The installer cannot create a new system partition or find an existing system partition Windows 7

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Reasons for "Windows 7 Installer Unable to Create a New System Partition"
Workarounds for "Installer Unable to Create a New Partition"
Frequently Asked Questions about "Unable to Create New Partition"

Causes of "Installer Cannot Create New System Partition" in Windows 7

The error occurs during the installation of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 – “The installer couldn't create a new system partition or locate an existing one.” The problem can come from many angles, but that's not our main topic (we need a solution, not too much explanation). In short, this is because Windows doesn't recognize the device you're trying to install the OS on.

【Solvable】Installer unable to create new partition

This unwanted warning often comes with a USB flash drive. The methods below will help Windows recognize the correct location of your operating system installation. The best methods are listed first. Choose one that you can try.

Method 1: Manually create a system partition
Method 2: Change the SATA controller to IDE mode
Method 3: Install Windows using other partition management tools
Method 4: Eject and reconnect the USB device

Method 1: Create the System Reserved Partition Manually

Please keep the USB plugged in.

1. Press "Shift + F10" to open the Command Prompt window.

2. Type "diskpart" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

3. Type “list disk” and press Enter. (You'll see a list of all your hard drives. If you have more than one, make note of which one you want to boot from in the next step.)

4. Type “select disk X” and press Enter. (Replace X with the number of the drive you want to install the system on.)

5. Type “clean” and press Enter.

6. Type “create partition primary size=5000” and press Enter.

7. Type format fs=ntfs quick, then press Enter.

8. When formatting is complete, type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one.

• Assign
• Activate
• List volumes
• Exit

9. Next, change to the directory where the Windows installation files are located. Type the command to copy the installation files from the CD to the C: drive:

1. `cd e:` (Here, "cd" stands for "change directory," and "e" refers to the location of your installation files. Replace "e" with the appropriate letter based on your system.) 2. `xcopy e: c:/e/h/k` 3. Press Enter.

Type “exit” to close the Command Prompt window when you're done, then remove the USB drive. Close the “Install Windows” window, too.

10. Restart your computer to begin the installation process.

1. Follow the installation process: 2. Click "Next," then click "Install Now." 3. Check the box that says "I accept the license terms" and click "Next." 4. Choose "Custom," then select the installation location. Click "Next." 5. For the final step, click "Restart Now."

Video Tutorial - How to Use CMD to Fix Installation Errors

0:42 Fix "The installer cannot create a new system partition or find an existing system partition" with CMD (UTF-8).

Method 2: Set your SATA controller to IDE mode

If Method One didn't work for you, try changing your SATA Controller Mode (which acts as a bridge between your hard drive and motherboard to handle other data).

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2 to enter the BIOS. (View BIOS keys: Dell Windows 10 BIOS keys.

Step 2. Go to 'Advanced' > Select 'Storage Configuration' > Press Enter on 'Configure SATA as' > Under 'Options' select 'IDE' and press Enter.

Step 3: Press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Method 3: Install Windows Using a Different Partition Manager (Like Partition Master)

If you change your mind and opt for another method – an error occurs when using USB. Skip this annoying issue and move Windows to another drive. To easily install the Windows operating system on another drive, you can use a professional OS migration tool – Partition Master Professional. It can migrate the OS to SSD.

Steps to migrate an operating system to an HDD/SSD: 1. Backup important data: Before starting any migration process, it's crucial to back up all vital files and documents to an external storage device or cloud service. This ensures your data is safe if anything goes wrong during the transfer. 2. Check compatibility: Make sure your new HDD or SSD is compatible with your computer's hardware and meets your operating system's system requirements. 3. Choose a migration tool: There are several options for migrating an OS, like Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or the built-in Windows Disk Management utility. Pick one that suits your needs. 4. Connect the new drive: Hook up the new HDD or SSD to your computer. If replacing the old drive, connect internally; if externally, use an external enclosure or USB-to-SATA adapter. 5. Create a bootable media: If using third-party software, create a bootable USB or CD/DVD with the migration tool's installation files. 6. Boot from the migration tool: Restart your computer and enter BIOS or UEFI settings to change the boot order, prioritizing the USB or CD/DVD drive. Save changes and restart. 7. Follow the migration wizard: Upon booting, follow the migration tool's instructions. It'll typically guide you through selecting the source (current OS) and destination (new HDD/SSD). 8. Clone the system: The tool will clone your existing OS, including the boot sector, system files, and partitions, to the new drive. 9. Configure BIOS/UEFI: After cloning, reboot and enter BIOS/UEFI again. Change the boot order to prioritize the new HDD/SSD. 10. Test the new drive: Save changes and restart your computer. It should now boot from the new drive. Verify everything works correctly, including apps, network connectivity, and peripherals. 11. Remove the old drive (optional): If replacing the old drive, disconnect it once you're confident the new HDD/SSD is functioning properly. Remember, exact steps might vary based on your specific hardware and migration tool. Always refer to the software's documentation for detailed guidance.

Launch Partition Master, and from the left menu, select "Clone." Tick "Migrate OS" and click "Next." Select the SSD or HDD as the target disk and then click "Next." Note: All data and partitions on the target disk will be deleted. Make sure you have backed up important data in advance. If not, please do so now. Then click "Yes." Preview the layout of the target disk and click "Start" to begin migrating the system to the new disk.

5. Click “Restart Now” or “Finish” to reboot your computer from the new disk immediately.

“Reboot Now” means to save the changes immediately, while “Done” means you will need to restart your computer manually later.

Note: If there is not enough free space on the target disk, migrating the operating system to an SSD or HDD will delete and overwrite any existing partitions and data on that drive. Back up any important data stored on it to an external hard drive beforehand.

Method 4: Eject and Reconnect the USB

The last resort is to eject and reconnect the USB. If you're getting the “Setup was unable to create a new system partition” error while installing Windows 7 from a USB, try ejecting and reconnecting the USB. Sometimes, if the USB is inserted into a faulty port, the installer may have trouble accessing the files on the USB. Ejecting and reconnecting the USB can help fix this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions About "Unable to Create New Partition"

How do I fix the "We couldn't create a new partition or find an existing one" error?

This error typically occurs when attempting to install Windows on a computer that already has an operating system. There can be several factors causing this issue, but the most common reason is that the computer's BIOS is not configured to boot from the correct drive. To resolve this error, you'll need to change the boot order in the BIOS so that the correct drive is listed first.

2. How to create a partition in Windows 7?

Windows 7 includes a built-in utility for creating and managing disk partitions.

To create a new partition, press the Windows key and type “diskmgmt.msc” to open the Disk Management tool. Once it's open, right-click on the Unallocated space on your hard drive, then select “New Simple Volume.” This will launch the New Simple Volume Wizard, which will guide you through the process of creating a new partition. You can specify the size of the partition, the drive letter, and the file system.

Once created, the new partition will appear in File Explorer just like any other drive in your computer.

How to fix the "Windows cannot be installed to this disk" error?

The simplest solution is to delete the partition and recreate it.

You would need to boot from the Windows installation media and select the “Delete Partition” option from the menu. Once the partition is deleted, you should be able to proceed with the Windows installation without encountering the error again. If the error persists, please read on: