Re-install of win 7 problem with GPT error

[longshanks62]

I have been asked to re install win 7 onto a Dell inspiron 1545 laptop but there is a problem. This laptop has been formatted and has 3 primary and one unallocated partitions, using a win 7 installation disk and when at install stage it reports that "unable to install to disk because of GPT partition style.

I cannot use the "Diskpart" solution shift +F10 does not work, I am now stumped for a solution can anyone help and blow by blow please.
Regards
Brian

 

[SIW2]

How about selecting Repair my computer, then use the command prompt

Option 2 here

System Recovery Options

 

[Megahertz07]

Is Win 10 installed on the HDD?
This an old laptop with Win Vista and probably doesn't have a UEFI BIOS so it can't have a GPT drive. Was the HDD on another computer?

To install win 7 32 (don't install win 7 64 if it has 4G or less of memory)
- Boot from Win 7 installation disk
- Go to install - advanced - delete all partitions - create new (it will format the HDD as Legacy-MBR)
- Choose the Big NTFS partition to install

 

[longshanks62]

As in my orig post, this laptop has been formatted and during installation from the installation disk it will not let me choose option 1 or 2 it reports back the GPT style partition message and therefor it will not go any further.
No win 10 was not installed, but win 8 was installed before formatting.

 

[Megahertz07]

To install win 7 32 (don't install win 7 64 if it has 4G or less of memory)
- Boot from Win 7 installation disk
- Go to install - advanced - delete all partitions - create new (it will format the HDD as Legacy-MBR)
- Choose the Big NTFS partition to install

Clean Install Windows 7

 

[longshanks62]

The installation will not go ahead because the drive is GPT style and there is no option to change this.

 

[SIW2]

You can change it.

My boot media contains partition managers.

17514x86.iso

17514x64-v10.iso

Boot the media. You will get a desktop

The icon is on the taskbar. Click it to launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Select the data disk you want to convert and right click it, and then select Convert to MBR Disk in the drop-down menu.

Then click the Green Apply tick at top left of Aomei window.

 

[longshanks62]

Thanks,

it won't work for me I've tried but it reports "non system disk" insert appropriate disk.

 

[Megahertz07]

The installation will not go ahead because the drive is GPT style and there is no option to change this.

Boot the installation disk as Legacy-MBR (the other option can be as UEFI)

 

[Megahertz07]

The installation will not go ahead because the drive is GPT style and there is no option to change this.

That is because you're not deleting ALL partitions then creating new.
YOU MUST DELETE ALL PARTITIONS AND CREATE A NEW. IF YOU DO, THE DRIVE WILL BE LOW FORMATTED FROM GPT TO LEGACY. Then you can install.

Boot the installation disk as Legacy-MBR (the other option can be as UEFI)
- Go to install - advanced - delete all partitions - create new (it will format the HDD as Legacy-MBR)
- Choose the Big NTFS partition to install

Clean Install Windows 7

 

[SIW2]

Thanks,

it won't work for me I've tried but it reports "non system disk" insert appropriate disk.

In that case, use the other partition manger. DiskGenius ( aka partitionguru). The link is on the booted media desktop.

Rt click the disk and select convert to MBR.




Then click the Save All button:

 

[longshanks62]

Thank you for your advice, I have downloaded Disc genius and installed it onto a usb drive bearing in mind I have no O/S on this laptop when booting from the usb drive containing Disc genius it reports " Bootmgr missing"

 

[SIW2]

How did you "install" diskgenius onto the usb? Did you just copy it?

It has to run within an OS of some kind. Usually that will be from winpe. It will make bootable usb stick for you:

 

[longshanks62]

Thanks, still learning.