Install Ubuntu without overwriting the MBR?

How can I format my hard disk to MBR partition style by using Gparted?

• Everytime I create a partition for windows using gparted it says "cannot install to GPT disk" So I figured Gparted must be using GPT partition style by default. Unfortunately I cannot see any option to format my hard disk using MBR partition style. I don't want Windows to create it's own partition (I'll explain later). My hardware supports UEFI but I disabled it in the bios because it prevents me from installing Ubuntu and its boot loader. As a consequence, windows can only boot from MBR disk. I don't want windows 8 to create its own partition because it creates an additional partition called System drive. In my previous laptop (which did not support UEFI), I created a single NTFS partition and installed Windows. Then I created the other partitions later. I never had these problems until now.Everytime I create a partition for windows using gparted it says "cannot install to GPT disk" So I figured Gparted must be using GPT partition style by default. Unfortunately I cannot see any option to format my hard disk using MBR partition style. I don't want Windows to create it's own partition (I'll explain later). My hardware supports UEFI but I disabled it in the bios because it prevents me from installing Ubuntu and its boot loader. As a consequence, windows can only boot from MBR disk. I don't want windows 8 to create its own partition because it creates an additional partition called System drive. In my previous laptop (which did not support UEFI), I created a single NTFS partition and installed Windows. Then I created the other partitions later. I never had these problems until now.     Everytime I create a partition for windows using gparted it says "cannot install to GPT disk" So I figured Gparted must be using GPT partition style by default. Unfortunately I cannot see any option to format my hard disk using MBR partition style. I don't want Windows to create it's own partition (I'll explain later). My hardware supports UEFI but I disabled it in the bios because it prevents me from installing Ubuntu and its boot loader. As a consequence, windows can only boot from MBR disk. I don't want windows 8 to create its own partition because it creates an additional partition called System drive. In my previous laptop (which did not support UEFI), I created a single NTFS partition and installed Windows. Then I created the other partitions later. I never had these problems until now. Link to Questions, Topics, Blogs and People

• Answer:

  1. First back up all essential data on your hard disk. 2. Boot using a Live linux CD/USB that has Gparted (I prefer Puppy) 3. Start Gparted and delete all partitions such that there is only one unallocated partition. 4. Click on the device tab and select create partition table. Use the MSDOS option which is the default option to create the partition table. In linux, MBR is called MSDOS. 5. Create a primary NTFS partition and install windows. Then create additional partitions to utilize the remaining unallocated space. NB: Make sure you have uninterruptible power supply when formatting using gparted.