Can't install windows

[SXRguyinMA]

I'm trying to do a fresh install of W7 on a 1TB drive. The drive was previously used as a backup drive and has the drive letter Z: assigned to it. I've tried deleting the partitions and reformatting (both quick and normal) to no avail. It doesn't create the system section of the image when you format it from the windows install screen. The windows setup says it could not create the partitions necessary. Any ideas? :? :?

[OvRiDe]

You might try seeing if the manufacturer has a utility disk available. Sometimes they will have a low level type formatting option. -OR- you can try using DBAN (http://www.dban.org/) .. it's pretty good at wiping pesky partition tables.

[ownaginatious]

Had this happen to me before. The solution is, boot up with a Windows XP disk and format it using that. If you don't want to do that, I think plugging the hard drive into any PC and formatting it with the Windows tool should work.

[NightrainSrt4]

I've had things like that happen before, and I still can't figure out why it happens. I usually get a big fuss if I try and install the OS on a brand new drive (Windows). Booting into Linux and formatting there has never given me a problem though. I don't know why windows sometimes can't format it, or can't even see it. *Shrug*

[SXRguyinMA]

You might try seeing if the manufacturer has a utility disk available. Sometimes they will have a low level type formatting option. -OR- you can try using DBAN (http://www.dban.org/) .. it's pretty good at wiping pesky partition tables.

I'll give that a shot thanks!


Had this happen to me before. The solution is, boot up with a Windows XP disk and format it using that. If you don't want to do that, I think plugging the hard drive into any PC and formatting it with the Windows tool should work.

Tried that, did both the quick and normal format (from within windows 7) and neither did the trick.


I've had things like that happen before, and I still can't figure out why it happens. I usually get a big fuss if I try and install the OS on a brand new drive (Windows). Booting into Linux and formatting there has never given me a problem though. I don't know why windows sometimes can't format it, or can't even see it. *Shrug*

It shows up in windows as drive Z: and says it's totally free space. I even tried booting from the normal OS drive then using the windows DVD to install it to the other drive from within windows, and it installed but it won't boot from the drive. If I unplug the main OS drive to boot from the freshly installed one it says no boot device found.

[Luke122]

I would definitely try Dban..just wipe it and leave it raw.. let the windows setup create and format the partition.

[Twigsoffury]

make sure its in a boot sata slot and not a "data" (some of them deluxe boards have dual HDD controllers, the secondary ones won't work outside o' windows with the driver)

make sure its set as C:\ think i heard somewhere that windows doesn't like certain drive letters. (? don't hold me to that, but i'd try it)

If its in a windows enviroment already, you need to activate it... at least in XP you did, haven't installed a new hard drive since i was running XP though so im not sure with 7. that is in the disk management panel.


well thats my i-deers for your problem lol!

[dr.walrus]

are you sure you have the disk in the drive?

[SXRguyinMA]

I usesd Dban and did the standard wipe, all is good!