linux-windows mbr/gpt error on every reformat

[RemoteView]

hi. im one of those guys that heard about linux and decided to give it a try, i decided i don't like it whatsoever, and after buying windows 8.1 (because i erased my recovery partition) every time i reformat my windows 8.1 i get a gpt/mbr this file can't be installed here error although simply removing the partitions allows re install. what is this, and is there a way to fix my hd. i have no intention of ever installing linux again. help would be much appreciated.

 

[genet]

Quote from this post: UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link

   Tip

Error message when you boot from the Windows installation media in Legacy BIOS Boot Mode:

Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style. (see screenshot below)

That is because Windows can only be installed to MBR disk in Legacy BIOS Boot Mode, but you plan to install Windows on a GPT disk.

- Boot from the Windows installation media in UEFI Boot Mode, so you can use GPT (GUID Partition Table).
- But if you want to use MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table, then delete all partitions on the disk.



Error message when you boot from the Windows installation media in UEFI Boot Mode:

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. (see screenshot below)

That is because Windows can only be installed to GPT disk in UEFI Boot Mode, but you plan to install Windows on an MBR disk.

- Delete all partitions on the disk, so you can use GPT (GUID Partition Table).
- But if you want to use MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table, then boot from the Windows installation media in Legacy BIOS Boot Mode.

 

[RemoteView]

so if i boot in uefi mode, windows will automatically install in gpt mode? that's what seems to happen i notice. what is the cause of this mbr gpt partiton error message. also, i read there is a way to fix this in the windows command line https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn336946.aspx

does doing this through command line do the same thing that booting in uefi does. or is there a different result when its done manually?

does this mbr/gpt do any damage to the hard drive?

it was only after i installed linux that i first received this message on a reformat. will using the command line fix the hd like new, or does installing linux on a 'eufi asus' for example, permanently damage the hd?

 

[adamf]

if you press shift + f10 when you are installing and go to diskpart, clean, convert gpt (like in your link) then you'll delete your mbr partition table (if that is what you have) and create a gpt one.

You want a gpt structure to install uefi (that is why you are getting the message). It doesn't damage the disk in the slightest - the partition table is just another file.

You should bear in mind though that when you clean the disk everything (all partitions) on it will become unavailable.

 

[RemoteView]

would it be too much to ask if you can type the commands i need to type because microsofts tutorials can be a bit hard to understand.

ms says this,

[h=3]To manually wipe a drive and convert it to GPT:
[/h]

• Turn off the PC, and put in the Windows installation DVD or USB key.
  
• Boot the PC to the DVD or USB key in UEFI mode. For more info, see Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode.
  
• From inside Windows Setup, press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt window.
  
• Open the diskpart tool:
  
  
  
  diskpart
  
  
  
  
  
• Identify the drive to reformat:
  
  
  
  list disk
  
  
  
  
  
• Select the drive, and reformat it:
  
  
  
  select disk <disk number>
  clean
  convert gpt
  exit
  
  
  
  
  
• Close the command prompt window.
  
• 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.
  
  but from doing ms tutorials, they always seems to missing something.
  
  could you please clarify what i need to read and then type? would be very thankful.
  

 

[RemoteView]

if you press shift + f10 when you are installing and go to diskpart, clean, convert gpt (like in your link) then you'll delete your mbr partition table (if that is what you have) and create a gpt one.

You want a gpt structure to install uefi (that is why you are getting the message). It doesn't damage the disk in the slightest - the partition table is just another file.

You should bear in mind though that when you clean the disk everything (all partitions) on it will become unavailable.

when you say, 'unavailable' does that mean that i will no longer get the can't be installed to this partition, and is their any kind of benefit however small in doing so even if its just removes an annoyance of some kind?

 

[adamf]

I wouldn't bother changing it until you clean install again, if at all.

During install when you get to the Where do you want to install Windows screen shown above in @genet 's post press Shift + F10 and enter the following commands in bold (pressing enter after each one) in the command prompt window that appears.

diskpart
list disk
select disk x - where x is the number of your disk shown above, probably 0 (zero)
clean
convert gpt
exit
quit

Your screen output will look something like this:

X:\>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.10041

Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: WINDOWS10

DISKPART> list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          113 GB      0 B

DISKPART> select disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> clean

DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk.

DISKPART> convert gpt

DiskPart successfully converted the selected disk to GPT format

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart...

X:\>quit

The quit command will close the command prompt window and you can carry on with your install as normal. Then the next time you clean install it should not complain as the disk will be gpt

When I said clean makes all the partitions on your disk unavailable I should probably have said it deletes all your partitions. You should only do this on a disk with nothing on it you want.

Whether you think it is worth doing depends on how often you clean install and how much it bugs you. I can't think of any practical benefit to doing it but probably I would assuming if I didn't care about anything that was on the disk.