Unable to install Win7 - "The selected disk is of the GPT partition style"

[ebeyer]

I'm trying to install Win7 on my Bonobo extreme per the instructions on the knowledge76 site: http://knowledge76.com/index.php/Win...stem76_Machine

I get as far as the step "Make sure that the new partition is selected. then click Next." but the Windows installer says "Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partition 3. (Show details) --> Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style".

I spent about three hours googling around. I tried to follow the directions here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1856987&page=3, which purports to allow you to convert the desired windows partition to MBR but Windows 7 refuses to install to it.

I've even contemplated wiping the drive, installing Windows and adding Ubuntu back as the second OS, but Windows doesn't even give me the option to do that.
I'm not excited about virtualization, unless it's a last resort (because part of what I want Win7 for is for games that don't play nice with virtualization).

I am using the 64-bit version of the installer. I have tried enabling the UEFI, which resulted in not being able to boot the Windows install disk at all.

Am I doing something basic/silly that is wrong (apart from using Windows at all)? A practical solution would be very much appreciated.

Respectfully,
EB

[oldfred]

Windows only installs to gpt partitioned drives with UEFI. Then Ubuntu also needs to be UEFI, but Boot-repair can convert install to use grub-efi in place of grub-pc, if in BIOS mode now.

Or you can convert drive to MBR, but get into the 4 primary partition limit. You will need gdisk.
If in BIOS mode Windows has to boot from a primary NTFS formatted partition with the boot flag.
IF gpt the only partition with a boot flag is the efi partition which you can only have one per drive.

You cannot use the Win7 DVD in UEFI mode, you need to use BIOS mode or modify to USB with UEFI.
Install Windows efi to new drive.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...=ws.10%29.aspx
https://gitorious.org/tianocore_uefi..._UEFI_boot_USB



Microsoft suggested partitions including reserved partition for gpt & UEFI:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx
Older Windows info on gpt - 2008 updated 2011
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/wind.../gg463525.aspx
Windows technical info on gpt and GUIDs
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/wi...sktop/aa365449
Order on drive is important:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microso...rved_Partition

[ebeyer]

Thanks for the thorough reply. Unfortunately, there is much of what you patiently explain that is safely over my head. I humbly submit that the good people at System76 need to incorporate what you are saying in their step by step directions. Until then, I fear I will continue to fruitlessly spin my wheels.

Respectfully,
EB

[oldfred]

UEFI systems are new and more complex as they can be either UEFI or BIOS. And then drive may be formatted with newer gpt partitioning for use with UEFI or the 30 year old MBR(msdos) partitioning.

Instructions on System 76 site are for BIOS based install.

If you system is UEFI, you have to convert Windows installer to flash drive and add UEFI capability as in posts above. Windows 7 standard DVD is for BIOS install only but can be copied to a flash drive.

[ebeyer]

I'm pretty sure UEFI is turned off. My BIOS only lets me turn it on if the OS I'm running is Win8. I tried turning it on, in fact, but the Win7 DVD wouldn't boot. BIOS install fails as per my original post. Win7 installer doesn't give me the option of wiping the drive and installing just Windows, either.
EB

[oldfred]

Best to see detail. But I may not be back for two weeks.


Post the link to the BootInfo report that this creates. Is part of Boot-Repair:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info
Boot Repair -Also handles LVM, GPT, separate /boot and UEFI dual boot.:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

[ebeyer]

Forgive me as I stumble through the details.

I used boot-repair to fix grub after the windows installer managed to screw it up a couple of times during my earlier attempts to start the windows install. I used the recommended repair with success each time. I'm hearing you suggest that I use the advanced option to "restore" the MBR of my desired windows partition (/dev/sda3), after which Win7 should allow me to install the OS to that partition normally. Is that true?
EB

[oldfred]

It depends on whether you are in BIOS mode or UEFI mode.
Windows will only install in UEFI mode when drive is gpt partitioned. So if you have Windows 8 pre-installed drive is gpt. Ubuntu will boot from gpt partitioned drive with either BIOS or UEFI. But you would only be able to install Windows 7 if you erase drive and convert it to MBR. Or convert Windows 7 installer to flash drive with UEFI install capability.
If you erase drive, I would backup entire drive as you may never be able to reinstall Windows 8.
If you use Windows 7 to erase drive and install in MBR, then it does not erase backup gpt partition table (one of gpt's advantages) and you have to use fixparts to remove the backup gpt data.

The vendor recovery DVDs are just an image of your drive as purchased. If you have housecleaned a lot of cruft normally included, run many updates with many reboots, and added software you may want a full back up.
Backup windows before install - post by Mark Phelps
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...0#post12611710
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
Another suggestion by srs5694
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

Make your own Windows repairCD (not vendor recovery):
http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/1114725.htm
Windows users only - Silverlight
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/w...em-repair-disc

Windows 7 repair USB, Also Vista if service pack installed
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-re...tion-dvd-disc/
http://www.webupd8.org/2010/10/creat...usb-drive.html
Windows 8 UEFI repair USB must be FAT32
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ndows-8-a.html
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...-166dddf32205/
http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/01/how...m-repair-disc/



Fixparts - Repair broken partition tables (not overlapping issues) & delete Stray gpt data from MBR drives
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...7#post10367957
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1705325
http://www.rodsbooks.com/fixparts/

[isantop]

I believe he'll need to reinstall Ubuntu with an MSDOS disk. We don't have UEFI firmware on our systems.

[ebeyer]

I'm confused. Assuming I don't want to wipe my Ubuntu partition, I hear you saying I can use a windows 7 thumb drive install and UEFI to install on the partition I created (/dev/sda3). But the last poster, from System76 is saying there is no UEFI support on their laptops? But there's an option in the BIOS to select Win8 as the OS and to turn on UEFI. Is that something else?

So assuming I can't boot the Win7 UEFI install, either as DVD or as a flash drive on my System76 laptop, then you're saying my only option is to boot under BIOS, which means wiping the drive, installing Win7 and rebuilding Ubuntu after that. Am I understanding this correctly?

If so, are there instructions (assuming you haven't already linked this, in which case I apologize) that will show me how to get the Win7 install disk to install on my hard drive that already has Ubuntu installed and has no MBR?

Thank you again for your patient explanations.
EB