Error During Windows Installation: The Selected Disk Uses GPT Partition Style

During the installation of the Windows operating system, you may encounter an error related to the disk selected for installation. One such error message is that "the selected disk uses GPT partition style." This error typically occurs when you're trying to install Windows on a disk with the GPT style, but your computer's BIOS is set to work with MBR (Master Boot Record).

What Are GPT and MBR?

GPT and MBR are two different types of partition structures used for organizing data on hard drives and SSDs. GPT is a more modern and powerful standard that supports disks larger than 2 TB and allows the creation of more than 4 partitions on a single disk. MBR, on the other hand, is an older format with several limitations, such as supporting no more than 2 TB of space and restricting the number of primary partitions to 4.

Why Does the Error Occur?

The "The selected disk uses GPT partition style" error occurs when:

  • You attempt to install Windows in BIOS mode on a GPT disk. Older systems using BIOS only support the MBR partition style.
  • You haven't configured your system to use UEFI, which is required for GPT disks.

How to Fix the Error

To resolve this issue and install Windows successfully, you need to either configure the BIOS correctly or perform some steps to convert the disk. Here are a few possible solutions:

1. Configure BIOS for UEFI Mode

If your computer supports UEFI, you will need to change the BIOS settings to enable this mode:

  1. Restart your computer and enter BIOS (usually by pressing the F2, Del, or Esc key during startup).
  2. Find the boot settings (Boot Mode) and set it to UEFI mode.
  3. Save the changes and reboot your computer.
  4. Try installing Windows again — the error should no longer occur.

2. Convert the Disk from GPT to MBR

If your system doesn't support UEFI, you can convert the GPT disk to MBR. This will erase all data on the disk, so make sure to back up your important files first. You can use the diskpart command in the command prompt to do this:

  1. Boot from the Windows installation media.
  2. When you reach the installation screen, press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt.
  3. Type diskpart and press Enter.
  4. Type list disk to see all the disks available.
  5. Select the disk you want to convert by typing select disk X (where X is the disk number).
  6. Type clean to delete all data on the disk.
  7. Then type convert mbr to convert the disk to MBR.
  8. Close the command prompt and continue with the Windows installation.

3. Delete All Partitions on the Disk

If you don't want to change the boot mode or convert the disk, you can delete all partitions on the disk and create a new one. Be aware that this will also erase all data, so proceed with caution:

  1. During the Windows installation, when you reach the disk selection screen, select the problematic disk and click Delete.
  2. Delete all the partitions on this disk.
  3. Afterward, you can create a new partition and continue with the installation.