I'm running into a problem trying to install Windows 11 on my Lenovo L3 15ITL6 laptop. I've successfully used Linux Mint, but now when I start the Windows recovery process, it doesn't detect my internal SSD. The setup screen only shows a couple of partitions on Disk 0, which appear to be related to my USB drive. It also says that my external SSDs must be GPT or something like that. How can I resolve this issue?
3 Answers
It looks like your internal SSD isn't being detected because it's currently formatted for Linux. Windows requires the SSD to be in a specific format to recognize it. You can change the format to NTFS or exFAT for Windows to be able to install on it.
Try this during the installation: press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt, then type 'DISKPART'. After that, use 'LIST DISK' to see the available drives. You might have to select your internal SSD with 'SELECT DISK 1' or whatever number it is. Then, use the 'CLEAN' command to wipe it. After that, close the command prompt, and you should be able to install Windows on it.
Only Disk 0 (my USB drive) shows up, so I can't select my internal drive... Can I do this process on Linux Mint?
Your internal SSD may need specific drivers to be recognized during installation, especially if it's SATA. You might need something like the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver or other specific drivers for your hardware.
How would I change format so it accepts Windows?