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Windows 8 cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be

Tags:
  • Windows
  • Partition Table
  • Windows 8
  • Systems
Last response: in Windows 8
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April 29, 2014 12:38:21 PM

This is a possible simple fix to those betting a message that says something to the tune of "Windows 8 cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GP disks."

I decided to post this as I have seen numerous other threads telling everyone that they need to wipe everything from their HDD and reformat or just throwing out completely wrong info. Reformatting your HDD to GPT is a rather drastic move if you are trying to dual boot more than one OS and/or have data on the disk. I have gotten this message while trying to install both Windows 7 and Window 8 and found that Windows 8 will install on an MBR formatted HDD or more specifically a disk with Windows 7 already installed with an MBR.

The solution may be very simple.
It can be simply the fact that your installation media is booting in the wrong mode. If your installation media is booting in one mode implying a certain disk format and you disk is formatted in the opposite mode than there will be a conflict.
Most likely your dvd or usb device is first starting up in UEIF mode or Legacy IDE mode. In your BIOS is usually a place to change the mode for these devices just as you would a HDD. If your BIOS is set to start up in one of these modes, some systems, as I have found on many newer MB's, will auto-detect and switch to the more appropriate mode WITHOUT even needing to go into the BIOS and chang the setting.
If you see the message 'Press any key to boot from disk' appear on the screen, then go away and then reappear again in a slightly different location, this is your system switching dvd or USB modes. Most people will just ckick a key (usually space bar) when they notice the FIST flash of these words and when that doesn't work they go searching for an answer.

The Quick solution as I have found is simply waiting till the words 'Click any key to boot from cd' to flash a SECOND time and then press a key to boot the installation media. Windows installation files will then load and Widows will install normally.

Or alternately you could just go into your BIOS and change the mode setting and then click a key the FIRST time the words flash on the screen. But this takes usually needless extra steps. However, If you don't see the words 'Click any key to boot .....' flash a SECOND time, then you will need to enter the BIOS and change the setting.

More about : windows installed disk selected disk mbr partition table efi systems windows

June 28, 2014 10:08:10 AM

Rich ~ you are a bloody GENIUS.
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October 6, 2014 4:20:04 PM

Indeed that worked.....From BIOS I changed the DVD to boot as SATA Instead of UEFI and was able to install Windows.
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October 13, 2014 5:35:39 PM

i find this problem what i instal win 8.1 from USB
the drive cant be created neither be formated. and i didnt see click any key to boot.
so i go to windows 8 cd instalation, to find what yo said click any key to boot. Finally i found it. so i creat new simply volume thorugh it and format it.
I go to instal win 8.1 succesfully
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