Fix MBR error: Windows cannot be installed on the disk
If the error "Windows cannot be installed on the disk" appears when installing Windows 10, this is due to the incorrect formatting of the hard disk. We'll show you how to solve the problem.
Fix MBR error: Windows cannot be installed on the disk
Since Windows 8, modern PCs and laptops have been using the new UEFI instead of the BIOS. For the UEFI to run, the hard disk does not have to be formatted in the MBR style as before, but in the GPT style. The said error usually occurs when you want to install the current Windows 10 on a computer with an older version of Windows.
- To switch from MBR (Master Boot Record) to GPT (GUID Partition Table), you have to format the hard disk completely. Please note that all data on the hard disk will be lost.
- Back up your data if necessary and select all partitions individually during the installation and click on the "Delete" button below.
- The hard disk can only be formatted if you install Windows from the USB stick or use a Windows DVD.
- If you start the Windows installation while it is running, you cannot switch from MBR to GPT.
Windows 10 installation: switch from MBR to GPT
As a rule, it is sufficient if you delete the individual hard disk partitions as described above. Windows then formats the hard drive itself from MBR to GPT. If this is not the case, you have to do the formatting yourself.
- Start installing Windows and click through to the point where you are asked where you want to install Windows.
- Pressing the [Shift] and [F10] keys simultaneously opens the command prompt.
- Enter the command "diskpart" and confirm with [Enter]. Then enter "list disk".
- Check here which number has the desired hard drive. If only one hard disk is installed, the number is always "0".
- Now enter the command "select disk 0". If you have a different number, of course you also enter the other number.
- Now the commands "clean", "convert gpt" and "exit" follow individually.
- If you click "Update" below, you can finally install Windows on your hard drive.
In the next practical tip, we will show you how to start Windows 10 without a login.