Solved Can not install full fresh Windows 7 it says cannot install because...

[N4TUX]

Can not install full fresh Windows 7 it says cannot install windows 7 it says hard disk in gpt style.

The hard drive in this HP p2-1343w Desktop PC
HITACHI HDS721010CLA632 JPT41A SATA 6.0 1TB hard drive
Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721010CLA632
P/N 0F15013 MLC JPT41A
I am trying to help a lady friend from Church.
She has a HP p2-1343w Desktop PC with Windows 8, "Which I hate".
Can not install full fresh Windows 7 it says cannot install windows 7 it says hard disk is in gpt style. I tried some steps to covert gpt to mbr so I can install fresh full Windows 7 but don't know what to do from here.
Please help thank you.
N4TUX Boyd

 

[benjy206]

Hi N4TUX is there currently an operating system on the pc?

 

[Brink]

Hello N4TUX,

The tutorial below can help show you how to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7. The issue is that Windows 8 was installed using UEFI. Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[gregrocker]

You must also turn off Secure Boot, before installing Win7 in UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

If it becomes problematic you can also Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 normally.

To better understand UEFI and help you decide if its worth the benefits watch this video that explains it: Technical Note: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube

 

[N4TUX]

This HP p2-1343w Desktop PC is new and it has Windows 8 on it. I have so far got it to finally boot to cd/drd and Windows 7 install starts and then I told it to format C: which has the Window 8 OS on it. I then thought it would let it install but nope. I don't want wipe and remove all partitions in case she ever in the future wants to use the factory backup image and put Windows 8 back on.

After Windows 7 cd formatted OS partition, I had to use Windows 8 factory partition, I then went into disk management and tried to see how to covert the OS partition to MBR from GPT. I wish I had a extra sata hard drive to throw into it to see if Windows 7 and all drivers will even work in this computer but I don't. I am thinking it is most likely won't work and all needed hardware drivers I can't get but I want to try to see.

This lady friend at church hates, hates Windows 8 also.

Geezz such a dog gone head ache so far.....

I will say and voice my personal opinion I hate Windows 8.

Please reply with more suggestions thank you.

N4TUX Boyd.

 

[gregrocker]

OK we provided you with everything you need to know and you seem to have ignored it all.

I would keep Windows 8, disable Secure Boot, install Win7 in UEFI mode to a partition you shrink on the same GPT disk, so that converting to an MBR disk does not destroy the partitions you wish to keep.

Please go back to the tutorials we posted for you in the blue links starting with Brink's post and read them through, asking back any questions you have after reading them.

 

[theog]

To Downgrade to Windows 7.
Click here: :ar: Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
Warning you must have the uEFI/BIOS firmware setting in Step Three set.

 

[N4TUX]

Thank you all for your help.

I will keep Windows 8, disable Secure Boot, install Windows 7 in UEFI mode to a partition and shrink on the same GPT disk, so that converting to an MBR disk does not destroy the partitions.

Thanks

N4TUX Boyd

 

[Brink]

Continued from: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/283781-hard-drive-has-windows-8-gpt.html

Brink hello,
The hard drive has Windows 8 on the hard drive and it wasn't Windos 7 then upgraded to Windows 8. I installed a extra hard drive that was MBR and not GPT and Windows 7 installed perfect on it. Now that I know for sure the computer and hardware drivers all there and works perfectly, I now want to hook up the factory hard drive and delete and wipe all partitions and make it MBR to use it with Windows 7.

Can you help further please?

I now wonder what bootable cd and software to delete all partitions with. If I delete all partitions and format it with NTFS make it MBR?

Thank you and reply when you can please.

N4TUX Boyd

Hello N4TUX,

The instructions in the tutorial below can help show you how to.

Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7