W7 Installation problem - "Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0...

Hi guys,

I know I should've have searched this, but am running quite short on time.

After some small deliberation, we decide to update our old desktop, so I purchased a new HDD (Seagate 2tb), Gigabyte H77M-D3H Motherboard, and an Intel i5-3470 CPU.

As our old HDD was starting to make strange noises, I suggested my partner back up all our files from that onto the new HDD we purchased, just incase the old one spat the dummy.

After a week away at work, I come back and build the computer up, format the new HDD and start the windows install from disk (I've unplugged the old HDD so it doesn't boot from it).

On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, I have a choice of Disk 0 Partition 1 and Disk 0 Partition 2. However, both of these are telling me Windows cannot be installed onto them.

The warnings: Partition 1's warning states: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selcted disk is of the GPT parition style.

Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition is a Microsoft Reserved partition.

Partition 2's: Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selcted disk is of the GPT partition style.

When I boot from the old HDD and go to Manage, the new HDD comes up with no partitions.

Any ideas on where to go from here, and how to get around this. I'm not the most computer savvy person out there, but I'm not the dumbest either.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

When you say unplugged HDD, where did you unplug it from? If it's cable is still attached to the mobo, then the controller is still picking it up in the BIOS as attached/connected, hence the error messages. Unplug the cable from the mobo and try reinstalling again, making sure that the new hdd is connected sata port 0 (the number 1 sata port).

Yeah, I was only unplugging it from the back of the HDD. I've plugged it into the SATA that the old HDD came out of, (SATA 2, I can't find SATA 0 or 1) and it's still giving me the same issue.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals, Boot into BIOS setup to see if there is an EFI Boot Disk in BIOS Boot order. If so remove it, set DVD drive first to boot. If EFI BIOS also set to Legacy BIOS.

Then boot into installer DVD or flash stick, at first screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SEL DIS 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CONVERT MBR
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT

Next click Install Now to Clean Install Windows 7 to partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

Let us know how it goes. Read the Reinstall steps carefully to make this a perfect reinstall which can be preserved as an image so you never have to reinstall again.

As the new MOBO's now have a uEFI BIOS.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI BIOS:
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with


For more info on uEFI:
Windows and GPT FAQ
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UEFI and Windows

twiggy1984 said:

Thanks for your help so far!!
I changed the boot order in BIOS, including removing the UEFI version of the DVD.
I also partitioned the HDD the way you suggested Greg (I'm going to remember that, it's brilliant!!)

However, now I'm getting a message at start up saying BOOTMGR is missing. It's not letting me go any further.

Also, now I've partitioned the HDD for this installation, can I merge it with the remainder of the volume? (I don't want the missus to install or save anything into there carelessly)

Edit: I got past the BOOTMGR by "hitting any key" before that warning came up. Now I'm in the installation process. Thank you kindly for all your help.

Thanks again for all your help!!

how you solved this problem... or it is still these... share it with me as I am also facing similar problem

You may have an EFI BIOS. If so to install follow the links in Theog's post above. These steps are if you don't have an EFI BIOS or want to bypass it to install normally:

Back up your files, unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup to enable Legacy BIOS if present. Next check BIOS Boot order for an EFI Boot Disk and if present remove it, set DVD drive first to boot, HD second. Then set SATA controller to AHCI. Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.