Solved Setup was unable to create a new system Partition

[bambi]

I'm trying to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 onto my brand new mSATA SSD. I keep getting the same error "Setup was unable to create a new system Partition".

My Specs are as follows: Intel® NUC Kit DC3217IYE

Integrated Board: D33217GKE
mSATA M500 Crucial 240gb SSD
Intel® Core™ i3 3217U Processor (1.8 GHz, Dual Core processor with 3 MB smart cache)

Install methods:

Install via USB stick as the NUC has no CD Drive and I have no externals around
1) Install to the USB via Windows Tool
2) Install to the USB via Rufus

Methods I've tried:

1) Letting Windows Setup configure everything for me.
(Try to install on an unallocated space,
Try to install after creating a new partition,
Try to install after formatting the partition created before)

2) Create a new partition via DiskPart:
DiskPart <ENTER>
list disk <ENTER>
select disk 0 <ENTER>
clean <ENTER> (Also tried Clean All)
create partition primary align=1024 <ENTER>
format fs=ntfs <ENTER> (Will Take a While)
assign <ENTER>
active <ENTER>
exit <ENTER>
exit <ENTER>

3)Tried to follow http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

4) Tried to follow http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

5) Tried to follow http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/306285-install-windows-msata-ssd-drive.html (HOWEVER, I do not have "SATA OPERATION change to AHCI from ISRT") All I have is AHCI and IDE

6) I tried turning UEFI off and booting legacy

7) I've tried having the SATA drive in AHCI and IDE

8)Tried 2 different ISO's (Both from MS, on was Win7 Proff x86 and the other was Win7 Ultimate x64)

9)I Used this thread as reference but still to no avail http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/260850-setup-unable-create-new-system-partition-2.html

Does anyone have any ideas I could try?

 

[Richman1]

After reading your OP I still don't know what it is your trying to do. Install a fresh copy of Win7, write an image made from a previous OS partition reinstall from a recovery? Maybe you should also list all of the steps you have gone through thus far so that someone could see if there is a place you missed something.

 

[bambi]

Simply, install windows 7 on a brand new SSD. No backups, no saved images. Just a totally fresh copy on a totally fresh SSD

 

[whs]

format fs=ntfs <ENTER> (Will Take a While)

I recommend you use format fs=ntfs quick or format fs=ntfs /q - that will be fast.

Then you have to direct the installer to that partition. If you don't do that, the installer finds no space on the SSD because it is all taken by the partition you just defined. All it can do is put the bootmgr into your partition because it is active. But else you did everything right.

 

[AddRAM]

More tutorials

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

What do you see when you get to step 7 of the Clean Install Windows 7 tutorial ?

Does it show the partition you made of the entire ssd ?

It should look like this, but with your partition and not unallocated space.

 

[derekimo]

So after spending hours trawling the site to install a fresh copy of Windows 7
there are the specs:
Intel® NUC Kit DC3217IYE

Integrated Board: D33217GKE
mSATA M500 Crucial 240gb SSD
Intel® Core™ i3 3217U Processor (1.8 GHz, Dual Core processor with 3 MB smart cache)

I'm guessing something like this would help with that drive,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/306285-install-windows-msata-ssd-drive.html

 

[gregrocker]

Good catch, Derek.

Let us know if changing the SATA controller from IRST to AHCI and then cleaning the drive works, per the tutorial.

If not here are other steps for Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums.

There is really no need to create on your own the System Reserved partition. If you want it then use the Drive Options to create and format your partition(s):

 

[AddRAM]

I've tried creating a System Reserved partition first and then both a primary active partition and an unallocated partition.


Greg is correct, you do not make a system reserved partition on your own, windows creates it for you when you do not make a pre defined partition, which you say you`ve done, and you can`t create an unallocated partition.
unallocated space is just that, space that hasn`t been defined yet.

Try again and this time just delete any partitions you made so it looks exactly like the picture in step 7, your ssd will of course show a different size in GB, after you have all un allocated space just click next, the install dvd will take care of everything including alignment etc. You can always break the drive up into 2 partitions if you want using Partition Wizard, after the install.

 

[bambi]

Urghh that moment when you have a lovely formatted post and you close the tab by mistake :/ Lets try again

Post #4: I've tried doing a quick format via Diskpart and pointing the setup at that partition but still the same error
Post #5: I see the same as your screenshot but rather than Unallocated, it has my partition. Clicking next produces the same error
Post #6: I've tried to follow that as best I could but as I noted above in my first post, I do only have access to AHCI or IDE
Post #7: In that link I do see some UEFI options in the BIOS. I've tried turning it off and booting legacy but that doesn't help. If I turn it on and try to follow that tutorial I run into problems with Rufus, installing Win7 setup onto the Usb stick. I'm at work now and can't quite remember the error but it wouldn't let me is all i can remember.
Post #8: As the first post, I've tried doing that and it still doesn't work

 

[AddRAM]

I hate when that happens LOL

OK try putting the iso on the flash drive with this tool, it`s never failed me. Let it run, let it finish

http://bootableusb.net/wintobootic-bootable-usb-drive-windows-vista78/

 

[gregrocker]

Let's also make sure you've enabled Legacy Mode and switched off UEFI in BIOS setup. Do any UEFI choices show up when you select the BIOS Boot Menu key at boot?

If so look in BIOS for UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS or Legacy Boot settings and post back their choices.

 

[bambi]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm currently seeing friends for the bank holiday weekend so well try this tomorrow and try the suggestion in post #10. My phone doesn't like typing computer things. Silly autocorrect.

Post #11: This confused me a bit. I have two options in the bios. One is enable uefi. For now I chose disabled. The other was legacy boot which I enabled. I'm 90% sure that the only things in the boot order were Kingston USB stick, msata sad and one other that I think (if possible) was a Lan controller? I'll have to have a look when I'm home though and let you know exactly what I see.

 

[gregrocker]

With an MSATA drive there is a small SSD chip on it intended for paging. It's normally RAIDed or joined to the drive by IRST or similar in BIOS setup as per Derek's link in post 6. Do you see anything similar in BIOS setup. When you delete all partitions or wipe the HD per that link do you see all Unallocated Space in the Win7 installer's Drive Selection panel?

 

[bambi]

Hi Greg



This is what I found. I have uefi,

I only have ide or ahci for the chip set mode

I have IRST I think but it's disabled and I can't enable it



I've tried installing it with both the uefi enabled and disabled and both chipset modes.

 

[bambi]

Sorry I'm using tapatalk and I can't edit my post. But yes if I delete all the partitions I see unallocated space. I will take some more pics tomorrow if it would help you visualize what I see

 

[gregrocker]

What other choices are there for MSATA mode? IRST or AHCI?

Have you tried UEFI, booting the installation media as a UEFI device? This may be easier at this point than trying to figure out the Legacy hoops.

If USB use Option 1 in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

 

[bambi]

For MSATA Mode I only have AHCI or IDE, I don't have IRST.

I tried booting in UEFI but I can't since the device isn't listed in the boot order for UEFI. I can only legacy boot with it. Does that mean that Rufus didn't do it properly?

EDIT: Yes, Rufus made a boo boo. Went and re-did it out on a hunch and it now appears in the boot loader. Going to try to install now and see how that goes


EDIT2: IT WORKED!!! Looks like the UEFI installation worked. Not sure I entirely trust Rufus. Third time was the charm.

To confirm what I did was make the USB stick UEFI "ready" via Rufus (albeit three times), have the MSATA mode in ACHI and install this way. Not sure why the legacy way wouldn't work but hey.
Massive thanks to all who helped in this thread and to Greg personally.

 

[gregrocker]

If you want to post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
we can look it over for you to make sure it is correct.

After comparing the performance with when you ran it with IRST, if you decide you'd prefer to install it with IRST I found this tutorial which may help: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/307529-install-windows-system-msata-isrt.html

It turns out there are two MSATA tutorials and this one gets more into the mechanics of IRST, although it may still be different for your model.

 

[friikadello]

Hi. I have the same message.
I have 2 partitions. One was supposed to be for System the other for files in case of OS failure.
Is there any other way how to install without wiping whole HDD? I have more than 400GB on the other Partition...

 

[gregrocker]

Your files should always be backed up against hard drive failure, by dragging to external or another method like Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums.

Is this a Win8 PC which is installed in UEFI to a GPT format hard drive, and which has already had Secure Boot turned off? If so and using a flash stick installer have you formatted it using Option One in UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums?

If so then boot the installer, delete the OS partition making sure not to touch the data partition no matter what. Before deleting or formatting anything, ask yourself twice if that is the data partition and dont' do it if you're unsure.

Once you delete the OS partition, format it and then try the install. If this fails, delete the small UEFI boot partition(s) which may precede the OS partition, reformat and try again.

If these all fail then you'll need to 1) move the data off (it needs to be backed up externally anyway) to delete all partitions to try again, if necessary wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command, 2) look at settings in BIOS setup to try enabling CSM or Legacy mode which on some BIOS is required to install Win7, 3) change to Legacy BIOS, delete all partitions or wipe the HD, to change the formatting to MBR and Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 .

If you want to post back camera snaps of the BIOS choices on Boot, Advanced, Security and Exit tabs with UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS choices expanded to see them all, use the paper clip icon in reply box to attach these. Otherwise you can type them out.