Solved MBT Install Seems Impossible on UEFI Boot with Legacy Mode

[sometimeshandy2]

I am trying to install Windows 7 on an HP Spectre x360, but I've run into a blocking snag and I'm hoping for some help. I can run veracrypt in full disk encryption without an MBR partition. When trying to force an MBR parition using command prompt, I get the error "On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks." I do have legacy booting on, and secure boot on.

I have realized that my boot order in the BIOS has two options for my USB drive, UEFI mode, and non-UEFI mode. So one would think I would need to boot into the non-UEFI mode of the Windows Installer. But that fails every single time. Totally black screen with the error:
"Reboot and select proper boot device
Or insert boot media in selected boot device and press any key"

I tried to use a Lubuntu boot USB to get around this (failed), but noticed that the MBR USB of the Lubuntu installer also encounters the same error when trying to boot to its non UEFI counterpart. It has to be booted in UEFI mode.

Is this BIOS locked down? Or what is going on? Seemingly, it is impossible to set up an MBR partition on this table.

After extensive searching, I came across this thread My adventure with changing a GPT / UEFI Windows 8 installation to MBR that details a method for cloning and drive swapping, however then if you run into any situation which requires the USB you'd be screwed.

 

[AddRAM]

Why is Secure boot on ?

Did you clean the drive with Diskpart ?

Recreate your usb installer again, this time use Rufus and choose to create a MBR installer for BIOS or UEFI (it`s in the options)

 

[sometimeshandy2]

I made this post in a hurry and had a couple of typos, first the title should have said MBR, and secure boot is off

I tried recreating the installer multiple times before this, but it seems like the problem may have been actually been something that I didn't notice in any of the forums before. The File System needed to be set to NTFS rather than FAT32. Seems to be working fine now with that change! Thank you for your picture!