How to Install Windows 11/10 on a GPT Partition in 2024

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Tracy King 

Last updated on May 11, 2024

Quick Guide: Installing Windows 11/10 on GPT:

1. Connect the USB drive with Windows 11/10 installed to your computer and boot it up. 2. Enter the BIOS (using keys like F2 or Delete). 3. Locate the Boot Options menu. 4. Set "Launch CSM" to Enabled. 5. Set "Boot Mode Selection" to UEFI only. 6. Prioritize the UEFI drive for booting from storage devices. 7. Save the changes and restart the system. 8. Upon reboot, proceed with installing Windows 11/10 on GPT. 9. [Learn more details...](#install-windows-on-gpt)

Are you looking for an effective way to install Windows 11/10 on GPT disk without any hassle? Check out the quick navigation and follow the tutorials in each section. You'll successfully install Windows 11/10 on a GPT partition on your own:

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.

Yes, you can install Windows 11/10 on a GPT partition.

If you encounter the following issues while trying to install Windows 11/10 on a GPT disk, don't worry:

Scenario 1: Your computer fails to install Windows 10 on GPT partition with the error message "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style."

Case 2 - "I've upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, and now I want to do a clean installation. Then I burned Windows 10 to a DVD. When I tried to install it, I got an error message saying 'The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.' Is there any way to solve this problem and successfully install Windows 10 on a GPT partition?"

This error occurs because your computer is booting in UEFI mode, but your hard drive is not configured to be in UEFI mode. Below, we will detail for you the full process of how to install Windows 10 on a GPT disk without losing any data, so that you won't see the "Windows cannot be installed to this disk" error again.

Let's now proceed with installing Windows 11/10 on your computer. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with others using the buttons below.

Part 1: Prepare a GPT Disk for Windows Installation

Applies To: Prepare GPT disk for Windows 11/10 installation.

To successfully install Windows 11/10, there are two things you need to do beforehand:

• #1. Verify that your computer supports UEFI boot mode
• #2. Prepare for GPT - Back up data and convert to GPT

#1. Verify that your computer supports UEFI boot mode

Note that if your computer's motherboard doesn't support UEFI, only BIOS, you won't be able to install Windows 10 on a GPT partition.

Therefore, you should first check and confirm whether your computer supports the UEFI boot mode:

Turn on your computer and press (Esc, F2, F8, F12, Del, or another key) to enter the firmware or boot menu. In the boot menu, check if your computer supports the UEFI boot mode.

If your motherboard only supports Legacy BIOS boot mode, sorry to say that you have to stop here. That's because your PC is unable to install Windows 10 on a GPT disk which requires UEFI boot mode.

If you see a UEFI boot option in the BIOS (as shown below), exit the BIOS. Then, you can proceed with the following steps.

Read more: Fix UEFI Boot Errors in Windows 10/8/7

#2. Preparing a GPT Disk for Windows 10 Installation

Before installing Windows 10 on a GPT partition, it's essential to prepare the hard drive. Here are some steps you can follow to prepare your hard drive: 1. **Backup Data**: Before making any changes to your disk, ensure that you have a backup of all important files and data. Accidents can happen, and you don't want to lose anything valuable. 2. **Check Disk Compatibility**: Make sure your computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware supports GPT disks. Most modern systems should, but it's always good to verify. 3. **Choose a Partitioning Tool**: You can use either the built-in Windows Disk Management tool or third-party tools like tools Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, or GParted (for Linux users). Ensure the tool you choose is compatible with GPT partitions. 4. **Boot in Windows Setup**: Insert the Windows 10 installation media and boot from it. In the setup process, select "Install now" and proceed to the next step. 5. **Create GPT Partition**: In the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" option. Now, you'll see a disk selection screen. If the disk isn't already formatted as GPT, you'll need to delete all existing partitions (if any) and then create a new partition. To create a GPT disk, you'll need to use the "Diskpart" utility. Press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt, then type and execute the following commands: - `diskpart` - `list disk` (to identify your disk number) - `select disk X` (replace X with the disk number) - `clean` - `convert gpt` - `exit` 6. **Create Install Partition**: After creating the GPT disk, return to the Windows Setup, and it should now recognize the GPT disk. Select an unallocated space and create a new partition for Windows installation. 7. **Format the Partition**: Format the partition as NTFS, which is the default file system for Windows. Choose the appropriate allocation unit size (usually the default is fine). 8. **Install Windows 10**: Proceed with the installation by selecting the formatted partition and following the on-screen instructions. 9. **Post-Installation Configuration**: Once the installation is complete, you may need to configure your system to boot from the new GPT-based Windows 10 installation. This might involve changing the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings or using the Windows Boot Manager. Remember to exercise caution when dealing with disk partitions, as incorrect operations could lead to data loss.

