Solved Windows 7 Ultimate Install, Can't make partitions

[Greg2518]

I got the BSOD a bit ago, and I don't really remember why, but I decided this might be a good time to clear everything (being inbetween semesters) and upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate from Windows 7 Home. I unfortuanetly have only had problems since then. I know having some system specs would help, but I'm not exactly sure what you'll need, so if you need more info let me know. But here is where I am at now. I click install, custom, and I have one partition that is unused at ~ 480 GB. (My HDD is a Toshiba MK5056GSY 500GB) (There were the original OSs files there originally, but I did something and they are no longer there). But on the page it says "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. (Show details)" When I click on that it says " Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu". So basically any help/advice to get me in the right direction would be appreciated. I'm aware it might be some of my hardware as my computer recently bsod but I'm not even sure where to start.

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

To create partitions during the installation procedure you need to carry out a clean install rather than an upgrade, as this tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Be aware that when you carry out a clean install, you will lose any data you haven't backed up first and you will have to reinstall all your applications.

 

[gregrocker]

How did you upgrade to Ultimate from Home Premium? If you bought Upgrade version of Ultimate you can use it to clean reinstall, however if you bought an Anytime Upgrade key then you'll need to reinstall Home Premium first and then run Anytime Upgrade.

Follow these step to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

Remove the EFI BIOS boot disk from BIOS Boot order if it appears, then wipe the HD first before reinstall with Diskpart Clean Command from installer Command Line accessed by Shift +F10 at first screen. After the Clean command completes, type Convert MBR, then Exit. Close box and begin Install.

I assume you had specific features you needed in Ultimate to decide to spend all that money on the same OS with just a few extra features that most users don't need? Compare Windows - Microsoft Windows

 

[Greg2518]

Thanks for the response, sorry I took a couple days to get back. I've been out of state for a wedding so I haven't gotten a chance to try what you suggested. I did get the actuall install disk not an upgrade disk. Also the reason I am switching to ultimate is because I got it for free through work. I'll let you know the results when I get back home though and try it out.

 

[gregrocker]

With a full version of Ultimate you can boot the disk to clean reinstall following the steps to Clean Install Windows 7.

Back up your files first and I would delete all partitions during install unless you want to save the Recovery partition which may or may not run after reinstall.

Keep in mind that if Home Premium came with the rig you have the right to reinstall it at any time in the future to get it's $100+ value which will be lost if you use Ultimate. If Premium was a retail copy you can migrate it elsewhere.

There are some important considerations in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 for getting a perfect reinstall which are worth a read even though you have retail. Ask back if you have any questions.

 

[Greg2518]

While on diskpart, when I typed "Convert MBR" I got a data error <cyclic redundancy check>. Any advice on what to do from here?

 

[gregrocker]

Go ahead and try install as it may be an MBR disk already - the error only sometimes means you're trying to install to GPT disk without EFI BIOS, or to an MBR disk with EFI enabled in BIOS Boot order. Check the BIOS Boot order for EFI boot disk to remove.

If install fails again create and format a 100gb install partition and mark it Active using Step 2.2 here: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[Greg2518]

Still encountering the same error. It says "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. (Show details), "Widnows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you check BIOS Boot order to remove any listing for EFI Boot Disk, and create/format a 100gb partition to mark Active as given in Step 2.2 here: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation?

 

[Greg2518]

Sorry, I somehow overlooked half of your post. When you say "Did you check BIOS Boot order to remove any listing for EFI Boot Disk" what exactly am I looking for in boot order. Currently I have CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive first, with USB Storage Removable Devices, Network and Hard Drive last. Hard Drive does have a + which when clicked goes to a sub list that has my hard drive listed.

 

[gregrocker]

What else is in the HD list? Set it second after DVD drive.

You likely don't have EFI BIOS so the error should be corrected by creating and marking Active an install partition.

 

[Greg2518]

That is the only thing listed under the HD list. I tried creating the partition, but got another cyclic redundancy check error.

 

[gregrocker]

Test your HD with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

Boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD

Create a full disk NTFS Primary partition, give it a letter, rightclick to Modify>Set to Active, OK, Apply. Then rightclick to Check File System with both boxes checked.

 

[Greg2518]

For my model it says " 3.2.1. Boot from a clean DOS disk.
3.2.2. Change to the drive/directory where FJDT.EXE is located.
3.2.3. Syntax:
A> FJDT"
Any suggestions where to get a clean DOS disk download?

EDIT: Also, I ran the partition wizard just to see if it would run, and under File System it said Bad Disk.

 

[gregrocker]

You can burn the diagnostics .iso file to CD to boot and run Extended scan, or just replace the HD now since PW has confirmed it is bad.

Sometimes the diagnostics repair CD followed by Disk Check can repair the HD enough to retrieve your files, but I would not depend on it again for normal use.

 

[Greg2518]

Alright thanks, I'm not too worried about the files I'll just replace the HD. I think it is still covered by warranty anyways. If it isn't covered by warranty any suggestions on a new one? I'm going to mark this as solved by the way.

 

[gregrocker]

SSD's are the best performance boost you can give Win7.

 

[nailzuk]

linux is the best performance boost you can give windows

 

[3D Jed]

linux is the best performance boost you can give windows

unless you use After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Cinema 4D etc etc