Partitions on GPT disk are not in the recommended order?
Solution 1:
Microsoft has some documents that describe how Windows works with EFI and expects partitions to be laid out:
- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744301%28WS.10%29.aspx
- http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463525.aspx
- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/hh824839.aspx
- (Probably others that I don't happen to have bookmarked.)
The bottom line is that Microsoft expects certain partitions to be present in a certain order. Deviating from Microsoft's expectations is not necessarily an error, but it will make the installer squawk, as you've seen. Deviations can cause problems down the line in certain cases. For instance, consider the following placement for the EFI System Partition (ESP):
- OS #1 Partition
- ESP
- OS #2 Partition
Suppose you then want to remove OS #2 and give its space to OS #1. The ESP will sit in the way, complicating this expansion. It can still be done, and in several ways; but it would be easier if the ESP were the first partition on the disk.
There can also be more Windows-specific issues with the Windows reserved partition, which Windows partitioning tools can use when resizing partitions.
Solution 2:
Do you have any other OS or document that you want to keep on this HD? Because for a clean installation of windows you may delete all partitions and install the new OS. The Windows Installation will create the necessary partitions and all will run perfectly.
Edit: Awnser your question.. since your laptop came with OEM Windows 8.0 the manufacturer create some partitions like Recovery (of the OS Installation and drivers), etc. The other partitions that have less then 1GB are from Windows Installation like Recovery (of the system), MSR (Microsoft Reserved Partition), and so on. It's normal the laptop that came with OEM OS came with all those partitions.