# Invalid partition table! - error on laptop after installing StartOs
**URL:** https://community.start9.com/t/invalid-partition-table-error-on-laptop-after-installing-startos/3476
**Category:** DIY Community
**Created:** [June 18, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/invalid-partition-table-error-on-laptop-after-installing-startos/3476 "2025-06-18T13:01:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BitcoinZAR](https://community.start9.com/u/BitcoinZAR)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/invalid-partition-table-error-on-laptop-after-installing-startos/3476/1 "2025-06-18T13:01:26Z")
Hi, I am trying to get an old Windows laptop to run Start9.
When I run the boot off the USB, it wipes the info, installs the software and says I must remove USB and reboot.
Once I do this, I get a message “Invalid partition table!”
I am not sure how to fix this issue.
Is there a way to somehow ‘fix’ the partition table in the USB Boot? I cant seem to find anything, but maybe I am missing it.
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### Author:  [@Rexter](https://community.start9.com/u/Rexter)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/invalid-partition-table-error-on-laptop-after-installing-startos/3476/2 "2025-06-18T13:52:29Z")
Is this machine on the known good hardware list?
> [@\[Known-Good Hardware Master List\] Hardware Capable of Running StartOS](https://community.start9.com/t/known-good-hardware-master-list-hardware-capable-of-running-startos/66):
>
> If you are successfully running StartOS on hardware not sold in our store, please reply here and we’ll add it to this list so others know what options they have. Cheers! Note: If your device is very close to one listed below, it is likely to work slight_smileCaution: Unplug Wi-Fi dongles as they are known to potentially cause issues. Always use ethernet when possible. Also, consider unplugging everything except power, monitor, keyboard, and mouse when setting up. PROTIP: Follow your man…
A few things you can try. First make sure you are using the non-free image. That machine may require some proprietary drivers.
Being that StartOS is built specific for machines that we sell, it’s not designed to accommodate every edge-case, like a more general purpose distro. The drive tools are pretty basic. You may find that the drive needs to be partitioned, and formatted first. You can boot to something like an Ubuntu live session, and use the disk utility there to format the entire drive EXT4. This would eliminate variables that might cause problems. You also need to check BIOS boot options to make sure it’s trying to boot the correct drive, once the USB drive is removed. If the laptop has secure boot, you might try turning it off.