EFI requires GPT

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Lenovo T430, Win 10 Pro 64.
Previously installed Win10 [several] to SSD, no issues with MBR. Works fine.
Want to do same with a larger standard SATA HD. Get message when installing “Disk has a MBR partition table, on EFI systems Win can only be installed on a GPT disk.” If I change to GPT it installs.
I want to use MBR.
Why is this happening to this disk [requiring GPT] but not the other disk? No changes to BIOS/UEFI.
Anyway to get around this?

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[WSskipro]

Lenovo T430, Win 10 Pro 64.
Previously installed Win10 [several] to SSD, no issues with MBR. Works fine.
Want to do same with a larger standard SATA HD. Get message when installing “Disk has a MBR partition table, on EFI systems Win can only be installed on a GPT disk.” If I change to GPT it installs.
I want to use MBR.
Why is this happening to this disk [requiring GPT] but not the other disk? No changes to BIOS/UEFI.
Anyway to get around this?[/QUOTE]
That you’re getting that warning indicates that you are actually running UEFI/GPT and not BIOS/MBR.

To check on this, open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator) and type (without the quotes) “diskpart” and Enter.

After diskpart opens, your pompt will change to DISKPART> Type (without the quotes) “list disk” and Enter. If you’re using UEFI/GPT you’ll see an asterisk under the GPT column, as in the following graphic.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by WSskipro.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by bbearren.

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bbearren,
Thanks for your reply. My system is running either UEFI/GPT or BIOS/MBR, not both and it does not change [unless it is schizophrenic], correct? If that is correct, I revert to my original conundrum.

Win10 installed and runs on my SSD with MBR which is verified with diskpart, see attached. But when I replace the SSD with a conventional HD [under 2T] Win10 at installation says I have EFI and need GPT, obviously not saying this when installing on the SSD.
Why does a different HD cause this? Is there anything associated with the HDs that would effect this? It is the only variable other than a more current version of Win10. Is this a MS Win thing?

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bbearren,
Thanks for your reply. My system is running either UEFI/GPT or BIOS/MBR, not both and it does not change [unless it is schizophrenic], correct?

UEFI can emulate BIOS, but a UEFI-based motherboard does not “have” BIOS; it only has UEFI. Motherboard manufacturers can implement UEFI in any number of configurations (just like there are a number of different implementations of BIOS, depending on the motherboard). A UEFI motherboard can run in “legacy” mode, emulating BIOS, but that is not true BIOS.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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UEFI can emulate BIOS, but a UEFI-based motherboard does not “have” BIOS; it only has UEFI. Motherboard manufacturers can implement UEFI in any number of configurations (just like there are a number of different implementations of BIOS, depending on the motherboard). A UEFI motherboard can run in “legacy” mode, emulating BIOS, but that is not true BIOS.

Good explanation. That’s exactly how I received my HP ProBook laptop.

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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EFI superseded MBR. Why do you need MBR?

cheers, Paul

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Paul,
Less baggage, no additional partitions.
Do not need advantages of GPT
Boot manager does not work with GPT disks.
Curious as to why this is happening.
Stubborn.

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Less baggage, no additional partitions.
Curious as to why this is happening.

The additional partition is for BitLocker, nothing to do with GPT.
The issue may be disk size. Large disks don’t work with MBR, 2TB limit.

cheers, Paul

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What OS was pre-installed on your Lenovo?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Win 7

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Win 7

32-bit or 64-bit?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/186875-uefi-unified-extensible-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh290675%28v=ws.10%29.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1912310/windows-supports-uefi-secure-boot.html

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Berton,
64-bit
Thank you for tutorials to install Win7 within UEFI but I am not sure why since I am trying to install Win10 in MBR.

bbearren,
I do not know why the original OS or my method to change to GPT [3rd party software] is applicable to my problem .
GPT is not my issue, avoiding it is.

Restating problem:
I want to install Win10 in MBR.
BIOS set to boot both UEFI and Legacy
Boot order is Legacy first
Secure boot disabled
CSM enabled.
But Win10 installation UFD tells me I have an EFI system.
Boot menu does not offer me a “normal” or UEFI choice with USB
Only choice is USB which brings me back to “you have a EFI system.”
Where is my MBR option?

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bbearren,
I do not know why the original OS or my method to change to GPT [3rd party software] is applicable to my problem .
GPT is not my issue, avoiding it is.[/quote]
You didn’t answer my question.

If I change to GPT it installs.

By what means do you “change to GPT”?[/QUOTE]

GPT and MBR are standards for disk partitioning and file allocation. They aren’t [third party software]. You have a UEFI system which has evidently been running in legacy mode.

The answer to my question is relevant to your issue.

Restating problem:
I want to install Win10 in MBR.
BIOS set to boot both UEFI and Legacy
Boot order is Legacy first
Secure boot disabled
CSM enabled.
But Win10 installation UFD tells me I have an EFI system.
Boot menu does not offer me a “normal” or UEFI choice with USB
Only choice is USB which brings me back to “you have a EFI system.”
Where is my MBR option?[/QUOTE]
Depending on how UEFI has been implemented in your motherboard, you may not have an option to install Windows 10 on an MBR disk. All OEM installations since Windows 8 have required UEFI/GPT and Secure Boot. Windows 10 is very much aware of a UEFI motherboard.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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If I change to GPT it installs.

By what means do you “change to GPT”?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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