MBR error on reinstalling Win7 to clean HD

Beanster · 19 Jun 2014

I have been having problems for almost 2 years now, since installing Windows 7 on a new pc --- specifically with Windows Update not working. I have paid for Microsoft support, and I learned after that that I didn't have to because WU problems are covered under their warranty. Working directly with MS Tech Support has failed to resolve the problem, even after reinstalling the OS.

I am profoundly disappointed in MS's inability to solve my problem. This forum is my best hope for a solution. I posted my problem on this forum on April 11th, where I received excellent guidance (which I followed), but because I misstated some things (which I tried to clarify), I was dismissed. If I could explain things in precise tech language, I wouldn't need this forum! I need patience and HELP!

Anyway, that's my backstory. What everyone agrees on is this: I need to reformat my hard drive and then do a clean install of the OS. Note: the MS Tech Support guy had me download a new OS file, since he thought my CD might be corrupted. So I was first instructed to burn the ISO file to a flash drive.

From gregrocker on this site ON 4/11:

"Make sure the download completed and is the correct size, then write it to flash stick or burn to DVD using "Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool", boot the installation media to do a "Clean Install Windows 7."
It will be best to power down to unplug all other drives first. Then during the booted install use the drive options pictured in Steps 7/8 to delete all partitions on the target HD, create New and do the install.
I'd also look over these same steps for "Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7" which are the same for retail and compile everything that works best to get and keep a perfect install."

When I went to get the Download Tool, I saw this:

Warning!
The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool does not work with UEFI.
To create a 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8 UEFI USB flash drive, see:
How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8

I have UEFI, so I went to the link above to create a bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive. This was completed successfully.

Next, in following your link for a clean install, I found "How to Install Windows 7 Using the "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)" at this link: UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with (on this site) and followed all those instructions exactly.

So, I now have a bootable flash drive, and I have wiped my hard drive clean. I now proceed to install the OS from the flash drive and I get this error message:

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI Systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."

I thought the "clean install" wiped out ALL partitions? Someone, please help me.

gregrocker · 19 Jun 2014

Did you delete all partitions during the booted install? The error means you have not cleared the MBR partition table by doing so.

If it's not enough to delete all partitions and create and format new, then run Diskpart Clean Command on the drive from the System Recovery Options Command Line.

If that fails check your UEFI settings. What are UEFI, CSM, and Legacy Boot exact settings choices and selection? Are you booting flash stick as UEFI device?

Report back results and if required exact failure error and behavior.

Britton30 · 20 Jun 2014

Your specs are lacking much. did the PC come with w7 or Win 8 installed?

Greg may correct this, but just because you have a UEFI board doesn't require you to do a UEFI install, however if Win 8 was factory installed it's a different story.

My board has a UEFI BIOS but I did not install with it.

gregrocker · 20 Jun 2014

Good point, Gary. There is usually a solution to get UEFI installed but if you don't want to mess with it for the paltry benefits it offers then you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7

Beanster · 20 Jun 2014

Greg, I did follow the instructions and ran the Diskpart Clean Command. I opted for the "clean all" command, and attached is a screen shot. I'm in way over my head here. I must be booting from UEFI device (?) because I followed the instructions to create a UEFI bootable device. Also attached is my boot menu showing my two internal hard drives:
Crucial M4 256GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (C:\ install drive)
Western Digital WD1002FAEX 1TB Internal Hard Drive (D:\ data drive)
The flash drive contains the iso Win7 file. Hope this helps? And THANK YOU.

Looks like I can only upload one image at a time. Here's the boot menu:

P3: ASUS DRW-24B1ST
JetFlashTranscend 4GB 1100
P2: M4-CT256M4SSD2
P1: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3AO
UEFI: JetFlashTranscend 4GB 1100

Beanster · 20 Jun 2014

Boot Option Priorities attached.

gregrocker · 20 Jun 2014

It looks like the stick is set first to boot in BIOS setup. For UEFI the Windows Boot Manager needs to be set first to boot. For Legacy the target Hard drive. Let us see the choices when you choose Boot Option 1 to change it. It may be worded differently for your model.

All other hard drives should be unplugged during install.

Then trigger the stick to boot using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key to prevent it from autostarting during the install reboots. If it still restarts the install anyway, unplug it at first reboot.

We still cannot see the UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS or other related settings which are normally on the Advanced BIOS tab. Can you scour the BIOS for these and post back pictures showing all available choices for each? Click on each setting to read the explanation text to the right on most BIOS'. If not read the Manual on the mobo's Support Downloads webpage.

WHile on the Mobo's Support downloads webpage check for a new BIOS firmware update. THis is critical for UEFI installs because its such crapware that it needs continual patching.

What other choices for Setup Mode are available?

Britton30 · 20 Jun 2014

Your BIOS is the same version as mine. To change to UEFI (EFI) mode, go to Boot tab>PCI ROM Priority as shown. Change it to EFI Compatible ROM for UEFI.

TIP: Insert a USB flash drive before going to BIOS and you can press F12 to capture a screenshot of what you see in BIOS.

MBR error on reinstalling Win7 to clean HD-140620191707.png

gregrocker · 20 Jun 2014

Gary, how does setting PCI ROM to Legacy enable UEFI?

Britton30 · 20 Jun 2014

I wasn't clear, he should set it to enable the EFI Compatible ROM.
This is a Z68 chip board and I don't find anything regarding CSM.