Solved 'Windows could not format a partition' - please help!

SAVVYSCLUTTER

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I corrupted my main partition so I'm reinstalling Windows 7 from an ISO burned to a flash drive in Rufus. I clicked 'Custom' then the main partition, and saw 'Windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The error occurred while preparing a partition selected for installation. Error code: 0x80070057'

Deleting and recreating the partition, and deleting it without recreating, gave the same error. Running these commands remained at '0 percent':
diskpart
select disk 0
select partition 2
format fs=ntfs

How can I fix this without erasing the recovery partition?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Acer E5-574T
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    1000 GB HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech M310
    Browser
    r3dfox
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
How to See Your System Specs


The drive seems to be corrupted. Deleting all partitions will re initiate the drive.
Why do you want to avoid to delete the Recovery partition? Is it the Windows recovery or the laptop recovery partition?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    custom build
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz
    Motherboard
    GA-Z170-HD3P
    Memory
    4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG - Intel 530
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    (1) -1 SM951 – 128GB M.2 AHCI PCIe SSD drive for Windows 7 and Lubuntu
    (2) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for Data
    (3) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for backup
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W TR2 gold
    Keyboard
    Old and good Chicony mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech mX performance - 9 buttons (had to disable some)
    Internet Speed
    500Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Asus Q550LF
    OS
    Windows 7 Pro
    CPU
    i7-4500U 800MHz to 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Q550LF
    Memory
    (4+4)G DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Display LP156WF4-SPH1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    BX500 120G SSD for Windows and programs +
    1T HDD for data
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
How to See Your System Specs


The drive seems to be corrupted. Deleting all partitions will re initiate the drive.
Why do you want to avoid to delete the Recovery partition? Is it the Windows recovery or the laptop recovery partition?
I added hardware specs. I don't want to delete the Toshiba recovery partition - I hope to install a retail copy of Windows, enter recovery and restore the Toshiba copy.

- - - Updated - - -

diskgenius boot media
EaseUS Partition Master
I tried SeaTools to check the disk and Acronis Disk Director to partition it. Will these still help?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Acer E5-574T
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    1000 GB HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech M310
    Browser
    r3dfox
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The OP doesnt want to delete the recovery partition.

Is the recovery image windows vista or win7?

I already suggested diskgenius boot media to see if the partition table can be fixed, or the offending partition can be deleted. The OP hasn't followed that advice yet.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
The OP doesnt want to delete the recovery partition.

Is the recovery image windows vista or win7?

I already suggested diskgenius boot media to see if the partition table can be fixed, or the offending partition can be deleted. The OP hasn't followed that advice yet.
The recovery image is Win7. I'll try DiskGenius later.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Acer E5-574T
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    1000 GB HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech M310
    Browser
    r3dfox
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Normally, from BIOS, you can create a USB rescue drive using the Recovery partition. Once you have the USB rescue drive you can clean and re initiate the drive. Then use the USB rescue drive to reinstall Windows.

With only 3G of memory a Win 7 32 bits will work better than a 64 bits.
Why don't you install a SSD. It will boot in seconds rather than in minutes and opens programs at a blink of an eye.
Sata SSDs
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    custom build
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5 6600K - 800MHz to 4200MHz
    Motherboard
    GA-Z170-HD3P
    Memory
    4+4G GSkill DDR4 3000
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG - Intel 530
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    (1) -1 SM951 – 128GB M.2 AHCI PCIe SSD drive for Windows 7 and Lubuntu
    (2) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for Data
    (3) -1 WD SATA 3 - 1T for backup
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W TR2 gold
    Keyboard
    Old and good Chicony mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech mX performance - 9 buttons (had to disable some)
    Internet Speed
    500Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox 64
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Asus Q550LF
    OS
    Windows 7 Pro
    CPU
    i7-4500U 800MHz to 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Q550LF
    Memory
    (4+4)G DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    IG intel 4400 + NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Display LP156WF4-SPH1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    BX500 120G SSD for Windows and programs +
    1T HDD for data
    Internet Speed
    500 Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    TinyWall firewall
Is this the same disk in your other post that cant create a boot record?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
win 8 32 bit

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Acer E5-574T
    OS
    Windows 7 HP 64
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    1000 GB HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech M310
    Browser
    r3dfox
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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