Windows could not format a partition on disk 0. Error code: 0x80070057

The drive has failed the Seatools test, "Short DST FAILED" and then a long list of numbers. Does this mean this drive is a goner? Also apparently SMART has been TRIPPED.

i am facing the same problem...i have tried all the above steps excepl cleaning the whole hard frive coz i have many important files in it...is there any possible way that i can recover these important files before formatting???

thanks a lot....it works your instructions....

sleepykidX said:

Hey everybody, I am trying to do a clean install of windows 7 onto my laptop, and I keep getting the error, "windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The error occurred while preparing the partition selected for installation. Error code: 0x80070057" . I have reformatted the hard drive and tried clicking next from there. This is the 64-bit version of windows 7, any help would be grateful.

okay just had this problem today and spent 3 hours trying to fix it.. did a fresh install and i had this error popping up.. i divided my 500gb into 2 partitions Part 1 100GB for windows 7.. Part 2 400gb for my back up files.. when i selected Partition 1 (100GB) it gives me the Error code: 0x80070057 and i cant format it.. but if i select the second partition (400GB) there is no error at all and it continues to install win 7 so i was confused.. but i experimented a bit and luckily i found how to fix the problem.. i do not know if it will fix yours but this is what i did..

In Windows 7 Setup

1. I deleted all partitions.. so i have a 500gb unallocated disk..
2. I created a 100GB partition for my drive C (where my windows 7 will be installed) and normally it will also create another 100mb for the system files..
3. I deleted the 100GB partition because i know it will give me the error code..
4. Created a partition again but this time its only 10GB.. so thats the partition 1 or the Disk 1.. The Disk 0 is for the System Files..
5. I created a Second Partition (Disk 3) 100GB.. and this is where my Windows 7 will be Installed..
6. I created a third Partition (Disk 4) which are the remaining Disk space 370GB and thats for my Local Disk D for my back ups..

Try Reformatting the 10GB it will give you the Error code: 0x80070057.. But Try Reformatting the second partition 100GB and it should not give you any errors..

so basically in my case any partition that is marked as the Disk 1 it will give me the error code..
the 10GB will be useless though but its a small amount of disk space to sacrifice for you to be able to make it work..

Hope This helps..
JadeMasters

Always unplug all but the HD you want to install Win7 upon. Then the issue you describe shouldn't be a problem. If so work through the steps for Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums.

Best to post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can see if it is configured correctly. A persistent problem with two HD's is that the boot files are derailed onto a preceding primary partition than intended, on another HD if all others are not unplugged.