Solution of the error "Installing Windows on this disk is impossible ..."

There are situations when the current operating system is outdated or malfunctioning and there is a need to install a new one. However, this may be associated with some difficulties. Due to incorrect parameters that can be set through no fault of the user, errors appear that interfere with the normal installation of the Microsoft Windows operating system. Unfortunately, such troubles occur quite often. What to do in this situation? In this article we will take a detailed look at how to solve the error “Installing Windows on this disk is impossible ...”, and also for what reason a similar fault occurs and what to do about it. Let's figure it out. Go!

Solving the problem when installing a Windows system

In the event that you have the error "The selected disk has the style of GPT partitions", then you should pay attention to some parameters. For newer computers with UEFI that support 64-bit operating systems, it is better to install on a GPT disk (if even a regular BIOS instead of UEFI is not a problem, it is important that there is support for 64-bit systems). For older PCs with regular BIOS, supporting only 23-bit OS, it is better to install on the MBR disk (done by conversion).

Installing Windows on GPT

Most often, users of Windows 7 are faced with a similar problem; however, this does not exclude the possibility of this problem appearing in newer versions of the system. To install on a GPT disk, be sure to choose the 64-bit version of the OS. Download it in EFI mode. Most likely, the error appears precisely because of the failure of the last condition.

First of all, open the BIOS. This is done by pressing a certain key on the keyboard, depending on the computer model, at the time of launching the PC. This is usually the Del or F2 key. Once you are in BIOS, change the CSM to load the UEFI. You will find this item in the “BIOS Features” or “BIOS Setup” section. The next step is to select "AHCI" in the item "Select SATA operation mode". In the usual BIOS, go to the “Advanced” tab, in the “AHCI Mode Control” section, set “Manual”, and in the “Native AHCI Mode” item that appears below, set “Disabled”. Those with Windows 7 and older need to turn off the “Secure Boot” mode.

There are various options for interfaces, so the names of some items may differ slightly, so do not be alarmed if you have them coincided with those indicated in the article. Remember to save your changes before exiting. After that, if you installed the OS from disk, the error should no longer appear.

Those users who install Windows from a USB drive will most likely have to create a bootable USB flash drive again, only now with UEFI support in order for the error to disappear. To support UEFI, after you have created a bootable USB flash drive, you need to transfer an ISO image with the system to it. Do it like this:

  • Mount the image;
  • Select all the files and folders of the image;
  • Right-click and from the list that appears select "Send" and then "Removable Disk".

After this, installation problems should disappear.

Convert GPT to MBR

Before we proceed to the analysis of this process, I would like to focus your attention on the fact that it is better to move all the data from the HDD, as they may be lost. If you are not worried about lost files, feel free to skip to the actions listed below.

To convert a GPT partition table to an MBR partition table, use the Shift + F10 key combination when you are in the Windows Setup Wizard, this is needed to launch the command line. Further, it is necessary to repeat the following steps exactly. Display a list of all PC disks, enter “diskpart”, and then “listdisk”. To select the disk with which you are going to work further, write down “select disk M”. On the place of "M", specify the number corresponding to the desired disk. The previous command "list disk" just displayed on the screen numbers.

Next, clean the disk by writing “clean”. When the cleanup is complete, enter “convert mbr” to convert GPT to MBR. Please note that with this approach all data will be lost. At the end write the “exit” command. Now you can close the command prompt or continue working with it to create partitions.

There is an alternative option that allows you to save all the data. This method consists of using special utilities. One of these is the MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable. “Bootable” means that this version can be written to a USB-drive (the flash drive must be bootable) and run even if Windows is not working. After downloading you will see a menu in which you need to select the item corresponding to the name of the utility. Once in the MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable window, select the desired disk and click on the “Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk” item on the left. Then click the Apply button.

If the system installed on your computer is working, then you can download other programs that have similar functionality, for example, Acronis Disk Director or Aomei Partition Assistant. You can also use the built-in Windows. To go directly to the desired utility, use the Win + R combination "diskmgmt.msc". Go to the "Disk Management" window, select the disk you want to convert and click "Delete Volume". After that, click on it again and click on the item “Convert to MBR disk”. Is done.

After reading the stated material, you will know how to be, if during the installation of Windows OS a warning message about the error appears that the installation of Windows on this disk is impossible. All the above methods will help you solve the problem. Write in the comments if the article was useful to you and ask if something was unclear.