Solved Cannot install Windows in this partition

[johngee]

Hi folks

We're trying to create a dual boot environment on a Lenovo laptop with XP intstalled already.

To do this we have cloned the original 80GB disk using Macrium Reflect to a 500GB drive. This was successful - the cloned drive booted with no problems. We then made the unused area of the disc an active partition and formatted it (now drive F) as NTFS.

So following the tutorials here and elsewhere, installing Windows 7 (retail version) to this partition should have been straighforward. Installing as a "Custom Install" we told it to install on drive F, when it immediately told us it couldn't because it needed to be installed on an NTFS parttions (which it was).

Any suggestions where to go from here?

Regards

John

 

[VistaKing]

johngee

See if the link below will be some of help to you

How to dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7 (XP installed first)

 

[johngee]

It didn't I'm afraid - it did not cover my problem at all. I am basically asking why I cannot install to a partition that is NTFS formatted (the error message saying that it's not an NTFS formatted partition). All the articles and tutorials I've looked up imply that I have followed the instructions implicitly - so why am I getting this error?

 

[VistaKing]

What file format is XP ? NTFS ? Windows 7 automatically makes Windows 7 NTFS

 

[johngee]

Windows XP is NTFS - that's what we used to format the new partition as NTFS.

 

[johngee]

I think I know what we did. We formatted the partition first, rather than leave it unallocated. Am I right in thinking that we should install 7 in an unallocated space?

John

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. The partition can be created during install, and should not be marked Active since Win7 when installed last will merely update the boot files on the original OS partition which remains Active to boot both OS's.

You should be correctly booting the Win7 installer to Clean Install Windows 7.

At Step 7, use the Drive Options to delete the partition you created for Win7 and create and format a New One there. Click Next to begin install.

If it fails report back verbatim error message and step in tutorial at which it fails.

While it's installing read over these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which will assure you get and keep a perfect install, based on tens of thousands we've helped with here.

 

[theog]

This was successful - the cloned drive booted with no problems. We then made the unused area of the disc an active partition and formatted it (now drive F) as NTFS.

WHY?

The Win XP boot partition is the ACTIVE partition.

 

[Layback Bear]

theog your question is short but on the money.
I like it.

 

[johngee]

OK so if I install 7 in the unallocated space, it will install correctly (and be dual bootable)?

 

[VistaKing]

johngee

If you read the link on Post #2 it will tell you how to do it . Yes you install Windows 7 on the unallocated space format it first then install .

 

[johngee]

Sorry all, forgot to post that it worked in the end

Thanks to all who helped.