| Computers with Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) | | | | To go back to the previous screen press ENTER” |
| use GUID Partition Table (GPT) as the standard hard | | | | Cause |
| disk partitioning system. Intel proposes it as the | | | | This error message occurs if these both conditions are |
| replacement for the PC BIOS that uses Master Boot | | | | true: |
| Record (MBR).In GPT partitioned disks, data that is | | | | An operating system is already installed on hard drive |
| important to platform operation is placed in partitions | | | | or it had an operating system, which has now been |
| and not in hidden or unpartitioned sectors as done in | | | | removed. |
| MBR partitioned disks. Due to this and similar other | | | | Hard drive is GPT formatted |
| factors, you sometimes observe issues, especially | | | | You fail to install required operating systems on GPT |
| while installing a Windows operating system. To solve | | | | hard drives because of following reasons: |
| such issues, you might need to delete all hard disk | | | | On GPT hard drives, you can only set up Windows |
| partitions and opt for suitable partitioning scheme. This | | | | Server 2003 on systems that are Itanium-based. |
| deletes all data and thus to restore information, you | | | | You can’t set up Windows x64 and Windows |
| require using your recent data backup that should be | | | | 32-bit operating systems on GPT based hard drives. |
| complete and valid to restore data. However, if data | | | | Solution |
| backup is not updated, is corrupt or absent, you can | | | | You need to convert your GPT hard drive to a MBR |
| use hard drive recovery applications to scan and | | | | hard drive. You can use Disk Management or Diskpart |
| recover your data. | | | | command for it, if an operating system is already |
| As a practical instance, whe you attempt to install | | | | installed. You can also delete all existing hard drive |
| Windows Server 2003, a x64-based Windows Server | | | | partitions while running Setup program and opting for |
| 2003 version or Windows XP, you might receive the | | | | the option to convert the partitioning scheme. In |
| below error message: | | | | Windows Server 2003-based systems, it must have |
| “Setup cannot install to the selected partition. | | | | Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 installed. After |
| You can only install to GPT disks on IA-64 machines | | | | this, you can restore lost information from backup. If |
| and MBR disks on X-86 machines. | | | | backup produces errors or has not been taken, you |
| You can only upgrade installations on GPT disks on | | | | can use Hard Drive Recovery applications. |
| IA-64 machines and MBR disks on X-86 machines. | | | | |