Windows 7 installation - "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition"

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Peder_dingo

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Hi, I have an old Asus Eee 1005p that I once installed Linux on alongside the Win7 Starter included. I used Grub as my bootloader. Linux died, and I found myself using Win7 all the time, so I decided to remove Grub and my Linux partition.

But something went wrong, after removing Grub I couldn't boot up my system and I couldn't access the Asus recovery software. So I decided to install Windows 7 Ultimate via USB stick and used the installer to nuke any and all partitions; however when I try to install it says "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition".

I tried several guides, using diskpart's "Clean all" but no luck, I get the same message. I then tried bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot, /rebuildBcd again with no luck. Same message.

I feel like I hit a wall, and if anyone can help me I would be very, very happy!
 
Solution
stillblue
Don't just empty the drive, create a partition for windows. You can use any number of partition disks, including gparted in a live Linux. Format your hard drive to FAT32 and then the windows installer should work for you.
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Peder_dingo

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Yep.

I tried installing on the unallocated space, didn't work. I tried to format the unallocated space and install on it, didn't work. I created two partitions, didnt work either.

It says it creates a setup logfile, but I am not sure how to access that and even less sure what to make of its contents:??:
 
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stillblue

stillblue

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Going back to original problem. When you deleted grub you deleted what tells the computer where to find the boot loaders. To fix that you need to reinstall the MBR. You can do that with any number of recovery disks including mint or Ubuntu (install mbr and run install-mbr or install boot-repair if you want a gui) or your windows installer should have a recovery console and from the command line type fixmbr.

For your current problem I'd either download a new linux and use gparted from it to look at and reformat your hard drive. Gparted can be burned as a stand alone on a cd if you prefer.



 
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Peder_dingo

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I did fixmbr and fixboot prior to deleting grub, which resulted in me not being able to boot into the fully working windows installation I had running at all...

I can't use optical discs (netbook, only USB stick), and I've found that my computer assigns the drive letter C to the USB with the windows install disc on it. Is that a problem? Can I manually assign a different letter to the USB to keep C: clear for a windows installation?

I'll also try with gparted using some linux distro that can boot from my USB stick, but diskpart did nothing for me so I have my doubts. I'll post here if I have any luck.
 
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stillblue

stillblue

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Just be sure you delete all and then format to NTFS.

fixmbr should have just removed your ability to boot grub and thereby Linux. "system partition" . Is it possible that you've already got 4 primary partitions?
 
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Peder_dingo

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When I removed grub using /fixmbr, it booted up with the cursor just blinking and nothing at all happening, no matter what I did.

I then put windows install disk on a usb stick, and booted up via that. It found a bunch of partitions, including the Asus recovery partition (that I couldn't boot into before) and another Asus partition with some linux stuff on (there's two power-buttons, one of them starts up a mini linux distribution really fast with just a few apps and no window manager / desktop environment). I deleted them all, and was left with the entire disk unallocated, and then got that error message when I told windows to continue the installation.

I've then tried various fixes from guides, including using the tools from the windows installation disk (Fix startup drive), doing /fixmbr again, doing a clean all from diskpart, doing a manual format from diskpart, setting my HDD as IDE in the bios and more; but to no avail. I tried installing on unallocated space, and I tried installing on a NTFS formatted disk. I created a volume on the disk and assigned the letter C to it as well. The same message (from the title of this thread) pops up each and every time... It says it creates a detailed log though, but I don't know where to find it nor what to make of it if I did.

If I boot up without the windows installation usb, I get the same blinking cursor I got when I removed grub via /fixmbr.

I'm just about to try gparted from a linux live usb stick and keeping my fingers crossed.

UPDATE: Wow, Linux Mint is snappy (even when run live from USB) and looks great. I'm just going to go with that and ditch windows altogether (if it'll let me install).
 
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wipe2000

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Old threat but still current...
I also tried to remove linux while leaving Windows 7 Starter from Aspire One, ended emptying the whole HD including MBR, then tried to install Windows Starter again and got to the same "Setup was unable to..." many times.

Luckily I needed my 8 GB memory stick I was using to somewhere else and made a new 4 GB bootable USB stick, exactly same way as the bigger one earlier. What happened? New install trial succeeded without any problems with this new stick!
 
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stillblue

stillblue

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Don't just empty the drive, create a partition for windows. You can use any number of partition disks, including gparted in a live Linux. Format your hard drive to FAT32 and then the windows installer should work for you.
 
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Solution
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discovery747

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I had the same problem on ASUS P5QD, but I think it was the Hard Drives attached, I will explain ...

