Arch Linux

sillettig

Member

Registered: 2015-01-24

Posts: 9

Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

Hi everyone, I have Arch Linux installed in EFI MODE with a GPT Partitioned disk. I'm trying to install Windows 8.1 on a partition, but the message that i get is "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is not of the GPT partition style". How I can solve this? Thank you for reading me.

Giuseppe

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,778

Website

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

What is the output of:

# parted -l

If you install Windows, you will have to (arch-)chroot into your Arch system and re-install your boot loader/manager afterwards and there is a chance it may overwrite your GNU/Linux partitions.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

TheSaint

Member

From: my computer

Registered: 2007-08-19

Posts: 1,532

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

Both installation trying to make their own way to gain results. For win8 there're few options, then it is better to start it first to install. Later you'll do the Arch installation, which gives you more control power.

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do it good first, it will be faster than do it twice the saint

sillettig

Member

Registered: 2015-01-24

Posts: 9

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

The output is

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name                  Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB   105MB   fat32        EFI system partition  boot, esp
 2      106MB   1050MB  944MB   ntfs         Basic data partition  hidden, diag
 3      1050MB  131GB   130GB                Basic data partition  msftdata
 4      131GB   152GB   21.5GB  ext4         root
 5      152GB   168GB   16.1GB  ext4         var
 6      168GB   201GB   32.8GB  ext4         home 
 7      201GB   479GB   277GB   ntfs         Basic data partition msftdata

The partition in which i'd want to install Windows is the number 3.

I had windows before arch, then i installed arch having both on my computer. Only lately i have deleted windows, but i need it now so i'm trying to install it again...

Last edited by sillettig (2015-01-25 09:41:06)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,778

Website

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

The output is

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name                  Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB   105MB   fat32        EFI system partition  boot, esp
 2      106MB   1050MB  944MB   ntfs         Basic data partition  hidden, diag
 3      1050MB  131GB   130GB                Basic data partition  msftdata
 4      131GB   152GB   21.5GB  ext4         root
 5      152GB   168GB   16.1GB  ext4         var
 6      168GB   201GB   32.8GB  ext4         home 
 7      201GB   479GB   277GB   ntfs         Basic data partition msftdata

No it isn't...

Please post the entire output of the requested command; you have cut out the bit I actually wanted to see.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

TheSaint

Member

From: my computer

Registered: 2007-08-19

Posts: 1,532

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

We are keen to help you, but you're alone in front of your computer. So more details and researches may lead you to the solution.

For your case it's advisable to make a backup of ESP, install Win on /sda3 and later resume your backup with a regard to don't replace the things that Win8 will write on ESP.

So your backup should be just a (non)zipped image that you may mount in a loop, then you'll be able to compare and see the differences. One more regard is about to save the efibootmgr report in a file, later you may retrieve the previous entries that you may need.

It's suppose that the installation won't touch your ESP file, just it will change the booting order, but it is safe if you'll take some precautions before acting.

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do it good first, it will be faster than do it twice the saint

sillettig

Member

Registered: 2015-01-24

Posts: 9

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

This is the correct output, i'm sorry

 Model: ATA TOSHIBA MQ01ABF0 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name                  Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB   105MB   fat32        EFI system partition  boot, esp
 2      106MB   1050MB  944MB   ntfs         Basic data partition  hidden, diag
 3      1050MB  131GB   130GB                Basic data partition  msftdata
 4      131GB   152GB   21.5GB  ext4         root
 5      152GB   168GB   16.1GB  ext4         var
 6      168GB   201GB   32.8GB  ext4         home
 7      201GB   479GB   277GB   ntfs         Basic data partition  msftdata

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,778

Website

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

How did you delete the old Windows system?

Your disk is clearly GPT, I'm not sure why the Windows installer disagrees...

You could try removing the old Windows partitions and let the installer re-create them.

I'm not sure how it will deal with the EFI system partition though; I have only installed Windows to MBR disks.

Make sure you back it up as advised by @TheSaint.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

mwillems

Member

Registered: 2014-08-09

Posts: 92

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

Are you trying to install from an optical windows 8 medium (e.g. dvd)?  I had a very similar problem (exact same error message where the installer wouldn't recognize my drive as a GPT drive) and it turned out the issue was that win 8 optical install media doesn't always boot into uefi correctly and throws errors when trying to do a uefi install. 

Once I switched to a usb installation medium, I had no problems installing win 8 after Arch.  It's been several months since I hit this issue, so my recollection is a little foggy, but I thought I'd mention it.

sillettig

Member

Registered: 2015-01-24

Posts: 9

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

I'm trying with an USB installation and it doesn't work... I'll try with a DVD installation and see what happens

freebullets

Member

Registered: 2011-11-10

Posts: 31

Re: Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

Perhaps format the Windows partition?