windows cannot be installed on MBR

[shekinahkc]

my hp17-x012ds notebook got wet and keep telling me NO BOOT DEVICE.  I ordered a new motherboard and it still said the same thing. 😞   

I finally got windows to boot, by removing the CMOS battery for 5 minutes and booting from a USB stick.   i could then (sometimes) get a windows boot, but it always get stuck at  "the selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI system, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks."    I changed the hardrive to the GBT, tried different hard drives, used windows to prepare the harddrive and AMOEI software, ......   I also tried to enable legacy and combinations of secure boot.   I ALWAYS get stuck at  "MBR partition instead of GPT...."   I also tried to go through CMD prompt, but then my keyboard gave me trouble.  

I have already bought a different laptop, but i wanted to have some fun and get this one working again. Many hours later, I can't think of anything left to do but thrash the thing and i am not good at giving up. 

I am open to ALL suggestions and feedback.  

THANKS kathy

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The only suggestion I can offer would be to use the diskpart>clean disk command during the Windows installation.

Watch this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Z38pD1Gt0

[shekinahkc]

THANKS.  any idea why my keyboard wont work when i go to CMD ?  

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, that I would not know.

I would use a USB keyboard for now and see if you can get W10 to install that way.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

"" I changed the hardrive to the GBT, tried different hard drives, used windows to prepare the harddrive and AMOEI software, ......   I also tried to enable legacy and combinations of secure boot.   I ALWAYS get stuck at  "MBR partition instead of GPT...." ""

Grateful to Paul for the video link.

I would add that the beginning of that video I experienced many times over many months, posed the problem to MS,  and Microsoft said --- 

You're now talking with a Microsoft Windows Advisor!

• 
  The issue is not with yourself but the actual Windows itself. It is extremely buggy and unstable causing a lot of people a lot of issues. We have had over a thousand help requests submitted in relation to this. It is affecting each user in different ways so please be mindful of this.
  
  We are planning on releasing an update soon that will address the issues that the current Windows is having.
  
  If possible, we are recommending users to bear with us whilst we resolve the issue. We can only apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.

  LBB - Sorry I also just tried 1909 downloaded and burnt to DVD 2 hours ago.  

•  

• It also applies to that update LBB my friend

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  It turned out to be a block on the HDD, and DiskUtil sorted it out.

  The HDD partition table, could not be modified, which since you tried more than 1 I felt it was similar and worthy of mention.

  It maybe a SYSTEM/BIOS lock on changing the drive's partition parameters. 

[shekinahkc]

i didn't think the laptop would recognize an external keyboard when it doesn't even have windows on it?  i plugged one in and nothing happened. should i try an old wired one? wouldn't it need to load drivers?  

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You would need to use a wired USB keyboard and that should work without drivers.

[shekinahkc]

should i install windows 7 for now? just to get the laptop running?  

you are saying someone else got it to work by using a disk utility?  you mean going to CMD and running DISKPART?   or is there another way to run a disk utility?  my keyboard won't work properly with CMD. maybe it was damaged when the laptop got wet?   

you also mentioned  "SYSTEM/BIOS lock"   how do i deal with that?  i think i read somewhere about loading the BIOS with a USB?  

THANKS DO MUCH FOR YOUR IDEAS!!!!!

kathy

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You won't be able to install W7 on that model unless you have a W7 installation DVD and your notebook has a DVD drive.

That model has no USB or graphics drivers for W7, so if you use a bootable USB installer, it will hang at the beginning of the installation process because it won't be able to find the right drivers.

Not to mention you will get the same MBR error on any version of Windows you try to clean install.

No doubt the keyboard is no good from the water spill.

That is why you need to use a wired USB keyboard to do anything.

Did you try making the bootable recovery drive using the cloud recovery tool?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

That is also an option.

[shekinahkc]

thanks again. i got excited for a minute and pulled it back out to try all the suggestions.  Now the stupid thing won't even power on.    does that lock too?  did i blow the power board by taking it apart and putting it together to many times?    

kathy