• # For a new disk - Initialize the disk as GPT formatted
• # For an old disk - Convert the disk to GPT format, back up your data, and wipe all contents

Because installations can set up disks in different ways, we recommend that you configure your disk appropriately for your needs.

For new disks – Initialize as GPT

1. Install the new drive in your computer. You can refer to How to Install a New HDD/SSD for assistance.

2. Configure and initialize your disk with the GPT format

If you're comfortable with that, you can open Disk Management and manually initialize the drive as GPT.

If you have no experience in disk management, we recommend that you download a reliable partition manager - tools Partition Master, and initialize your new hard drive as GPT with the following steps:

Step 1. Launch Partition Master and enter the main interface of partition management.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk – HDD or SSD – and select “Initialize as MBR” or “Initialize as GPT.” Click “Perform Tasks” and “Apply” to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize as MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize as GPT;

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For an older disk – convert the disk to GPT and back up your data

1. Convert the disk to the GPT format

If your disk is in the MBR style, you'll need to convert it to GPT. AOMEI Partition Assistant can convert an MBR disk to GPT without data loss.

Step 1: Download and run AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Step 2. Launch the Disk Converter, select "Convert MBR to GPT," and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 3: Select the MBR disk that you want to convert to GPT and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

2. Back up important data

If you have important data on the old hard drive, we recommend backing up that data to another internal or external hard drive first.

Format the GPT partition.

It's recommended that you format the target GPT partition (with at least 20 GB capacity) in advance for Windows 10 installation.

If you don't format the GPT partition, all the files on it will remain, taking up a significant amount of space on your system C drive. That's obviously not a wise choice.

Then, you can proceed to Part 2 of this page to start installing Windows 10 on the GPT disk.

Read more:

Part 2: How to Install Windows 11/10 on a GPT Partition

Applies to: Guide you through installing Windows 10 on a GPT partition.

If you have Windows 7 or 8.1 installed already, the upgrade will be easier. You can upgrade straight to Windows 10.

Well, if you're looking for how to install or reinstall a new version of Windows 10 on a GPT partition, you've come to the right place. Follow these steps to learn how to install Windows 10 on a GPT partition:

Step 1. Create a Windows 10 installation media on a blank USB drive (minimum 8GB).

Step 2: Connect the Windows 10 installation USB drive to your computer and boot into BIOS.

Restart your computer and press Esc, F2, F8, F12, Delete, or another key to enter the BIOS boot menu.

Step 3. Find the boot options menu and enable UEFI mode.

• Enable CSM if it's disabled. If CSM is already enabled, skip to step 4.
• Set Boot Mode to UEFI only.
• Set Boot from Storage Device to Use UEFI driver first.

Step 4: Place the USB UEFI OS boot option at the top of the boot priority list.

Step 5: Save the changes and reboot, then begin installing Windows 10 on your GPT disk.

1. Select the media to use – a USB flash drive.

2. Click “Install now,” and then configure your language and other preferences.

3. Don't enter a product key, just choose "Install Windows only."

Select to install Windows 10 on a GPT partition and wait for the installation process to complete.

4. Your computer may restart several times during this process. The installation could take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour or more. Be patient.

Step 6. After the installation finishes, reboot your computer and enter the BIOS.

Set your computer to boot from the new GPT disk with Windows 10 installed. Save the changes and restart your PC.

Step 7. Make sure Windows 10 is installed on a GPT partition.

When Windows 10 finally boots, you can check that it's installed on your GPT disk partition by following the instructions here.

• Boot into Windows > Open “Disk Management.” • You should see three partitions, including the EFI System Partition.

The next sentence only needs to be translated into American English:

Right-click on the disk > select "Properties" > "Volume". You can confirm the partition style here.

Step 8. Enter your product key to activate Windows 10.

After you install Windows, you're prompted to use a product key to activate Windows.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation, and enter your product key to unlock all the features of Windows 10 on your device.

After installing Windows 10 on a GPT partition, activate Windows 10.

After that, you'll be able to enjoy all the full features of Windows 10 on your computer. It'll make your life and work a breeze.

