If you are getting this error message: “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition” while installing Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, then here you are reaching out to the right place. Here we’re going to give you the step by step guide on how to fix this problem and start installing Windows
7. Follow the below given steps to install fix this issue.
I am going to show you the guide on how to fix “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition” while installing Windows. The Same process will be applied for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, etc.
What I am going to do it, I’ll be installing a Windows from the hard, instead of using Windows CD or USB disk.
- First of all, make sure that any external hard drive is unplugged from the computer. If you are installing windows through CD or bootable USB, leave that plugged in, nothing else.
- Now press the Shift key + F10 key together. This will open up the command prompt.
- In the command prompt window, type
“diskpart” and press enter.
- Then type “list disk.” This will list all hard drive connected to this PC. I have only one. You also should have one as well. I am installing Windows to this hard drive.
- We need to select the hard drive by typing “select disk 0“. You may select a different partition if you have of desire.
- Now type “clean” to delete all the information on that drive.
- Once done, type “create partition primary size-10000“
- Now type “format fs=ntfs quick“.
- Once done, type “assign” press enter key.
- Then type “active” and press enter key.
- Now type “list volume” to list partition or drive. It will show the partition that you just have created.
- Now we are going to copy the CD drive Bootable Windows content to the c drive.
- Type “Exit” and then press enter key.
- Go to CD drive by typing “cd e:” and press enter. You may use different if your CD drive letter is “e”.
- Now type “xcopy e: c:/e/h/k” then press enter key. It starts copying the installation files from CD drive to the C drive. It will take time to copy.
- Once done, type “exit” and press enter. Now close all the Windows that is opened up and then reboot your computer once. Once it reboots, it will start installing Windows.
- Now you’ll have to option to create partition the allocated space to the partition.
Once the Windows has been installed, we need to edit the boot loader. To remove this black screen from the startup, follow the below steps.
- To do that run the command prompt as administrator.
- Type “bcdedit” command and then hit the enter key.
- Locate the “description” and “Identifier” content.
- Type “bcdedit /delete [74253dcc9-effasdrc50-3582tvple-5263tlpt-5223thpf]” then press enter button.
- That’s it. Reboot your computer, this time you won’t be getting any black screen to choose Windows.
There are many ways to fix “setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition“.
This type error has different methods of fixing. It seems one solutions does not apply for everyone.
Here I am going to post 3 different methods to solve “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition” issue starting with the easiest one.
Video Tutorial:
Method 1
1. Unplug any USB external drive.
2. While in the this Window unplug the Windows installation USB from the PC for 15 to 30 seconds.
3. Plug the USB back to the PC and click on refresh.
4. Re-try to install Windows.
Method 2
Re-start the the PC and log into the BIOS by pressing the proper Function key.
Once there Locate the SATA Configuration and change the option from EHCI to IDE.
Save settings by following the instructions on the screen.
Method 3
1. When you see the error in question, press Shift+F10 to open the command prompt.
2. In the command prompt type diskpart and hit Enter.
3. Then type list disk and hit Enter.
4. Type select disk X [X being the local drive.], and then hit Enter. In my case the disk where I want to install Windows 7 is Disk 0, so the command would be “select disk 0”
5. Type clean and hit Enter.
6. Now type create partition primary and hit Enter.
7. Now type format fs=ntfs quick and phit Enter. This command will format the partition using NTFS.
8. Type assign and hit Enter. This will assign a drive letter to the partition.
9. Type active and hit Enter.
10. Type list volume and hit Enter. To list the drive letters of the Windows installation media [USB/Disc].
11. Type exit and hit Enter.
12. Change directory to the USB flash drive, in my case: cd e:
13. Copy all the Windows installation files from USB drive to C: drive by entering the following command: xcopy e: c:/e /h /k
14. Remove the installation USB drive from computer and restart.
15. From here you should be able to install Windows without an issue.
I started this tech blog back in 2011 as a place to write down processes I took to fix my client systems and network. Now I write some tips and tricks to help others with the tech issues that one might encounter.