Windows 7 Win7 Instal: selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems Win7 can only be installed to

[Steven Renwick]

Hi,

I'm trying to do a clean install on Windows 7 64-bit on my laptop. I currently have 32-bit Vista running.

I initially created a new partition, copies all my data there, then started to do the custom install. I got the 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.

Some Googling around found the following suggestion:

Esc when booting to take you into the EFI boot manager and select DVD-Drive instead of ACPI (....) string

I have tried to go in to the start-up options but I don't see this option. I just keep getting back to the above error message.

I have since deleted my extra partition, and intend just re-syncing my laptop's data via Dropbox (9GB - hope it will be ok!).

Any suggestions how to get this install working please? Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

To install Windows 7 64-bit on a laptop that previously had 32-bit Vista running, you encountered an issue related to the partition table format. The error message indicates that Windows can only be installed on GPT disks on EFI systems, not on disks with MBR partition tables. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you successfully perform the clean install of Windows 7 64-bit on your laptop: 1. Convert the Disk to GPT: - Before proceeding with the installation, you need to convert your disk from MBR to GPT. This will allow you to install Windows 7 64-bit on your system. - You can do this during the Windows installation process using the Command Prompt. 2. Accessing EFI Boot Manager: - To access the EFI Boot Manager to choose the DVD-Drive, follow these steps: - Restart your laptop and continuously press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu. Common keys include F2, F8, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your laptop's manufacturer. - Look for an option related to boot devices or boot menu. - Select the DVD drive as the boot device. 3. Installation Steps: - Insert the Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive. - Restart the laptop and boot from the DVD drive. - Follow the installation prompts and choose the Custom Install option. - When you reach the partition selection screen, you should now be able to proceed with the installation without encountering the previous error message. 4. Backup Data: - Since you've deleted the extra partition, ensure all important data is backed up before proceeding with the installation, either via Dropbox or an external drive. 5. Post-Installation: - After successfully installing Windows 7, you can restore your data from Dropbox or any other backups you have made. If you encounter any issues during the installation process or have further questions, feel free to ask for assistance. Good luck with your Windows 7 installation!