Windows Installation

Troubleshooting

Can't create a new partition or locate an existing one

Error

Error: "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one." on the Where do you want to install Windows? prompt.

Cause

The installer is having difficulty installing from the flash drive.

Solution

Create a partition on the hard drive and copy the Windows install files there.

• Plug the flash drive with the installer on it into an USB port.
• Boot from the flash drive.
• At the Where do you want to install Windows? screen displaying the error message press Shift + F10 to get a command prompt.

> diskpart
> list disk
> select disk 0
> clean
> create partition primary size=5000
> format fs=ntfs quick
> assign
> active
> list volume
> exit
> cd c: 
> xcopy e: c:/e/h/k
> exit

• select disk 0 selects the hard drive onto which the installation files will be copied.
• create partition makes a partition on the hard drive where the installation files can be copied.
• assign assigns a drive letter to the new partition.
• xcopy copies the installation file from the USB drive to the hard drive.
• The last exit closes the command prompt window.

• After closing the command prompt, remove the USB flash drive and click the X button at the top right of the Windows installation window to close the current installation and reboot the computer.
  • Without a mouse, click Esc, the confirm to quit the installation. If this leads back to the first window of the Windows installation, click Esc again, and again confirm that the installation will be canceled.
• The computer should now boot from the hard drive and the installation will use the files from the new partition.