MBR partition table? Windows 7 won't install on hard drive that previously had win7.

Anonymous
2016-02-13T12:25:28+00:00

(long story) Alright, so I have had this same exact harddrive for a while, and out of nowhere, I get a message: Microsoft Windows has stopped responding. I think, oh ****! I gotta restart it! And so I hard-restart it and now windows won't load. I get the bios, but not the OS. So I try to save my files and reinstall windows7 by using a linux usb to save my stuff, except that doesnt work. So I accept my fate, use GParted to format the partition to NTFS and then I restart and boot up from the windows install disc. And I go to install windows on the empty partition (also I guess I should mention there is another partition that's 100mb and says sytem reserved, I never touched that one) and I get this and I quote "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." and thats it. And the weird thing is, I installed win7 on that SAME harddrive before with now problems. So did my Hard drive poop out on me? Is windows just being a butt? Help pls, I NEED my computer, I am in a programming for game design class and I need my PC in order to make my end of the year project. (Oh, I guess I should also mention I am currently using a Lubuntu usb stick to type this... if that is relevant at all...) Oh, and the windows version is 7 ultimate.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-02-14T19:04:04+00:00

    The original error was "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."   Is this correct?

    If so it means the disk was already MBR format and should never have generated that error on a system that is not UEFI/EFI which it clearly says it is.  I don't think it's possible to falsely generate that error on a truly MBR system, regardless of the source of the hard drive.  

    But in order to generate that error, the DVD would have needed to be booted as a UEFI device.  In some early UEFI firmware that still exists to this day, the only way to choose UEFI or Legacy is to boot the installation media that way. 

    Please let us know what happens when you wipe the hard drive with Clean command followed by Convert MBR.  

    Also please let us know the make and full model number of the PC or motherboard.  It may even have old UEFI firmware that needs updating.   

    If problems persist can you take pictures of all BIOS tabs including Boot Priority order and BIOS Boot menu?  We are looking for UEFI, CSM, Compatibility Mode, Legacy BIOS or Mode, Secure Boot and Boot Priority order.  But sometimes they are named otherwise.  So it's best to see all with detail on these.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-14T21:13:17+00:00

    ok finally did it the clean all command took foroever. and i converted it, so just go throught the install normally?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-14T21:22:57+00:00

    oh sorry didnt read that last message. my pc is a lenovo v750 laptop model number: well, not sure but on the bottom on my pc it has a model name which might be the same thing 1066 its kinda old i got it new back in 2012. And as an added note, i had win7 on this same hard drive before it went poof so i dont know why its having such issues and i used the same install disk  im using right now and it worked fine before...

    EDIT: oh and i have to leave my house soon so im gonna go off the internet for maybe an hour, but ill be bringing my laptop so i can continue a bit later, if i started the installation now, and it actually worked, i would have to leave during the install which i dont think is a very good idea...

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  4. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-02-14T21:50:13+00:00

    The PC ships with UEFI but the last Update is 2011 which was when UEFI was still very rough and needing regular Updating.  I'd still check if you have the latest version in  BIOS setup.  Laptops :: Lenovo V Series laptops :: V570 Laptop (Lenovo) :: 1066 - Lenovo Support (US)  

    The Manual has nothing about this.  However there is some discussion here about it:  V570 - Clean Install Problems and Some Solutions - Lenovo

    Community

     The suggestion here to reset BIOS to defaults is also a good one in many cases: 

    V570 no EFI settings in BIOS - Lenovo Community

    After resetting BIOS to Defaults, check again for any evidence of UEFI, CSM, Compatibility Mode, Legacy BIOS or mode, Secure Boot and BIOS Boot Priority order.  There is some suggestion that DVD drive needs to be set first in BIOS setup so you can also try that though it rarely makes a difference.

    If in doubt about any settings please post back pictures showing all tabs and choices.  If you see SATA settings make sure the AHCI choice is selected.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-02-14T22:08:37+00:00

    pk when you say compatibility mode, are you referring to the hard drive? cause thats what its set to... i swear, if thats wahts been throwing this off, im gonna be pissed...

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