'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI

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  1. Posts : 11
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI


    Sometime in the fall I started getting Windows 10 update errors trying to install 1607 (the anniversary update I believe). After trying different fixes I just ignored it for a while hoping windows would come up with a fix. 6 months later and I'd like to finally resolved this issue once and for all.

    Windows Update Failure

    I found I can use msinfo32 from the cmd shell to see my BIOS Mode which indicates I'm in UEFI


    So I'm not entirely sure what the problem is. I did some funky things when I first built and installed Windows on this computer about a year ago. I have a 3TB Hard Drive and a 500GB SSD. And I found out I wasn't able to use all 3TB without using a GPT. Found some guide online followed the steps and fixed that issue.

    I think there was an issue after that where the 3TB hard drive had the Boot part on it, and I followed some other guide to get my SSD to be the boot drive. But I think what I did then has put something in a weird state thats causing the update issue above.

    Heres the Partitions


    And heres using diskpart


    Looking at other peoples partitions when using UEFI and GPT they have some partitions I don't have. Like MSR, System, Recovery etc... but mine just has the one single Primary partition. Recommended UEFI-Based Disk-Partition Configurations What I also find weird is that my boot partition is Disk 1 instead of Disk 0. If I unplug the HDD and boot the computer, then the SSD becomes Drive 0 but the update still fails.

    Unfortunately I'm in that place where I'm competent enough to get myself in trouble fiddling with things but not always knowledgeable enough to get myself out of it. So any help would be appreciated.

    I would like to be able to get windows updates working again and preferably without reinstalling everything. Is that possible and if so how can I go about doing that?

    If there is any other information I can provide that would help in resolving this issue let me know.

    Thank you very much!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    It looks to me that you don't have a UEFI install you have an MBR (legacy) install. In your BIOS what is listed as your primary boot device
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  3. Posts : 11
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    essenbe said:
    It looks to me that you don't have a UEFI install you have an MBR (legacy) install. In your BIOS what is listed as your primary boot device
    I took two pictures from my BIOS
    First from the main default mode

    Second, Going to 'Advanced Mode' and the Boot Tab


    So you can have a UEFI BIOS Mode without having a UEFI install?

    Thanks for the quick reply!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    It seems you have a UEFI install. The system is set to boot from Windows Boot manager which is a UEFI install. Yet, your C drive is an active partition, which is not typical of a UEFI install. Perhaps your Partition structure is the reason you are having issues. This is my partition structure for a typical UEFI Install.

    'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI-z1.png

    'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI-z2.png

    In the command prompt, partition 5 is not part of the OS install.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Is the C drive not supposed to be the 'Active' partition? I don't see an 'Active' status in your disk management.

    Is it possible to fix the partition structure or am I going to have to do a clean install to fix it? It looks like I should be able to shrink my SSD so I should be able to create some new partitions from it. Can I set those for the Recovery, EFI System Partition, etc...?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    I'm going to have to let someone else help with that. My advice would be to clean install.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #7

    locational
    essenbe said:
    It seems you have a UEFI install. The system is set to boot from Windows Boot manager which is a UEFI install. Yet, your C drive is an active partition, which is not typical of a UEFI install. Perhaps your Partition structure is the reason you are having issues. This is my partition structure for a typical UEFI Install. hi

    'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI-z1.png

    'Unsupported Disk Layout for UEFI Firmware' yet BIOS Mode set to UEFI-z2.png

    In the command prompt, partition 5 is not part of the OS install.
    That is most definitely NOT a UEFI installation - it is a legacy bios installation.

    OP - follow tutorial to convert current ssd from a legacy bios installation to a UEFI installation, and then you will be able to boot from it in UEFI mode and upgrade accordingly.

    Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #8

    cereberus said:
    locational

    That is most definitely NOT a UEFI installation - it is a legacy bios installation.

    OP - follow tutorial to convert current ssd from a legacy bios installation to a UEFI installation, and then you will be able to boot from it in UEFI mode and upgrade accordingly.

    Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
    @cereberus, My first reply was that it was not a UEFI install. I realize the partition structure is very wrong and a UEFI has no active partition. But, looking at his boot options, he has Windows Boot Manager selected as an option. I have never seen a Legacy install with Windows Boot Manager as an option. Just wondering how it got that way. I'm not disagreeing with you at all, in fact I agree. The Windows Boot Manager threw me and I was wondering how it got that way.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 11
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I'm about to go to bed so one last response till tomorrow.
    @Cerberus that link looks promising. I only glanced through it but the first thing that jumped out to me though is the warning that says

    The MBR2GPT tool can convert operating system disks that have earlier versions of Windows 10 installed, such as versions 1507, 1511, and 1607. However, you must run the tool while booted into Windows 10 version 1703 or later, and perform an offline conversion...
    I'm currently on 1511. Like I said I haven't dug through that link thoroughly yet but is there instructions on how to do the 'offline conversion' to run that tool since I'm unable to upgrade from version 1511 at the moment. Thanks!
    @essenbe thanks for the help so far!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #10

    DarkMage530 said:
    I'm about to go to bed so one last response till tomorrow.
    @Cerberus that link looks promising. I only glanced through it but the first thing that jumped out to me though is the warning that says



    I'm currently on 1511. Like I said I haven't dug through that link thoroughly yet but is there instructions on how to do the 'offline conversion' to run that tool since I'm unable to upgrade from version 1511 at the moment. Thanks!
    @essenbe thanks for the help so far!
    You create a 1607 installation drive on another pc and boot from that.
      My Computer


 

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