Laptop. Windows 10, Trying to install Windows 7. MBR / GPT issue

GbeTech · 26 May 2016

Hi,

Got a new Lenovo Yoga 500 with Windows 10 64bit.

I want to change to W7 - I have a windows 7 image on a disk. No DVD reader.

I copied the contents of the image to a clean, formatted NTFS external HDD. It's connected via USB3.

When I try to install W7 on the main system HDD, it says it's in GPT format and needs to be on MBT.

But I can't convert the system partition to MBT, because the system is there.
Also making a new virtual partition doesn't work, because the "diskpart" command doesn't recognize it as a separated disk.

Any advice here?

Thanks.

woopsi · 26 May 2016

Click the repair button down left before the Install procedure.
Access cmd and follow this:
How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt

Worked for me since i installed today Windows with the same problem

alphaniner · 26 May 2016

Why do you want to install Win7 if you have an image? Do you mean ISO?

To what device are you booting when you get the "needs to be on MBR" message? If you're trying to install Windows from an install disk created from the install ISO, that disk should be GPT partitioned if you want to install to a GPT partitioned disk.

AddRAM · 26 May 2016

You must convert your entire drive to unallocated space, then convert the drive to MBR

You can not use 3.0 usb ports to install windows 7

Did you create a usb flash drive yet to install windows ?

But if the pc only has 3.0 USB ports then you won`t be able to install windows 7 that way either.

Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk

I would buy a new ssd to attempt your install on, you don`t want a hard drive, that way you won`t loose the windows 10 install, in case you can`t install windows 7.

AddRAM · 27 May 2016

Here`s a link they may help.

https://resolve.co.uk/blog/article/win7usb3install

alphaniner · 27 May 2016

It is possible to integrate USB3 drivers into the installer to allow installing from a USB3 port. The process requires a command-line tool called DISM - which is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit - and has to be done from an existing Windows installation.

I've only done this on two machines (both Intel, one Haswell and one Skylake), but I'm not aware of anything suggesting it shouldn't work if done properly.

LordSnow · 31 May 2016

are you trying to install WIndows 7 32 bit? only Windows 7 64 bit is supported to be installed on GPT disk. if so try a 64 bit Windows 7 ISO. You can burn a windows 7 ISO to a USB drive, and then use the USB drive to install Windows 7. at the setup screen, you delete all the partition and press shift +F10 to use command line tool diskpart to convert the disk to MBR. if you need to convert GPT to MBR disk without data loss, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant.

AddRAM · 31 May 2016

I used Asus`s EZ Installer to create a usb installer the other day, probably never use it, but the program integrates the usb 3.0 drivers for you, it was a snap.

In this case the OP does not have a working dvd reader, you have to have the install dvd in the reader to use the program, it says nothing about using an existing iso file on your PC.

But you can integrate the usb 3.0 drivers into an iso file, then create an installer from that iso file, to create s a dvd installer, although I have no clue why, a dvd works fine, but in his case that`s what he needs to install 7 from his external dvd reader.

Tough for him to do either way, he needs a Windows 7 install dvd, and a PC with a dvd reader to create a usb installer with this particular program.

ASUS USA