Part 3: How to Safeguard Your GPT Partition Data (Bonus Tips)

If you have data stored on your GPT partition, this section will be particularly helpful. Here are some tips to effectively safeguard your data: 1. **Backup your data**: Always back up important files on the GPT partition before making any changes or performing operations. You can use external hard drives, USB drives, or cloud storage services for this purpose. 2. **Use reliable software**: Choose a reputable and professional data backup and recovery tool, such as tools Todo Backup or Acronis True Image, which can handle your data safely. 3. **Encrypt your data**: For added security, encrypt the data on your GPT partition so that it remains inaccessible to unauthorized individuals in case your device is lost. 4. **Keep software updated**: Keep your operating system and applications up to date to ensure security and compatibility, which helps prevent potential data loss. 5. **Protect against viruses**: Install and update antivirus software to guard against malware and viruses that could compromise your system and lead to data damage. 6. **Handle operations carefully**: Be cautious when deleting or moving files to avoid accidental data loss. Confirm the target partition before performing disk cleanup or formatting. 7. **Create a system image**: In addition to backing up data, create an image of your entire system to facilitate rapid restoration in case of a system crash. 8. **Know your recovery options**: Familiarize yourself with different data recovery methods, such as using disk utilities or professional recovery software, in case you need to recover lost data. 9. **Physical protection**: Store your device in a secure location to prevent data loss due to drops, spills, or other physical damage. 10. **Limit access permissions**: Set user permissions to restrict access to the GPT partition, allowing only trusted individuals to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches. By following these tips, your GPT partition data will be better protected.

• Back up important data regularly
• Be cautious when deleting files, formatting drive partitions, or erasing disks
• Run antivirus software regularly to clean viruses and malware

Regularly back up important data

If you change the disk data frequently, you need to back up important data on GPT disk partitions regularly.

To make things easier for you, you might want to try using a free backup software like Todo Backup Free, which can create an automatic daily backup plan to fully back up all your data.

2. Erasing files, formatting drive partitions, and wiping disks with awareness of the consequences

When performing operations on your computer that involve deleting data and files, you must always proceed with caution. For instance, you need to make sure you don't delete the wrong files, format the wrong storage device, or wipe the incorrect hard drive or partition.

1. 3. Run antivirus software regularly to remove viruses and malware.

As we know, virus or malware infections can lead to unexpected data loss issues on storage devices like GPT disk partitions. We recommend you always have reliable antivirus software installed, and regularly scan and clean your computer and devices.

After reading this informative article, you should now have a good understanding of installing Windows 11/10 on a GPT partition and the related knowledge. Feel free to share this on your social media.

Conclusions

This page will guide you through installing Windows 10 on a GPT disk partition. To complete the process, you'll need to:

1. Prepare a GPT disk 2. Download the Windows 10 ISO image and create a USB installation media 3. Set your PC's boot mode to UEFI and boot from the USB 4. Start and complete the installation of Windows 10 on the GPT disk partition 5. Restart the PC and configure it to boot from the new GPT partition 6. Activate Windows 10

If you encounter the "The selected disk is of the GPT partition style" error along the way, refer to Part 1 to convert the disk to GPT with a reliable partition manager and proceed with the Windows 10 installation.

By the way, it's also crucial to back up data on the GPT partition regularly to avoid data loss.

"People are also asking."

For more information about installing Windows, see the questions and answers below:

1. Can I install Windows 10 on a GPT partition?

Usually, you can install Windows 10 directly on a GPT partition as long as your computer's motherboard and boot loader support UEFI boot mode.

If the installer tells you that it can't install Windows 10 on the disk because it's in GPT format, it might be because you've disabled UEFI. You can fix this by entering your BIOS (by pressing a specific key, usually F1 or F10-F12, depending on your computer model, during startup), and look for an option to enable UEFI.

After that, you can proceed with installing Windows 10 on the GPT disk.

< strong > 2. Should I install Windows 10 on an MBR or GPT disk?

Whether you can upgrade from MBR to GPT when installing Windows 10 depends largely on your disk capacity and the motherboard in your computer:

• Disks 2 TB or smaller: Use MBR for installing Windows 10. • Disks larger than 2 TB: Use GPT for installing Windows 10. • BIOS that supports only legacy boot mode: Install Windows 10 on MBR. • BIOS that supports UEFI boot mode and the disk is greater than 2 TB: Install Windows 10 on GPT.

Read also: [MBR vs GPT](/partition-master/mbr-vs-gpt.html)

3. How many partitions are created when installing Windows 10 on a GPT disk?

• On a brand new GPT disk: Windows will automatically create two partitions on your drive—a boot partition and a System C drive partition.
• On a used GPT disk: Windows will be installed to a selected partition. No other partitions will be created.

If you want to create more partitions manually, you can manage your GPT partitions yourself. In short, a GPT disk supports up to 128 partitions.