Before this I have seen on ...
http://
Quote
I saw a comment:
I had this error on RTM with the combination of Intel 310SSD and Kingston DataTraveler Elite 3.0 USB stick.
Could it be? This particular USB stick being the issue? (I have 3 of these). I tried it on another. Same issue. Took another generic 4GB staples usb from like 5 years ago... worked fine.
Quote end

... so a problem with Kingston Flash Drive ... I happened to have forgotten exactly one of those described plugged in ...

I removed it ... same problem ...
But based on this idea, I went ahead and disconnected all other drives (I had 3 more with data, one of them GPT 3 TB) ...

Once I did this, setting up W7x64 worked great ... I used GParted to create the partition and is OK so ... (when it did not work I also used W7 setup partitioning, and also Disk Part with Shit + F10 as described in http:// ... did not help ...

So try removing all unneeded hardware, OR in worst case it may not like your drive, etc ...

Please post back if it works for you as well ...


 
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rickeburt

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The Problem is your MBR files are missing, this is what you do. Just Install a Software Name AOMEI Partition assistant Pro. Edition (very good software) on a Different Computer, connect you Hard Drive externally via USB, run the software and wait until it finds your drive,if it doesn't then just click reload at the top it should find your drive. Select the drive whether its Disk1 or Disk2 whatever your drive is then look to the left where you see The Heading DISK OPERATIONS go down to Rebuild MBR, select it then at the top left hand corner click apply. That's it.
NB. This software can be use for a number of other things such as recreating deleted partition, recover files from a damaged Hard Drive even if the files were deleted and much more. good luck.
 
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rickeburt

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The Problem is your MBR files are missing, this is what you do. Just Install a Software Name AOMEI Partition assistant Pro. Edition (very good software) on a Different Computer, connect you Hard Drive externally via USB, run the software and wait until it finds your drive,if it doesn't then just click reload at the top it should find your drive. Select the drive whether its Disk1 or Disk2 whatever your drive is then look to the left where you see The Heading DISK OPERATIONS go down to Rebuild MBR, select it then at the top left hand corner click apply. That's it.
NB. This software can be use for a number of other things such as recreating deleted partition, recover files from a damaged Hard Drive even if the files were deleted and much more. good luck.
 
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Sarav curious

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stillblue

stillblue

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Yes, software like this is meant to repair external drives, it appears to have some nice features and it's only drawback is that you must use a different computer if the drive has failed.

Fix your MBR or reformat the drive with a bootable cd or USB. There are many free tools for this that don't require that you remove your hard drive and connect via a USB adapter. Ultimate boot disk or a Windows recovery disk and of course a live Linux with gparted. After your system is working then use the AOEMI tools if you wish but since this is a Linux board be advised that it does not work in Linux.
 
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Sarav curious

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Sarav curious

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Since I am a beginner to bios and installing windows and stuff ... could u please provide a easy tutorial to solve this error using any of d tools u mentioned ..... thanks in advance... FYI i dont know anything bout linux gparted ... so try to stay away from that..
 
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stillblue

stillblue

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Sarav, It would be best if you start a new thread with your problem. People that help here are less inclined to read already solved threads. Include your system (windows, xp,7,8), hardware (desktop, laptop, hard drive, whatever you can), and what your problem is and when did it start.
 
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JohnnyMash

JohnnyMash

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Just to note, I've found this response after having the same "unable to create a new system partition" error when using my Kingston DataTraveller 3.0 to install Win7 ... I then tried a cheap 8gb stick as recommended and its working perfectly.
 
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cra1

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Here is the easiest, but hardest to find answer on the internet. I have messed with this partition windows install problem for ages on multiple computers. The issue is really quite simple, so ignore all these tedious diskpart walkthroughs. The issue is with the USB install device itself. Many Kingston and Sandisk devices somehow cause an install error, but the partitions actually have nothing to do with it.
Solution #1 is to install from a different brand USB drive,
or solution #2 is to get to the window that lists drives you can install to. Select the drive you want, remove your USB device, then hit next. You will get a "no media" error. Reinsert the USB, then hit "next". The installation will begin. Sometimes this may take multiple tries, but in my case, after dozens of "normal" attempts, it worked on the first try.
 
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no--name

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You're the man, something like that fixed it for me too.
 
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Tin Win

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krencze

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Thank You! I tried so many solution none of them worked. But you and the god old XP fixed my problem. It works fine with Windows 8.1 too, not only Win 7.
The old XP dont care its USB 3 or 2, its worked.
And agin, thx man!
 
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jbkly

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I was having the same issue but with Windows 10, trying to do a fresh install on a new SSD from a bootable USB stick.

I got past this error by deleting all existing partitions on the new drive (I had previously formatted it). Then selected the unallocated space, clicked next and the install proceeded.
 
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