Setup was unable to create a new system partition.

Hi,

I have a 1TB HDD (SATA) containing following partition table.
Partition 1 : Primary (40GB) with Ubuntu installed in it.
Partition 2 : Logical (10GB) Linux Swap.
Partition 3 : Logical (500GB) NTFS.
Partition 4 : Logical (100GB) NTFS, on which i would like to install windows 7.
Partition 5 : Logical (281GB) NTFS.

Now the problem is, while installing windows 7 from the installation DVD, everything works fine till the screen where it asks me to select the partition on which i would like to install Windows.

When I select Partition 4 and click Next it gives me an error saying "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the setup log files for more information".

I have only one HDD and no external USB's or drives attached to my CPU.

Hoping for help.

When you get to the Drive selection screen, click on the link at bottom right for "Drive Options (Advanced)", delete the existing partition, create a new one there which will then be Primary NTFS, format it, click next and install should proceed.

If not boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD, rightclick the partition to Modify>Set to Primary, OK, apply.

@gregrocker: Are you suggesting me that Windows 7 will only be installed on a primary partition and not on logical partition.

If so, I can use gparted (which makes it easy to reformat) to make my partition as a primary one.

But is this mandatory for windows 7?

Yes you must place the Win7 boot files on a Primary Partition.

The Logical partitions must also remain contiguous so convert either the second or fifth Logical to Primary to install.

You will get slightly better performance placing Win7 toward the beginning of the HD so I would use the second partition for conversion and install.

If you need to move second partition over because it has data, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to delete fourth partition, slide second and third over to the right, create new Primary in the second partition's space: Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.
Partition Wizard Create Partition Video Help

I would also use EasyBCD to Dual Boot Ubuntu - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

Thank you gregrocker,

I partitioned my Partition 5 as primary one and was able to successfully install windows 7 on it.

But, I would like to know, why is this constraint that windows is placing while installing, is there any specific reason that you are aware of?

Life would have been so easy if it would have just placed its boot files in a Logical Partition.

Logical partitions are for data, while Primary are for OS's.

It's a constraint of the partition table which can only allocate so many bootable partitions, while it will allow as many Logical partitions as you want.