Windows 7 - Setup unable to create a new partition or locate an existing partition

I bought a fairly new eMachines E528-2325 from a friend. before buying he decided to use DBAN 2.2.6 to wipe Windows 7 and install Ubuntu 11.04, after buying i requested him to reinstall Windows 7 using usb, so he again used DBAN to wipe the computer. Upon trying to install windows he got the error "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing partition." We both cannot find a fix to this problem, and we have basic knowledge on computers. Please and thanks for any help.

eMachines E528-2325
Intel Celeron 900 processor
2GB DDR3 system memory
250GB SATA hard drive
DVD/CD drive doesn't work

Hello mrvoid, welcome to Seven Forums!

Boot the Windows 7 installer and do at least a clean to start and a clean all would be best; have a look at the information below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.



To start fresh with a clean installation or clean install with an upgrade version of Windows 7, it may be best to over-write the Master Boot Record of any possible corruption and then use the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) for installation, have a look at the "#6 clean" option of Method One in this first tutorial linked below.

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

DISKPART : At PC Startup

If you want to completely wipe, over-write the entire Hard Disk Drive of any possible malware infection and / or to get the best possible space to do the install to or just for security purposes, have a look at these tutorials.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information

It isn't necessary to do a secure wipe of the HD which is done to make data irretrievable and has already been done twice now since the sale of computer. If going through the troubleshooting steps given here doesn't help then using the Diskpart "Clean" command is sufficient and less wearing on the HD.

This is a reinstall of the factory OEM Windows 7 Home Premium which originally came on the computer?

Where did seller obtain the installation DVD to do the reinstall? If he burned it himself, Confirm the ISO integrity and burn another using ImgBurn at 4x speed, or write the ISO to flash stick using this tool with Windows 7 in the dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3, then boot it under USB or HD's.

If you have booted the flash stick to do successful installs elsewhere then make sure it boots correctly on this machine: tap the eMachines F10 one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot it if it doesn't work to set it first to boot in BIOS setup Boot Order.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals.

Once installer boots, follow these steps to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

Check for newer BIOS update on eMachines website. If none, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS.
While in BIOS setup, set SATA controller to AHCI to try install. If this fails, try IDE mode.

Try formatting your own Primary partition marked Active with Diskpart using these Commands from DVD Repair console Command Prompt:

Select Disk 0 (use Windows 7 HD #)
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs label="Windows 7"
Active
exit

Test RAM using memtest86 for 5-6 passes or overnight: RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Test your HD using maker's diagnostics extended CD scan: HD Diagnostic

Report back progress for added steps if needed.

Doing a clean all to a Hard Disk Drive is not harmful at all and may be beneficial.

Secure Erase is not necessary for all installation issues and could wear a SSD: Diskpart a concurrent second call is made before the first is complete

The top installation forum Guru SIW2 who developed most of the methods used here said in the same thread linked that the "Clean" command is sufficient for wiping possible boot sector corruption, which is only one of the possible problems which could be blocking install.

Wiping the HD using DBAN twice then repeating "Clean All" is millions of unncessary writes to an old HD.

Thank you both for the replies. Currently the system is running a clean all, after this is finished i will report back on whether it has worked, and if not i will follow through with gregrocker's solution.

My friend, "the seller", bought the laptop new with Windows 7 already installed on it, and we are using a USB to reinstall Windows 7. After failure to install we tried installing the same Windows 7 ISO with the same USB on two other laptops and it worked perfectly. If it fails to install after using Bare Foot Kid's instruction i will try your solution and report back ASAP. Thanks again.

Bare Foot Kid's solution did not work so i will begin trying out gregrocker's

neither solution helpped

All Linux code must be deleted using the CLEAN ALL command.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.

Boot up using the Startup disk CD or Windows 7 DVD. (not the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk) If you have a Netbook, you will need a CD/DVD drive.
NOTE: Make sure no USB drives are plugged in.

After the CLEAN ALL, Use the FIXMBR & FIXBOOT commands in this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

I have used "clean all" but i am running Windows 7 Setup off USB because the DVD/CD drive in the laptop does not work (hardware problem)