Question
45992 views

Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition

MrPuterHead asked on
I have a very similar issue. Same error message. I had VISTA in DISK 0, Part 1, and the Windows 7 RC in DISk0, Part 2. To make things simple (I thought), I just dropped the VISTA Partition, recreated under Windows 7 install, it shows............
But it won't format (hitting format does nothing) nor can I move to the <next> screen.

Disk 0 Part 1 831.1 GB    ** Where I dropped the VISTA Partition
Disk 0 Part 2 100.3 GB   ** Windows 7 RC x86
Disk 1 Part 1 127MB MSR
Disk 1 Vol Data 298 GB

Message
Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the setup log files for more Information (where ever that may be. of course I can no longer boot into Windows 7 RC).

I've rebooted numerious times, tried many different partition sizes etc. I really don't want to lose that Windows 7 RC partiton yet. Thoughts?

Attempting to install Windows 7 Professional Release from MSDN subscription. Now, these are install DVD's and not upgrade only images, right? (Repost so not to get lost in thread land). Now to try and get Home Server to give me a good image restore, which I've never had luck with, file restores are fine, but...)

Well it not windows 7, Vista isn't letting me reinstall either, same error. I deleted all partions from the drive, still no luck, from either VISTA or Windows 7, Ran Windows 2000 and did the old fixmbr (worked for NT3.1->NT3.5), but not this time. The simple becomming complex, I need to find the low level format routine for this 1TB WD drive and Nuke it. Obviously VISTA could in Jan when I got this drive, but tonight....... not my best night.

Well, that was interesting. Disconnected my data drive (Disk 1) and Windows 7 has no issue. Then reconnect the SATA cable after install and Windows 7 has no problem seeing it or mounting it. Problem solved, but Windows 7 (and Vista's) issue with the setup still doesn't feel right.
15 people had this question

Abuse history


The answered status icon Answer
person with win7 replied on
i think i had a similar problem from the sounds of it so what i had to do since i built the computer was to get another os and open it from there so try ubntu the linux thing and open it from there but you will have to extract the files from the iso and put it into a new partition because you will need a new os when 7 expires and then you will have 2 and so when 7 starts to expire you can either the full 7 or another operating system and you can format the old partition with ubtnu and manually delete the rc because that is what i am doing just try to keep more than one partition and dont save anything you wanna keep like word on the partition with ubtnu or what you use
Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history


Most Helpful Reply
Aaron McFarland replied on
Hey, I figured this out... I tried to install Windows 7 Ultimate and I had the same problem, so i formatted my hard disk and it still didn't work. I noticed I had a couple USB drives connected to my computer I disconnected those and restarted my computer and the installation and it worked! So try this, if it doesn't work tell me.
26 people found this helpful

Abuse history


The answered status icon Answer
person with win7 replied on
i think i had a similar problem from the sounds of it so what i had to do since i built the computer was to get another os and open it from there so try ubntu the linux thing and open it from there but you will have to extract the files from the iso and put it into a new partition because you will need a new os when 7 expires and then you will have 2 and so when 7 starts to expire you can either the full 7 or another operating system and you can format the old partition with ubtnu and manually delete the rc because that is what i am doing just try to keep more than one partition and dont save anything you wanna keep like word on the partition with ubtnu or what you use
Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history


ORMEGA replied on
i really dont see the solution .i have 5 hard drives in my pc.    2 sata and 3 ide.  not one of them would take the installation....  ridiculous.     i didnt have this problem with xp professional
3 people found this helpful

Abuse history


WheezyE replied on
I also tried unplugging all my drives except one drive.  This didn't work for me at first.  But after I figured out that the drive I had plugged into my motherboard was set to SLAVE instead of MASTER or CableSelect, I set the jumper appropriately and the error magically went away.  I think this error message must stem from illogical hardware boot settings.
1 person found this helpful

Abuse history


Aaron McFarland replied on
Hey, I figured this out... I tried to install Windows 7 Ultimate and I had the same problem, so i formatted my hard disk and it still didn't work. I noticed I had a couple USB drives connected to my computer I disconnected those and restarted my computer and the installation and it worked! So try this, if it doesn't work tell me.
26 people found this helpful

Abuse history


fbi2 replied on

Hey, I figured this out... I tried to install Windows 7 Ultimate and I had the same problem, so i formatted my hard disk and it still didn't work. I noticed I had a couple USB drives connected to my computer I disconnected those and restarted my computer and the installation and it worked! So try this, if it doesn't work tell me.
Haj! I tried to disconnect USB drives, but the problem didn't go away. So... Thanx anyway.

1 person found this helpful

Abuse history


sthagencpa replied on

I have a similar problem.  I started with Vista Home Premium with 1 physical hard drive and a C and D drive (163gb and 137gb=300 gb)

 

See CORRECTION post below this.

 

I am trying to upgrade to Win7 Ultimate as a fresh install (wipe out hard drive) and I wanted a 200gb C drive.  I read and was told by Dell that the Win 7 would allow me to repartition as part of the install.  I inserted the Win 7 CD and booted from that and went into custom, etc. and then the following was displayed:

Disk0 Partition 1 146GB

Disk0 Partition 2   86 MB (OEM reserved) - Dell Inspiron laptop

Disk0 Partition 3   2.5 GB Media Direct (partition outside of Windows that runs from a button near the keyboard)

 

Disk1 Partition 1 149GB

 

I deleted the 2 large partitions and they became unallocated space.  I call Dell about the other 2 partitions and after finding out that I could recreate them, I deleted them, too.

 

Then when trying to install Win 7 the 2nd time, the partition window showed:

Disk0  Unallocated space 149GB

Disk1  Unallocated space 149gb

 

There is no option to delete either of these partitions or merge them or anything.

 

When  I proceed, I have the option to install Win7 on a disk with the size of 149GB.  Apparently the "Disk1" is not being recognized.

 

I think the problem is that somehow, the partitions got labeled as Disk0 and Disk1 as though they were 2 separate physical disks but they are not.  I have 1 physical disk.

 

Now I have no operating system or tools to access, so is there any way I can rename Disk1 to Disk0 or is there anyway to to merge the 2 partitions?  I downloaded a partion utility, but when I boot to my USB drive the computer has no clue what to do with an exe file.  I have read that you have to partition before formatting, so I assume that I can;t just format the whole drive to wipe out the partions.

How can I get to 1 partion and proceed with installing Win 7 and create the partions I want or wipe the drive to get rid of the 2 partitions? 

Please help as I have spent a long time on this and my laptop is dead in the water and I had to borrow a computer just for this question.

Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history


sthagencpa replied on

CORRECTION to my prior post. 

 

I decided to try to remove the hard drive and reseat it like the person above did and discovered that I do actually have 2 physical hard drives (I assume 149gb each).

 

So how did I have a 163gb C drive when I had Vista installed?  Can they be tied together so that they can be seen as 1 drive?

Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history


ammtech replied on

I have the same problem and follow your advice and it works....thanks alot
Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history


MayurGharat replied on
Try Below steps...

1) Boot the PC/Server with OS CD
2) when u get "Install Now" screen connect the USB Drive (with the latest Disk controller drivers in it).
3) Install drivers and before selecting Disk for installation, disconnect the USB Drive.
4) Start the installation.
3 people found this helpful

Abuse history


stefan1973 replied on

where do you get the latest drivers from ???

im using sata 6gb seagate and its not doing anything with any of the other disconnection methods
Be the first person to mark this helpful

Abuse history