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Today I decided I want to install Windows 10 on a seperate partition, to test it out and have it on dual boot. So I cleared up some space at the end of the /home/ partition, made a bootable usb, and then, when I tried to install Windows to the allocated space, I got this error:

windows cannot be installed to this disk. the selected disk is of the gpt partition style

So I asked doctor Google, and he said, "oh what's the problem? just erase your entire disk".

So uh, this "solution" aside for a moment, is there a way to, like, not lose Linux in the process? Here's my current partition layout (courtesy of gparted):

enter image description here

As you can see, I have / and /home/ on seperate partitions, and I have cleared some 136GB for my Windows. What else do I need to do?

yuvi
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  • What about to install it in a virtual machine (VM VirutalBox)? Of course if you have an old _HDD_ you can add to your machine and test Win10 on it... maybe can be interesting [this article](http://www.techrepublic.com/article/pro-tip-how-to-install-windows-10-technical-preview-in-virtualbox/) – Hastur Feb 04 '15 at 08:28
  • @Hastur I actually want to have Windows on dual boot, not just for testing, but thanks for the suggestion anyway – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 08:30
  • How to say better then them... _"Remember, trying out an early build like this can be __risky__. That's why __we recommend that you don't install the preview on your primary home or business PC__. Unexpected PC crashes could damage or even delete your files, so you should back up everything."_ signed the _tender careful_ [_mum Microsoft_](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso) :-) – Hastur Feb 04 '15 at 08:33
  • @Hastur yeah heh well it's pretty stable by now, and I'm willing to take that risk anyway (I already have everything important backed up by some cloud service or other) – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 08:56
  • Maybe you can try to create a partition on `/dev/sda5` _raw_, without any format... – Hastur Feb 04 '15 at 09:04
  • All you should have to do is install Windows on the NTFS partition then after Windows replaces GRUB, repair GRUB, so your able to boot to both operating systems. There are hundreds of tutorials on how to dual boot Linux and Windows. As for the error you have to boot the image in EFI mode. Windows 10 I promise you supports GPT. – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 11:46
  • @Ramhound I know all that. I know how to reinstall Grub, I know about boot problems. That I was expecting. What I didn't expect was the GPT error above. If Windows 10 supports it, I don't know why it didn't allow me to choose that partition – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 11:55
  • @yuvi - You forced your computer to boot to the installation media in EFI mode correct? – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 12:00
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    Here are two existing questions that might help [one](http://superuser.com/questions/731693/windows-cannot-be-installed-on-this-disk-the-selected-disk-is-of-the-gpt-partit) and [two](http://superuser.com/questions/324067/how-to-install-windows-7-x64-on-gpt) and just to be clear [this](http://superuser.com/questions/324067/how-to-install-windows-7-x64-on-gpt) is the reason your getting this error, as I said easily solvable. – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 12:02
  • @Ramhound - I don't know how to answer the first question (I just opened the boot menu with F12 and booted from my usb, I didn't force anything), but the links in your second comment seem helpful – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 12:06
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    @yuvi - Sounds like you are using the compatibility mode. I don't agree that Microsoft is doing it the incorrect way though. I might agree the error is not helpful in the slightest. – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 12:07
  • @Ramhound - I never said anything in spite of Windows method, but to be honest, I never have this sort of headache with Linux installations, no matter how much I abuse them – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 12:09
  • @yuvi - My statement about Microsoft was in connection to the comment by the user who explained the problem in the linked question. – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 12:24

4 Answers4

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@yuvi, you've chosen a quite difficult path but it is doable. Multi-booting is tricky in itself and doing it across operating systems with only one disk drive adds two more layers of complexity.

Next time you contemplate it, consider this (some of which has been mention earlier):

  • Determine if your system is BIOS or UEFI based.
  • A Windows installation medium is typically dual boot: UEFI and BIOS
  • MOST UEFI computers can still boot using legacy BIOS mode with help of a Compatibility Support Module (CSM). The CSM can be switched on/off in many firmware.
  • The Windows installer is wired to bind system types to partition formats. If the computer is UEFI, Windows expects a GPT formatted disk and refuses to install on MBR formatted disks. Likewise, if a Windows installation is booted by a BIOS system, Windows is bound to install the OS on a MBR formatted disk.
  • The format of additional disks (data disks) is of no consequence. Windows will be able to utilise both MBR and GPT formatted disks.

Further reading: Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows Setup

It should be noted that Windows has supported GUID Partition Table (GPT) for well over a decade now. Windows XP was the first workstation Windows to support it and since then every successor has supported it. I'd ditch that 'handbook' that claims it is not so.

Benjamin Hastings
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  • My question was posted a while ago, but it seems to gain traction. Eventually I solved this way back doing something different, but looking back I think this is the fullest most complete answer to the question given so I've marked this as correct – yuvi Aug 26 '15 at 06:44
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I am not sure how the Linux bootloaders work with VHD Boot, but the last time I worked with a Linux/Windows dual boot, the Linux bootloader handed off the boot process to the Windows bootloader when booting into Windows. As long as the Windows bootloader for Windows 10 is used to initialize the operating system, I see no reason why using a native boot VHD wouldn’t work.

Using Boot to VHD, you can create a virtual disk with the required partitioning scheme and boot even if the storage medium is incompatible with the system type. For example, on a BIOS computer with a GPT hard disk, you can create an MBR VHD and boot Windows from that MBR VHD, even if the storage is a GPT hard disk. See Enable Boot to VHD with BIOS and GPT for details on the workaround.

WinOutreach2
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  • I have no idea what's a VHD Boot but to be frank I already wiped and installed everything from scratch. Ultimately it was the easier path I think – yuvi Feb 11 '15 at 18:00
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My apologies if it has already been suggested, but what about formatting the bootable flashdrive as gpt? I have successfully installed windows to a gpt disk from a gpt formatted bootable usb

itt
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I have the benefit of reading the Gentoo Linux Handbook, so I have to tell you your problem is that GPT partitions don't work with Windows. The only way it will work is if you copy over Linux, format the hard drive using MBR and move back your copy. Otherwise unless Windows changes you won't be able to dual boot it without serious work. The other option is to get another hard drive but you might have to disconnect the other to get it to work, I haven't tried it.

John Smith
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  • I was afraid of this answer. Ah well, guess at this point it's easier to just cave in and wipe the damn thing, reinstalling Linux after Windows stops crying – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 10:13
  • The author's only problem is he doesn't have unallocated space. The process of dual booting Windows and Linux is not difficult. Honestly saying otherwise isn't all that helpful to anyone – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 11:44
  • I’m sorry, but that’s wrong. Windows can use (and will even enforce) GPT when installing in UEFI mode. – Daniel B Feb 04 '15 at 11:52
  • @Ramhound that's not true at all - I have made a partition with unallocated space and I have set up dual booting before, both of these are not my problem – yuvi Feb 04 '15 at 11:57
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    @yuvi - I wasn't really addressing you just the author of this answer since they are giving you honestly bad information. Your problem can be solved. – Ramhound Feb 04 '15 at 12:00