How to install windows 10 on MBR partition?

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  1. Posts : 15
    10
    Thread Starter
       #11

    AddRAM said:
    How did you create your W10 installer?
    Did you use a dvd or a usb stick ?
    Also, is the key on the COA readable?
    I use Rufus to create the bootable W10 USB drive. I tried EUFI and BIOS mode, but I can't boot the machine to BIOS/legacy mode on my PC. I dont want to convert the HDD to GPT because I don't want to break the current OS. The motherboard has no option for Legacy boot. What is the trick to install on MBR partition?

    I will enter the key after I install W10
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  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #12

    19stand said:
    I use Rufus to create the bootable W10 USB drive. I tried EUFI and BIOS mode, but I can't boot the machine to BIOS/legacy mode on my PC. I dont want to convert the HDD to GPT because I don't want to break the current OS. The motherboard has no option for Legacy boot. What is the trick to install on MBR partition?

    I will enter the key after I install W10
    I'm really confused. Post #3 says:

    19stand said:
    The laptop model is Dell Inspiron i7550/256GB HD. It has Legacy and UEFI mode. I was able to install W10 after converting the HDD to GPT. How did the seller install Windows on MBR partition?
    So first, you stated "It has Legacy and UEFI mode." Now in post #11 it doesn't. In post #3 you stated you already converted the HDD to GPT. Now in post #11 you state you don't want to convert to GPT because you don't want to break the current OS - which was installed on a GPT drive in UEFI mode in post #3? This isn't adding up.

    Now - let's say you have a computer with Windows installed on an MBR drive (such as Windows 7) and you create a new partition and want to add a second Windows installation to the new partition while preserving the old Windows installation. One way to do that is to mount the new Windows 10 ISO file in the old OS. If the old OS is Windows 7, you will need a program like WinCDEmu to do it. Or you can insert a Windows 10 USB flash drive. Then in a command prompt with administrator privileges, go to the sources folder on the mounted ISO file or USB flash drive. Apply the proper index from install.esd or install.wim to the new partition using the dism /apply-image command. You can enter 'dism /apply-image /?' to see the help file for the command (without the ').

    Once the image is applied, then you can set up dual booting with the bcdboot command. Again, 'bcdboot /?' will get you help for that command. If you don't know the index numbers in the install.esd or install.wim file, dism /get-wiminfo will show that. And, of course, 'dism /get-wiminfo /?' will provide the instructions.
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  3. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #13

    Hi there

    Not wanting to add confusion to the mix but it's impossible to install EFI mode on MBR if you can't boot in legacy mode.

    It's relatively simple to convert an MBR windows install to a GPT (EFI) version without losing data.

    I've posted on how to do it on the Forums.

    Move W10 MBR OS to GPT OS without re-installing windows - Windows 10 Forums

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #14

    Hi there @NavyLCDR

    Hi there

    Not wanting to add confusion to the mix but it's impossible to install EFI mode on MBR if you can't boot in legacy mode.

    It's relatively simple to convert an MBR windows install to a GPT (EFI) version without losing data.

    I've posted on how to do it on the Forums.

    Move W10 MBR OS to GPT OS without re-installing windows - Windows 10 Forums

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #15

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi there @NavyLCDR

    Hi there

    Not wanting to add confusion to the mix but it's impossible to install EFI mode on MBR if you can't boot in legacy mode.

    It's relatively simple to convert an MBR windows install to a GPT (EFI) version without losing data.

    I've posted on how to do it on the Forums.

    Move W10 MBR OS to GPT OS without re-installing windows - Windows 10 Forums

    Cheers
    jimbo
    That is not true at all. It is very possible to install EFI mode on MBR. It just has to be done manually by creating the proper partitions first and using dism and bcdboot commands. And it can be accomplished as a clean install after booting the computer from the Windows 10 USB flash drive in command prompt (shift + F10).

    Also, it is very possible to convert a legacy BIOS install to boot in UEFI mode without converting the drive from MBR to GPT.
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  6. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #16

    NavyLCDR said:
    That is not true at all. It is very possible to install EFI mode on MBR. It just has to be done manually by creating the proper partitions first and using dism and bcdboot commands.
    Not only that, you can create a hybrid member and boot the same install, on the same partition, in both UEFI (GPT) and legacy (MBR) as long as you use suitable boot managers.

    You might want to do that if you had a tablet with 32bit EFI but wanted to run x64 OS or (I suppose) v.v. I tried it to see if it would work, which it does, but can't think of a situation you'd need to really.
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  7. Posts : 15
    10
    Thread Starter
       #17

    NavyLCDR said:
    I'm really confused. Post #3 says:
    So first, you stated "It has Legacy and UEFI mode." Now in post #11 it doesn't. In post #3 you stated you already converted the HDD to GPT. Now in post #11 you state you don't want to convert to GPT because you don't want to break the current OS - which was installed on a GPT drive in UEFI mode in post #3? This isn't adding up.
    I'm sorry for the confusion. I'm ok with my laptop. I'm working on my Desktop now. My desktop has W10 on it. Now, I want to create another partition for a second W10 OS, but I get the error message "can't install W10 on MBR partition". I can't boot with legacy mode on my desktop. I tried to create a bootable USB for MBR but it still doesn't work. How can I install W10 on MBR partition without converting the HDD to GBT? because I want to keep the old W10 OS. Thank you,
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #18

    Is your current install of W10 on the desktop, Legacy or EFI ? MBR or GPT ?

    And what do you mean you can`t boot with Legacy mode on your desktop ?

    Are you saying it won`t let you or are you saying you can`t figure out how to do it ?

    And I know it`s none of my business, and I may get scorned, but, why do you need 2 installs of W10 on 1 PC ?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #19

    Had the same problem with MBR not allowed, but removing efi folder from bootable USB made installing possible. Got solution from there: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...gacy-bios-mode
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #20

    ukram said:
    Had the same problem with MBR not allowed, but removing efi folder from bootable USB made installing possible. Got solution from there: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/boot-to-uefi-mode-or-legacy-bios-mode

    Removing the EFI folder from boot able USB you force it to boot as Legacy
    Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
    To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
    To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

    On a new MB, you should install as UEFI-GPT
    Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.
    On BIOS, disable fast boot and secure boot (you can enable after installation)

    During POST, press F(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name) to install as UEFI-GPT or USB (Name) to install as Legacy-MBR.
    Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
    If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.
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