I bought a used laptop. It's window 7. So, I created a new partition to install fresh windows 10 on it. I got this error message.I did my research and convert the HDD to GPT. MY question is how did the seller install Windows on MBR partition in the first place?
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?
The seller booted into legacy mode when setting up Windows - either by manually selecting the boot mode in the boot menu or by using Windows installation media that didn't have a UEFI bootloader (e.g. a recovery disk instead of the official MS installer).
Is there a guide on installing W10 on MBR partition?
What is the advantage of legacy over UEFI?
All you have to do is set the motherboard to Legacy mode and boot from a non UEFI installer, a windows 7 DVD for example.
There is no advantage of Legacy over UEFI or vice versa, in my opinion.
I always install windows to a single MBR partition, I do not want all the partitions of a UEFI setup. But my storage drives are GPT.
Example from my X299, both W10 and W7 are on MBR drives, W7 does not have a letter because I don`t want W10 to see it in windows explorer. I rarely use 7 anymore anyway.
How did you create your W10 installer ?
Did you use a dvd or a usb stick ?
Also, is the key on the COA readable ?
You will need it to activate W10. And if the version of windows on the COA is Home Premium, than you have to install Windows 10 Home.
If you have a W7 Pro key then you have to install W10 Pro.
Unless you have already bought W10.
Last edited by AddRAM; 12 Sep 2018 at 02:53.
Clean Install Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
and note the potential to install Win 10 using a key without upgrading first:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First | Windows 10 Tutorials
If you system is mostly new and supports UEFI/GPT there is no real advantage by going back to MBR mode. The easiest way is to completely remove ALL PARTITIONS on disk and let Windows installer recreate them for you. Stay with GPT if possible.
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