Windows 10: "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"

Discus and support "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one" in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade to solve the problem; Hi there 1) ensure Laptop HDD has NO LOGICAL partitions - 2) ensure at least 1 partition is defined as ACTIVE otherwise Windows installer won't... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade' started by GuyInDogSuit, Dec 3, 2016.

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  1. JIMBO45
    jimbo45 Win User

    "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"


    Hi there


    1) ensure Laptop HDD has NO LOGICAL partitions -
    2) ensure at least 1 partition is defined as ACTIVE otherwise Windows installer won't see the HDD
    3) UEFI or MBR --your choice but I'd go for UEFI / GPT myself even on W10 32 bit.
    4) ensure Protected boot is turned OFF (usually in BIOS that means enabling "Legacy boot" or similar
    5) Windows won't install if target HDD and any USB's / SD cards etc show more than 4 partitions --you can have as many as you want after install.

    The problem isn't IMO anything to do with "comatibility of USB sticks" etc.

    If a USB stick is defective you wouldn't have been able to get RUFUS to use it anyway.

    Cheers
    jimbo
     
    jimbo45, Dec 4, 2016
    #16
  2. GUYINDOGSUIT
    GuyInDogSuit Win User

    1. No logical partitions.
    2. Defined the partition as active via diskpart.
    3. UEFI, for sure.
    4. Legacy boot is on, yes. Wouldn't boot the installer otherwise.
    5. Both HDD and USB have one partition.


    That was my thought as well.

    What I ended up doing was updating from XP to Windows 7, then from that to 10. It was a long process, but it worked. However, I would like to figure out why this problem occurred in the first place.
     
    GuyInDogSuit, Dec 4, 2016
    #17
  3. SOFINE409
    SoFine409 Win User
    Hi GuyInDogSuit,
    Glad you got it sorted out. Too bad that you had to go through so much to fix it. Did you ever try using a USB2 stick as I suggested? I suspect that you didn't. I found lots of instances on this and other forums where using a USB2 stick fixed this problem since most BIOS do not natively support USB3.
     
    SoFine409, Dec 4, 2016
    #18
  4. GUYINDOGSUIT
    GuyInDogSuit Win User

    "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"

    2.0/3.0 had nothing to do with it...
     
    GuyInDogSuit, Dec 5, 2016
    #19
  5. SOFINE409
    SoFine409 Win User
    Thanks, so you tried it and it didn't work? It least you got it fixed eventually. I hope you didn't have too many apps to reinstall. Last time I did a clean install on my main PC it took two 10 hour days to reinstall everything.
     
    SoFine409, Dec 5, 2016
    #20
  6. GUYINDOGSUIT
    GuyInDogSuit Win User
    The drive I used was 2.0. I only own one 3.0 USB drive, which is 32 GB and I don't use that for this purpose.

    I didn't need to install anything other than Chrome, for this person.
     
    GuyInDogSuit, Dec 5, 2016
    #21
  7. VALIHRACH
    valihrach Win User
    It is known problem - bios & installer treat your usb dongle as boot harddisk. You have three options:
    - buy or borrow some older 4GB flash and use it for installation, or
    - download Lexar format tool Lexar USB Format Tool - Solve USB Drive Problems and click on Flip Removable Bit button
    - or use external/internal dvd drive & media for installation.
    Second solution may or may not work for your particular dongle.
     
    valihrach, Apr 4, 2018
    #22
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