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Windows 11 system image create failed error with MBR
installed Win 11 on old XPS motherboard
using tricks to bypass cpu etc check
Win 11 works, although it is on old slow platform
I am getting this create system image failed error again which I got before on another platform.
I found out it is most likely because the Windows create system image is based on assumption that the system disk is GPT (UEFI bios) and not MBR
If it is MBR, I get a system image fail error, although the error itself ostensibly says the back up HDD is not big enough. As usual, computer error is not telling the actual problem but a nonsense like a sick person pointing randomly at what hurts not helping at all, the only sign is it does not work.
unfortunately I can not convert MBR to GPT disk and expect it to boot, as legacy bios does not boot from GPT disk.
(edited)
I encountered the same error when external hdd is initialized as either MBR or GPT.
I tested installed Windows 7 in same pc on another hdd. No issue at all to create system image on same external hdd.
so the root cause of Windows 11 create system image “failed error” from all three legacy bios Dell pc seem to be due to MBR boot disk running on legacy bios. These Dell pcs are XPS 730X, XPS8300, studio XPS 8100. Running Windows 11 on these legacy Dell pc have no problem at all if you do not mind the older slower cpu of 1st-2nd gen.
(edited)
Element115s4
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Posted October 27th, 2025 16:51
I've had no issues installing onto MBR setups even with the latest Win11 25H2 on old or new systems.
correct. Win 11 install does not matter. It is the create system image built in function of Win 11 that has a bug for MBR disk in legacy mode. I had the same issue of three different Dell models, so this is most likely the conclusion.
ejn63
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Posted October 24th, 2025 21:00
While there are ways to trick Windows 11 into running on an MBR disc, you can't directly install it that way. There are some details here.
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/windows-11-on-mbr-partition-thought-it-wasnt-possible.35730/