Setup was unable to create a new system partition

As the above poster, I went thru all kinds of tricks mentioned here and in other posts, but the trick was to remove all devices from the computer, which were, other things connected via USB, such as USB sticks, external drives.

On the computer I just recently had the issue with, a Lenovo S30, I also disconnected a drive that was hooked up via the SCU connecter which was not yet even enabled.

And incidentally, to install, on this computer (the Lenovo S30), it's easier to do it to a drive that is connected via the SATA ports, than the crazy workaround that is required via the SCU ports.

Install to the single drive, in my case a SSD, then after install good, connect up all the other internal drives.

Hope this will help anyone with this issue.

My situation is somewhat different.

The HDD that I'm all of a sudden having this problem with is partitioned into three parts, the 1st being the active partition.

It is NOT a SSD and I don't want to wipe the 'clean' the drive.

I have been trying different custom W7 builds via a USB stick. I have done at least SIX, probably eight re-installs without this issue using what is already inside the installer. Deleting the existing active partition, then using the 'trick' to combine the system & reserve partitons before the install. I could do that in my sleep.

All of a sudden, the reserve partition was not created. It just creates the primary which doesn't let the O/S get installed.

I use True Image to 'image' by bootable drives, in this case I did a 'restore the MBR' which did nothing. I even tried Partition Assistant to rebuild the MBR, but still no change. I wrote zeros to that partition (didn't think it would do anything, but I gave it a try).

I can restore images to that partition ok. I can access the 2nd & 3rd parttition ok.

Any ideas??

I know this is pretty old, but I just ran into the same problem as the OP. I followed the directions using diskpart and can't seem to get past that issue. I physically have 2 HD's installed, one is an SSD (the one that I want the OS installed to) and the other is a standard platter HD. Disk 0 Partition 1 (System) gives me the error" setup was unable to create a new system partition....." I am installing Win 7 64 bit from a USB. I've done this many times in the past, but this time it is kind of a nightmare. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Did you try to:
1.unplug second hdd
2.use another usb stick
3.use another usb port
4.download another win installer, check hashsum

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs.

Is it a new MoBo?

Detach ALL other disks leaving on only the target disk.
Boot from the Win 7 installation disk. Go to install - Advanced - Delete all partitions - Create new. Install on the big NTFS.
Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums