While installing windows 10, 8.1 or 7 you may face an error, Windows cannot be installed to this disk, Selected disk has an MBR partition table. This error usually occurs because the new OS you are installing is based on UEFI system and it requires to install on GPT but the original operating system is with MBR partition structures. And you need to convert the partition type from MBR to GPT and install the OS again most probably fix the problem:
“Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition. On EFI system, Windows can only be installed to GPT disk.”
MBR vs GPT (Partitions)
MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) are two different types of partition structures. MBR is the most compatible and still necessary in some cases, whilst GPT is the newer standard and is gradually replacing MBR with many advantages it brings.
Master Boot Record (MBR) disks use the standard BIOS partition table. Where GUID Partition Table (GPT) disks use Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
One advantage of GPT disks is that you can have more than four partitions on each disk. GPT is also required for disks larger than two terabytes (TB).
Convert MBR to GPT partition
Note: When you are converting from MBR to GPT it is not a normal conversion. It is converting of one partition type to another partition type. So it is not possible to convert ⁿ from MBR to GPT or vice versa without any data loss. So before converting you have to take a backup of your data. Or you can use third-party software to convert MBR to GPT during Windows installation without losing data.
Convert MBR to GPT using Diskpart
While the installation process, When you see the error screen Simply press the shift and F8 to open the command prompt window here.
In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter.
Now type list disk and press enter.
This will display a list of disks and information about them, such as their size, the amount of available free space, whether the disk is a basic or dynamic disk, and whether the disk uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition style.
NOTE: Make note of the disk number (ex: Disk 1) that you want to convert.
Next type command select disk # and press enter.
Here Substitute # with the actual disk number that you want to convert to a GPT disk. For example, select disk 1.
Next Use the “Clean” Command to make Disk Unallocated
NOTE: Running the clean command will delete all partitions or volumes on the disk.
Now Type convert gpt and press enter.
That’s all, type exit and close command prompt,
Restart Windows, and do the installation, I am sure there is no more error while the windows setup process.