How to boot Windows DVD without UEFI

Question

I searched the web, but didn't find anything.

I formated my single partition (300GB) to mbr partition table (it used gpt before). Now I want to install windows 7 but I can't because:

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.

I guess there is a way to boot the Windows DVD without UEFI, but how? In my bios I did not found anything that contains the word "EFI". So how can I install Windows 7 with mbr? Thanks.

Answer 1

If you haven't solved this yet, or if anyone else finds this thread, you have to convert to GPT:

1. When installing at the partition screen hit Shift+F10.
2. At the prompt type diskpart and press Enter.
3. Type list disk (Not the number of the disk you want to use)
4. Type select disk X where is X is the number of the disk you want to use.
5. Type clean
6. Type convert gpt

Be warned though, this will clear out the partition table on the drive; make sure you have a backup before attempting this if you have important data

Answer 2

The previous answer did not answer the question, he said he was previously using GPT and wanted to boot via UEFI.

I am also searching for same answer but unsure which option to pick in bios whether to just select via boot menu or if there is a more advanced option but i have this instructions to convert to MBR from GPT, saem as above basically but using MBR instead....

From BIOS select to boot the windows dvd without UEFI
Go To repair Options
Select Command Prompt and enter this:
    1. diskpart
    2.list disk
    3.select disk 0
    4.clean
    5.convert mbr
    6.create partition primary
    7.select partition 1
    8.format fs=ntfs quick

This will format your drive remember... once done boot from windows disc in normal way via boot menu and install.

Answer 3

You need to delete and recreate the partitions on the drive.

• Once you boot up to the installer choose custom
• Select each partition that is visible and then choose delete at the boom (advanced)
• Once you have 1 volume of unallocated space, select it and hit Create Partition
• You can choose the default or the change the size to your liking

After this just run through the install normally.