Windows 7 - Setup was unable to create a new partition

Hello !!

Recently I want to install Windows 7 as my previous OS was Windows xp...

Now, I am unable to install windows 7 as , when I start the install and click on install it shows that setup was unable to create a new partition or locate an existing system partition...

I have 2 hard disks , one of size 75 gb & other of 320 Gb..
Previously , OS was installed on 320 gb , but i have formatted that drive before installing windows 7...

now my 75 gb hard disk is empty & one drive of 320 gb is also empty..

It shows that 320 gb hdd ia on disk 0 & 75 gb on disk 1...

I want to install Os in any of the above mentioned HDD..

It shows that-> 1. all drives of 320 gb HDD as Logical & 75 gb HDD drives as Primary...
No system Drive..

Pls help guys!!!! unable to install OS from Past 1 week...
sending this query from my friend's laptop...
Help!!!!

Not sure I understand or completely follow. You have 2 seperate hdd's...0 and 1...correct? Or is the the hdd in question been partitioned? A screen shot of your disk management window would really help clarify.

You don't have a working OS?...is this correct? What version of the orginal OS did you have, xp 32 bit or 64 bit.

When installing windows 7, did you upgrade or clean install? Do you have the right bit version of windows 7?

Just a guess, but if the installation is not showing your hard disks then it may be because your BIOS is set to AHCI or AHCI / RAID. In which case you have two options.
Obtain the appropriate drivers from your disk controller manufacturer, extract it and put it on a USB key and use F6 option during the setup process to install the driver for your disk controller.
or
Use your system BIOS utility to change the setting to NATIVE / IDE or words to that affect.

I have completely clean windows xp 32 bit
and have original windows 7 dvd 32 bit

my bios shows both HDD

yes, I Have Two HDD..
1. 75 Gb configuration
Total 3 Drives , Each of 25 Gb..
AND WHen the installtion of windows 7 begins, it asks in which Drive u want ot install windows 7, When I select it shows unable to create a new partition or locate a system partition, check system log files
and 75 gb is fully empty aand at index no 1
all drives of 75 gb are shown as primary while all drives of 320 gb are shown as Logical


while 320 gb have 4 divers, 3 drives of 100gb & one of 20 gb
and 320 gb hdd is at index 0..
Hope u get it wht i am talking about

I am unable to install windows 7 and now, there is no os in my pc & no system drive

If you do not have anything on the drives you need to keep, because this will wipe them. During the Install, on the second page where you have the option to Install or repair, use the Shift+F10 key combination to open a command window. Using that you can clean one or both drives with Diskpart. When you list the drives, just make sure you get the one you want. Type the following commands with enter after, and if you want to clean both drives, re-select the other drive to clean and then exit out.

Diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 <--this would be if Disk 0 was the one you wanted
clean
exit
exit

What I think might be going on is you have the 320 G drive set as primary and since it shows as logical, Windows cannot put an active partition on it for the boot files. Cleaning the drive will remove the logical partition.

Edit: How old is the 75 G drive. You might want to disconnect it completely.

If this was mine, I would format the 320 gb hdd to a single partition drive, and install OS on that drive.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a limit (of 4) to the amount of partitions for a HDD in windows 7.

I would use the 75 gb hdd as a storage drive...pictures, documents...and so on.

I have done that..Cleaned my 75 GB HDD...
But getting same error..unable to create a new partition

and bro, in 3 drives of 320gb(100 gb each) I have data stored in it..so can't clean 320 gb HDD...
But one drive of 320 gb (20 gb size) is empty, so i can clean this drive and can install windows 7

If their is no way, other than cleaning 320 Gb HDD,then tell me how can i copy data of this Hard disk
I have three pendrives ,each of size 32Gb...

tell me How many partitions , should i make for These two hdd and which size..
pls help

My suggestion would be, that if there is critical data present on you 320GB hard drive, then remove it from the installation equation by disconnecting the data cable (and or power cable) to prevent any accidental destruction of that critical data.
Configure your 75GB hard drive as your primary drive by connecting it to the appropriate disk controller and configuring jumpers properly (if IDE) and if required. There is more than enough room there to support the OS installation as well as many programs.
Use the disk options icon during the setup process to delete any existing partition(s) on that drive (assuming there is nothing any longer of consequence on that drive) and leave it an "Unallocated" that should allow you to use the 75GB hard drive to install the OS.
Once that is complete you can reconnect your other hard drive either by using a second controller interface or by configuring it as a slave making sure that the jumpers are configured properly (if IDE).

Thought I'd jump in and ask this;

Are trying to install Windows 7 on an already partitioned drive, if so, that maybe the problem, for a clean install, you need an unallocated partition or drive.
You can use the Windows install DVD to delete a current partition and then create a new partition in that unallocated/deleted space.
If you haven't done this already, give it a shot, by using the "Advance Options" during the install and what Trouble just suggested

Thanks for helping...
I have successfully installed windows 7 on my pc by removing 320 GB HDD..,
and now I have replug it and it is visible in my compuer...Thanx

Now Guys, tell me one thing->
I have copied my all data from 320 gb HDD to my friend's laptop.. now I wanted to partition 320 gb & 75 gb Hdd..as both of them are empty now
So tell me In which HDD should I install OS and How many Partition should I make & of Which size??