Unable to format hard disk

gang425 · 08 Aug 2012

Hi
I have bought a new laptop (DOS installed) and trying to install windows7
After i installed windows 7, i can see only 30 gb drive in "My computer" (500 gb hard disk)
When iam trying to create new volume in disk management on unallocated space
iam getting a prompt that "this action will convert the disk to dynamic disk"
when i proceeded with clicking ok i get an error message saying "Not enough space on the disk to perform the operation"
Even in the windows installation screen iam unable to select the unallocated space and format.
I can see the options "format", "delete" disabled for the partitions
I can see the options enabled for only few partitions.
This is a brand new laptop with DOS installed and iam installing the windows for first time.
can anyone tell me what might be the problem for this and how can i partition the hard disk and format ?

Thanks in advance.

karlsnooks · 08 Aug 2012

The make and model of this laptop that came with DOS installed?

gang425 · 08 Aug 2012

It is Lenovo G580
Intel core i5 processor (3rd generation), 4 gb ram, 500 gb hard disk

F5ing · 08 Aug 2012

DOS?

Use the w7 install DVD to boot. At the first screen that appears waiting for your input, press Ctrl+F10 to get to a command prompt. Run the Diskpart command and run the clean command on that disk. It'll wipe out everything on that disk and allow you to start over. See the following tutorial:

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

gang425 · 08 Aug 2012

Thank you very much. I will try this.
Will this affect the partition where there are system files stored ?
I mean like OEM partition where the important data is stored.

Bare Foot Kid · 08 Aug 2012

Hello.

If there is data on the Hard Disk Drive you need to save, do not run the clean command.

strollin · 08 Aug 2012

Are you sure that system has DOS installed? I'd be willing to bet it has some other OS besides DOS since there are probably no DOS drivers available for it. It certainly didn't come from the factory with DOS installed.

Are you trying to create a dual boot system so you can boot either Win 7 or whatever is on there now?

If you have data on there, I would defintely back it up before you do anything else.

karlsnooks · 08 Aug 2012

Gang,
A little clarification:

CLEAN will overwrite the boot sector areas with all zeros. One can recover from this.

CLEAN ALL will overwrite the entire disk. Each and every byte wil be overwritten with zeros.

With CLEAN ALL, you have returned the disk to a fresh off the sssembly line state.

Before using CLEAN or CLEAN ALL (which will take a couple of hours with that size disk), make your Lenovo Recovery Disks.

I do not know how to make Lenovo Recovery Disks, but this step is very, very important. This gives you a level of disaster recovery.

Your laptop came with an operating system.

Do you want to tell us why you think the OS is DOS which I guarantee you it is not unless someone did something.

Go very slow and careful. You are probably already past a point of no return.

With more info, then we can walk you thru and a canned answer is not what you need.

F5ing · 08 Aug 2012

It would be best if you could post a screenshot of Disk Management. It sounds like you already had 4 partitions on that drive (that's the normal maximum) and when you tried to create a new one it responded with the "this action will convert the disk to dynamic disk" prompt. That's probably not what you really needed it to do anyway so you may have been lucky that it wasn't able to do the conversion.

mjf · 08 Aug 2012

F5ing said:

It would be best if you could post a screenshot of Disk Management. It sounds like you already had 4 partitions on that drive (that's the normal maximum) and when you tried to create a new one it responded with the "this action will convert the disk to dynamic disk" prompt. That's probably not what you really needed it to do anyway so you may have been lucky that it wasn't able to do the conversion.

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
When presented with the option to convert to dynamic always say no unless you specifically want a dynamic disk. Advice given here is about returning the disk to "Basic" after this mistake.