How to format/partition my ssd to install windows 8.1

Sam172

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Oct 15, 2014
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I want to install Windows 8.1 on my ssd but it wont allow me to no matter how I partition it. Does it need to be an MBR partition or a GPT partition? I tried to install it with a MBR partition and it said "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." So I formatted it again as a GPT partition and tried to install windows and it said: "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.

Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition is a Microsoft Reserved (MSR) Partition."

I'm really not sure where im going wrong so any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

My PC:
CPU: i7 5930k
MOBO: ASUS Rampage V Extreme
GPU: GTX 980 SC
RAM: Kingston Predator 16GB DDR4
PSU: EVGA Supernova 1200 P2 80PLUS Platinum
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 1TB
Hard Drive: WD Black 2TB
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
 
Solution


Select each of those partitions, and delete ALL of them. Resulting in one large space.
Then proceed on.


Oops....wait!
Power off, disconnect all drives except your desired SSD
Then do the above...

leo2kp

Distinguished
Set BIOS to non-EFI mode, set your DVD drive as first boot device and SSD to second. Run installer, delete any partitions you've made so you have one single volume, format as MBR, then install and allow Windows to make that hidden partition. Should be good to go.
 

Sam172

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Oct 15, 2014
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So I selected custom
I formatted drive 1 partition 1 ( the ssd i want to install it on)

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still says i cant install it on that drive

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Sorry but where am I going wrong?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Select each of those partitions, and delete ALL of them. Resulting in one large space.
Then proceed on.


Oops....wait!
Power off, disconnect all drives except your desired SSD
Then do the above...
 
Solution

Sam172

Reputable
Oct 15, 2014
53
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4,630


When I do that it will only load the BIOS. I'm not really good with BIOS so im not sure where to go from here.
 

Sam172

Reputable
Oct 15, 2014
53
0
4,630


That worked and its installing now. I really appreciate this. Thank you so much :)