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Resolved Question

Problems installing a clean copy of Windows 7 onto a laptop

Apr 20, 2015 12:12AM PDT

But as the installation begins, setup complains that it can only install Windows 7 onto a GDT bootable partition. My C drive partition is currently MBR.

I understand that the DOS utility DISKPART will convert MBR to GDT.

So I attempted to create a second partition D: 15GB and using Partition Wizard also set this new partition as Primary.

I then run up a DOS window as Admin, and at the command prompt did:
DISKPART select disk 0
DISKPART clean

I then got this error message:
Virtual Disk Service error:
Clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current book, system, pagefile, crashdump or hibernation volume.

Any clues please how to overcome this in order to convert the partition to GDT?

Thanks...

Discussion is locked

tankopia1 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Too rough for most today.
Apr 20, 2015 1:01AM PDT

DO NOT CONVERT. Just wipe the drive clear with DBAN or GPARTED and let your Windows installer do the partitioning. Partitioning before installing Windows can sabotage your work.
Bob

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DBAN or GPARTED ?
Apr 20, 2015 9:54PM PDT

Thanks, how can I obtain these programs DBAN or GPARTED, are the DOS programs and when you say "wipe clean" do you mean format my C: drive partition? If so, presume this can only be done from DOS ?

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Re: DBAN, GPARTED
Apr 20, 2015 10:01PM PDT

Those programs can be downloaded and run from a bootable CD (or maybe a USB-stick)..

Kees

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GParted
Apr 20, 2015 11:58PM PDT
http://gparted.org/

You must use the LIVE version when doing the only disc from scratch. You download the ISO file and burn the image to a CD.

http://gparted.org/livecd.php

Here's what all it can do.

http://gparted.org/features.php

It's the most used partitioning and formatting program in Linux distributions. If you want, you can use a full LIVE Linux distribution which has it, and also gain other programs which run from the DVD, like browsers, text editors, video and audio players, etc. such as Lubuntu, a smaller Linux distro for older and newer computers.

Lubuntu

download the CD version for 32 bit computer

download the CD version for 64 bit computer - this is probably the one you want.


How to burn an ISO image using Windows.

or can buy a copy of Lubuntu, or GParted already on disc. This place is cheapest, very reliable, adds back to the linux community.

Even if a windows user only most times, it's great to have a LIVE DVD or CD as a backup option if windows crashes, not to mention the utilities and file recovery programs on many of them.
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Continued...
Apr 21, 2015 12:57AM PDT

So, once I've wiped the drive, how do I then go on to convert the drive from MBR to GPS?

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If the drive is blank, there is no partition.
Apr 21, 2015 1:02AM PDT

So no need to convert and the Windows installer will ask where to install.

No need to convert if the space is blank...
Bob

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I agree with Bob on this
Apr 21, 2015 1:11AM PDT

No need for DBAN or Gparted doing this. Windows will take care of it .
You should also look at the Mfg. of the laptop's site to see about all of the helper apps and such.
Do you have the original image disc for the laptop? This can turn into a real PITA

Digger

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I wish they told the full story.
Apr 21, 2015 1:16AM PDT

I've lost count of the times folk get a Windows 8 laptop then try to install Windows 7. While how to do this is widely discussed the basic steps confound those that do this for the first time.

I can't imagine how rough this is going to get for them as they are struggling with the first step (getting a blank HDD) and what's next will absolutely wipe them out.
Bob

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I didn't even think about that
Apr 21, 2015 1:35AM PDT

going backwards ? Man!
This probably means the restore partition is wiped . Bummer !

Digger

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Cont.
Apr 21, 2015 2:22AM PDT

Wiped the disk using Partition Wizard.
Tried installing Windows 7 Pro 64bit, no luck, same error message about cannot install onto MBR must be GPT.
I think the original Windows was Windows 7 Home Premium ed. And I have a bookable USB stick with Windows 7 Pro???

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Odd.
Apr 21, 2015 2:33AM PDT

There is a clue that the Windows 7 isn't what it seems. I've yet to see Microsoft supply it on USB. Try old fashioned DVD media.

Also, you didn't wipe the drive so I don't expect it to work.
Bob

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Burned copy..
Apr 21, 2015 5:16PM PDT

Hi Bob. Created an ISO, then installed it as bootable onto a USB stick. That bit was fairly straightforward.

Within Partition Wizard there is a "wipe" option, it reboots the computer and finishes the job from DOS.

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Did not advise use of Partition Wizard.
Apr 22, 2015 12:44AM PDT

It appears you are getting advice from many forums. As such I think you'll be getting conflicting advice and losing a lot of time.

Good luck!
Bob

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use gdisk to restore the GPT
Apr 21, 2015 2:44AM PDT

But latest GParted can also do that I think.

the developer
http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/

or any Linux distro when booted to it's LIVE DVD, you can install it in temporary memory from the repository and use it,

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Going around in circles
Apr 21, 2015 3:03AM PDT

Why not contact the maker of the laptop and purchase the restore media from them if it's still available ?

Digger

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More like circling the drain.
Apr 21, 2015 3:11AM PDT

Installing Windows from scratch is far too hard for most. That is, if we write that such an install is more than Windows. Windows installs pretty easy but what about WiFi, sound and those other features? That's where many explode on impact.

Here we can't get the drive clean and the Windows 7 on USB is suspect.
Bob

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you just described
Apr 21, 2015 4:02AM PDT

why most users would do better with a monolithic kernel like linux uses instead of the one windows uses, requiring all drivers be loaded separately.

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Or use the makers restore media.
Apr 21, 2015 4:28AM PDT

If they have this much trouble cleaning off the HDD (I fear they are not following advice given here as no one wrote to use Partition Wizard.)

My bet is they are on a dozen forums.
Bob

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some must....
Apr 21, 2015 5:53AM PDT

...try all the wrong ways first, in order to learn.

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Hi.
Apr 21, 2015 5:18PM PDT

The laptop doesn't have a CD/DVD drive, so I had to install a bootable copy of Windows onto a USB stick, which starts up ok at boot time.

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That's why they make USB DVD drives
Apr 21, 2015 6:51PM PDT

BTW, with Windows, the volume label is important. Does your USB stick volume label match that of the DVD?

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Volume label ?
Apr 21, 2015 7:08PM PDT

Well that's a new slant, no, probably not.

With respect - sounds a bit of straw clutching, can't see the relevance of the label volume name, when I keep getting a error that tells me it needs a GPT partition to install to.

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GParted info
Apr 21, 2015 3:31AM PDT
Here's a GParted collage I made using my 1TB Advance Format WD drive with several operating systems on it. You can see the first partition is aligned properly for such Hybrid type disc, at 2048 sector mark instead of the usual MBR sector 63 or 64. I also show starting to make a partition in unallocated space. It came as GPT disc, but I changed it to MBR in past, which is what's happened to yours I believe. I could change it back using the "gdisk" program, or GParted.

This guy shows using GParted to fix his disk back to GPT so windows will load properly. The part you want starts at the 4 minute mark. Drop him a comment of thanks please for providing the content.

There are other videos of the same type of instructions in the right column, even how to change it with no data loss.
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How to make GPT using Windows
Apr 21, 2015 4:22AM PDT
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FANTASTIC !
Apr 21, 2015 7:41PM PDT
Great stuff James !!

This video show exactly how to use Windows to do the convert !

Brilliant, thanks !
Cool