Installing Windows 10 on SSD, program asks for MBR and GPT

Question

I am attempting to install Windows 10 on a Crucial SSD I bought. Everything seems ready for install. I have the media on a flash drive, but when the hard drive and SSD are connected it won't let me install the OS on the SSD. If I unhook the hard drive from the computer and then boot from USB, it starts the install on the SSD without issue. At this point the SSD is formatted in MBR, as the program says that is required. It runs for a bit and then says the computer has to restart, which all seems normal. Upon restart, it takes me to the same Windows install screen, albeit in a sharper resolution. I attempt to install Windows on the SSD again, but now it says it can't install unless the SSD is in GPT mode. I don't understand this at all. This is my first time doing something like this so I am just now learning about partitions and format types and the like.

If it helps:

Comp is an Inspiron 5680

I switched from RAID to AHCI in Bios

I have seen articles citing SATA Controller Arm, but I don't have that option in my Bios.

Answer 1

Hi Turbo Sean

On all modern PC's that SSD must have a partition Style of GPT, is is only older systems with Legacy BIOS that will have a hard drive formatted to MBR . . .

1

Disconnect that other drive, leaving just the installation media and the SSD Connected

2

To convert your Drive to GPT:

At the very start of the Installation Process, press Shift + F10, or Shift + Fn + F10 to open Command Prompt

Run this command and hit Enter:

diskpart

Run this command and hit Enter:

list disk

(Make note of the disk number you want to convert and enter it into the next command - replace disknumber)

Run this command and hit Enter:

select disk disknumber

Run this command and hit Enter:

clean

Run this command and hit Enter:

convert gpt

Then close Command Prompt

Begin the installation . . .

Answer 2

Perfect! Thank you. I was still using F12 to boot from the usb, I didn't realize it was redundant. Thank you very much!