using the MBR or GPT partition style.

Thus, if you see the prompt saying "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style", that's because your PC is booted in UEFI mode, but your hard drive is not configured for UEFI mode.

UEFI vs. BIOS: What's the Difference and How to Choose

If you want to know more about UEFI and BIOS and learn how to check if your PC uses UEFI or BIOS, please read this post to get more details. 

Before Selecting a Suitable Method | Important‼️

Since you've figured out why the selected disk is of the GPT partition style, some users might want to convert the partition style to fix this issue. But before you start, you'd better check out the precautions below.

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Method 1. Convert GPT to MBR Without Losing Data🔥

As mentioned above, the error message indicates that Windows is booted in Legacy mode but the target disk you selected to install Windows is with GPT partition style. That's how this error occurs. The direct solution to "The selected disk is of the GPT partition style" is to change the target GPT disk to MBR.

We strongly advise you choose a non-data-destroying method to do the GPT to MBR conversion with EaseUS Partition Master, a third-party powerful partition tool that converts GPT to MBR easily without losing data.

Step 1. Install and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer, go to the Disk Converter section.

Step 2. Select "Convert GPT to MBR" and click "Next" to continue.

Step 3. Select the target GPT disk that you want to convert to MBR, and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

Having trouble booting your computer system? No problem. With EaseUS partition manager, you are able to create a WinPE bootable media packaged with EaseUS Partition Master on a USB, CD, or DVD. Then you can boot the computer from the device and convert the GPT disk to MBR disk with simple clicks using the tool. (You need another working computer to create the WinPE bootable USB/CD/DVD.)

If any part of these instructions seems unclear, our support team is on standby to provide detailed explanations and guidance.

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Method 2. Use Windows Setup to Wipe and Convert the Drive

The second way is to wipe and convert the drive using Windows Setup, which includes three phases. Let's show how to fix this issue. 

Phase 1. Prepartions

Step 1. Turn off your PC > insert the Windows installation USB or DVD into your PC > boot your PC from your inserted USB key or DVD in UEFI mode.

Step 2. When prompted to choose the installation type, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

Phase 2. Delete partitions

Step 1. On the Where do you want to install Windows screen, select the drive you want to wipe.

Step 2. Select Delete for each of the partitions on the drive where you are installing Windows. This step will remove all partitions and create unallocated space. 

Phase 3. Installation

Step 1. Select the unallocated space on the drive > click Next to start the Windows installation process. 

Step 2. Windows will detect the UEFI boot mode > automatically format the drive using the GPT partition style. 

Method 3. Convert GPT to MBR by Reformatting the Drive via CMD

Similarly, this method also needs you to manually wipe a drive and convert it to MBR using CMD. Please note that disk formatting will erase all the data on the drive. Hence, if the data matters, feel no hesitation to preserve your data and convert it to MBR using EaseUS Partition Master. Or, create a file backup before formatting your drive.

Step 1. Turn off your PC > insert the Windows installation USB or DVD into your PC > boot your PC from your inserted USB key or DVD in UEFI mode.

Step 2. In Windows Setup, press Shift + F10 to start Command Prompt.

Step 3. Enter the following command in order:

• DISKPART
• list disk
• select disk 1 (You can replace the number 1 with your real disk number.)
• clean
• convert mbr

Step 4. Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

Step 5. After conversion, the drive will appear as a single area of unallocated space. Choose the unallocated space > click Next. Then, your Windows will begin the installation without sending the same error.

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Method 4. Boot to UEFI Mode

This solution is not universally applicable. Why? That's because not all computers have firmware that is compatible with both UEFI and BIOS. Although most of the desktops and laptops running Windows 10 have a UEFI-based motherboard with legacy BIOS-compatibility mode, there are some exceptions. Older computers running Windows 7 only support legacy BIOS mode, and the latest Surface Pro allows only UEFI mode.

When you receive "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style", it suggests that your computer is currently booted in legacy BIOS.

To boot to UEFI, you need to check whether the firmware supports UEFI in BIOS and then change to it if the mode is available.

Step 1. Click the Power button > select Restart. 

Step 2. After seeing the computer logo, press the corresponding key according to your computer manufacturer to enter BIOS. 

• Acer: F2 or Delete
• ASUS: F2 or Delete
• Dell: F2 or F12
• HP: ESC or F10
• Lenovo: F2 or Fn + F2 (for laptops), F1 (for desktops), Enter then F1 (for ThinkPads)

Step 3. Use the arrow key to select the Boot tab > find the UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode > choose UEFI. 

Step 4. Save the changes > exit BIOS

Step 5. Continue Windows installation.

If there is no UEFI mode available, it means that your computer only allows for BIOS mode. In such a situation, you can only change GPT to MBR to fix the "Windows cannot be installed to this disk" error.

GPT Partition Style Related Questions

There are other issues related to the GPT partition style that many users are concerned about:

"What Is GPT Partition Style?"

GPT is part of the UEFI standard, which means a UEFI-based system should be installed on a GPT disk. Theoretically, GPT partition style allows you to create unlimited partitions and enables you to fully use disks that are larger than 2TB. Besides, compare GPT and MBR, GPT is safer and has better compatibility with modern hardware.

"Why Windows Cannot Install GPT?"

[Windows Cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style means that your PC is booted in UEFI mode, but your hard drive is not configured for UEFI mode.

"How do I get rid of GPT partition style?"

You cannot 'get rid of' a GPT partition style. A partition style is necessary for Windows to access the data on the device. But you can change the GPT partition style to MBR by conversion.?

"Can Windows 10 be installed on GPT?"

As long as your computer is UEFI-based, you can install Windows 10 on a GPT disk. In addition to Windows 10, earlier versions like Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 can also be installed on a GPT disk.

"Are there any recommendations for GPT or MBR?"

Of course, there are. Please check the following situations with feasible fixes. 

• For the modern system with a GPT disk: Use UEFI boot mode. 
• For the old system or installing old Windows: Convert GPT to MBR.
• For the GPT disk, but rooted in legacy BIOS: Switch boot mode to UEFI.
• For the MBR disk, but rooted in UEFI: Convert MBR to GPT. 

Related Error: "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table."

Similar to "Windows cannot be installed to this disk GPT", if your computer is booted in UEFI mode but the hard drive is MBR, which is not configured for UEFI, you will receive the error message "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."

With the knowledge introduced above, you know that you can change the boot mode to convert the disk to solve the problem. However, since it's clear that the computer firmware is UEFI-based, you can only convert MBR to GPT to cope with the issue since legacy BIOS is not supported by the computer.

The Bottom Line - Fix Windows Cannot Be Installed on This Disk/Drive

A PC uses either of the boot methods: UEFI-GPT or BIOS-MBR. Whether installing using the MBR or GPT depends on your computer firmware. If you get a BIOS-based computer, you can only install Windows on an MBR disk, If you get a UEFI-based PC, choose GPT instead, while if your computer firmware supports both UEFI and BIOS, choose GPT or MBR according to your needs.?

With that in mind, you will be clear about how to fix "Windows Cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style."

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