Struggling to install Windows 11 from bootable USB, receive error about disk.

Hello, I come to you all after a series of unfortunate events. Recently, I had attempted to install Linux Mint onto my computer, and while all went well on that front, I encountered issues in regards to partition size. To counter this, I used GPARTED and went to boot it into a live session, yet ran into problems where I kept being told it could not authenticate my login.

Now, I am trying to install a fresh Windows 11 onto my desktop, and have experienced issues regarding that. While most of the setup runs fine and I can boot to the setup, I encounter an error where it tells me that the partition I am attempting to install to isn’t properly formatted(MBR not GPT). I am not sure how to fix this, much less reconcile with laptop so that it will love me again. Ive attached files of my error screens below, thank you so much for your help.

For device information, I am on an MSI laptop with a Gen 13 Intel Core—I believe it’s the Stealth, but I will double check if needed.

You are not following the clean install procedure.

The install is not seeing your system drive which will be your nvme drive. This usually indicates that you either must install your storage controller driver (Intel Rapid Storage Controller) at the "add driver" step 10 of the clean install procedure (highlighted in yellow). Clean Install Windows 11
OR You can work around this easily by going into UEFI bios and disabling RAID. (IE: changing disk mode from RAID to AHCI )and starting the install again

Once the system drive is recognized, you MUST delete all partitions on the system drive and install Windows on unallocated space. (also noted in step 10)

If you're flexible with dual boot: Windows / Linux please see this link:




Set firmware to UEFI-only > (Make sure that it is UEFI native (without CSM) and NOT UEFI hybrid (UEFI with CSM))

if you use Rufus to burn your Windows install image to a bootable USB stick
you can set the image you want to install using GPT boot and partitioning.

this link is to install Rufus from the Microsoft store

this link is a direct download from the Rufus site

best of luck Steve ..

Converting an MBR (Master Boot Record) disk to a GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk is often necessary to support disks larger than 2TB or to meet the requirements for modern UEFI-based operating systems like Windows 11.

This method is best for secondary drives or if you are performing a clean Windows installation. This will erase all data on the disk.

1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
3. List your disks to identify the target: list disk
4. Select the disk you want to convert (e.g., Disk 1): select disk 1
5. Wipe the partition information: clean
6. Convert to GPT: convert gpt
7. Type exit to close the utility.

restart your computer.

FreeBooter said:

Converting an MBR (Master Boot Record) disk to a GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk is often necessary

Click to expand...

Converting an MBR (Master Boot Record) disk to a GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk is not applicable in this case.
The disk selected is the InstallUSB not the intended target disk - see the OP's posted diagrams.
For the action to take, see glasskuter's post #2.


Denis

"The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, the operating system can only be installed to GPT disks.

Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port."

This error message means:

Windows Setup is unable to properly detect or access the internal storage drive because the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) VMD controller driver is missing. As a result, the installer may misidentify the disk or report misleading errors (such as MBR/GPT issues or unsupported installation locations).

To fix this, you can either:

- Disable VMD (Volume Management Device) in the BIOS, then install Windows 11 normally, or

- Load the Intel RST (IRST) VMD driver during Windows Setup, so the installer can correctly detect the internal drive.

tonyphones said:

For device information, I am on an MSI laptop with a Gen 13 Intel Core

Click to expand...

On many newer MSI laptops (including yours), storage is managed through Intel VMD, and Windows Setup doesn’t include the driver by default.

tonyphones said:

Hello, I come to you all after a series of unfortunate events. Recently, I had attempted to install Linux Mint onto my computer, and while all went well on that front, I encountered issues in regards to partition size. To counter this, I used GPARTED and went to boot it into a live session, yet ran into problems where I kept being told it could not authenticate my login.

Now, I am trying to install a fresh Windows 11 onto my desktop, and have experienced issues regarding that. While most of the setup runs fine and I can boot to the setup, I encounter an error where it tells me that the partition I am attempting to install to isn’t properly formatted(MBR not GPT). I am not sure how to fix this, much less reconcile with laptop so that it will love me again. Ive attached files of my error screens below, thank you so much for your help.

For device information, I am on an MSI laptop with a Gen 13 Intel Core—I believe it’s the Stealth, but I will double check if needed.

Click to expand...

Are you trying to install on a Desktop or Laptop?
From the images you posted, you're trying to install on the Win 11 USB installation drive, not on the NVMe drive.
Follow glasskuter's post #2.

You can follow MSI's instructions on how to download and use the "F6" Intel Storage controller driver, during Windows Setup.
After you load the driver, the system drive will be visible.

[How To] Load VMD/IRST driver during Windows installation

Celery said:

"The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, the operating system can only be installed to GPT disks.

Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port."

Click to expand...

Correction: I noticed that the error message above appears even when there is no actual issue with the disk configuration, for example, when the Windows 11 installation USB is selected instead of the internal drive. In the OP's case, the following instruction is more accurate:



If the "Select location to install Windows 11" screen shows only the Windows 11 installation USB and the internal storage is not visible at all, this usually indicates that the system is using Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) with VMD (Volume Management Device).

On many newer laptops, the internal storage is managed by the VMD controller by default, and the Windows 11 installer does not include the required driver.

To resolve this issue, you can:

Disable the VMD controller in the BIOS (UEFI) settings, then install Windows 11 normally.

or

Load the VMD/IRST driver during Windows Setup, so the installer can detect the internal storage.