Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table

[logic.c9cs]

I'm trying to reinstall windows 10 and keep my files because my PC won't boot up. So I put Win on a USB and booted up with it but it will not let me install on my Hard Drive (let alone any other partition). What can I do to fix this error message besides delete all the partitions? I've messed around with secure boot in the BIOS a little bit, but I'm not sure if I've done anything productive. I have an Asus M5A99X if it helps

 

[mazboy]

I've had great success by highlighting the target disk and then selecting "delete" or "format" at the screen where it won't continue after giving you the message you're getting. The problem seems to be how the disk is formatted or partitioned.

 

[SchizTech]

In the boot menu there may be two entries for the USB: USB drive and USB drive (UEFI). Under the UEFI option only a GPT partitioned drive can be used but if there's a non-UEFI option, boot into the installer that way and it should let you continue.

 

[SchizTech]

I've had great success by highlighting the target disk and then selecting "delete" or "format" at the screen where it won't continue after giving you the message you're getting. The problem seems to be how the disk is formatted or partitioned.

The OP stated specifically that he doesn't want to delete the partitions so that his files won't be deleted.

 

[logic.c9cs]

In the boot menu there may be two entries for the USB: USB drive and USB drive (UEFI). Under the UEFI option only a GPT partitioned drive can be used but if there's a non-UEFI option, boot into the installer that way and it should let you continue.

Sorry if I'm not understanding this right, but just boot up using the non UEFI option? For some reason when I go to my Boot Option #1 I only see the "UEFI USB" option.

If I just go to "Boot Menu" I do see both "UEFI USB" and "USB", I can select it from there and it takes me through Windows installation. However it still says Windows can't be installed


Okay, this seemed to fix it actually. I just realized it gives me a different error this time. "There needs to be at least 9669 MB of free space on this partition". How in the world do I clear up space from my hard drive when I can't into windows??

 

[mazboy]

This may sound silly, but I've had this problem before, trying to install Win10 using an older (non-current) version. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and get the very latest iteration (if you haven't already) and see if using it will help.

 

[SchizTech]

Is the error the same from the non-UEFI and EFI attempts? Did you change any setting in the BIOS during this recovery process?

 

[logic.c9cs]

Is the error the same from the non-UEFI and EFI attempts? Did you change any setting in the BIOS during this recovery process?

f
Just realized the error message isn't the same. When I boot through the non UEFI the error says I don't have enough space. So how do I clear up space on my Hard Drive if I can't log in to windows?

 

[SchizTech]

Are you sure you're selecting the right partition? A modern installation of Windows typically involves at least two, where the system partition C is much larger than any other.

 

[logic.c9cs]

Are you sure you're selecting the right partition? A modern installation of Windows typically involves at least two, where the system partition C is much larger than any other.

Pretty sure I'm selecting the right partition, I'm supposed to install on my Hard Drive right? Just so happens I literally have only 8gb free somehow. If not, it shows

Drive 0 Partition 1: System Reserved
Drive 0 Partition 2 (931 GB)
Drive 0 Partition 3
Drive 1 Partition 1: ESD-USB
Drive 1 Unallocated Space

 

[SchizTech]

The partition screen should show the size of each. That with the largest total size is generally the system partition C. If there isn't enough free space on that partition, you can try an Ubuntu live CD boot disk to load the C drive in it's file explorer and clear space, which can load it's desktop off the install media (hence the term Live CD) and understands Windows' NTFS filesystem. This may not work if the Windows partition isn't 'clean;' the Ubuntu software can be finicky about the state of a drive it attempts to mount.

 

[logic.c9cs]

The partition screen should show the size of each. That with the largest total size is generally the system partition C. If there isn't enough free space on that partition, you can try an Ubuntu live CD boot disk to load the C drive in it's file explorer and clear space, which can load it's desktop off the install media (hence the term Live CD) and understands Windows' NTFS filesystem. This may not work if the Windows partition isn't 'clean;' the Ubuntu software can be finicky about the state of a drive it attempts to mount.

Don't exactly understand how to do the whole Ubuntu thing unfortunately

 

[SchizTech]

OK, well I see from your updated post that drive 0 partition 2 is what you should select. If that is low on space you may be stuck. If you need the files back you may need to bring the PC to someone (in person) to help