How to fix the 'We Couldn't Create a New Partition' error in Windows 10

Microsoft Windows is fairly easy to install, even if you're a first-time user. However, this doesn't mean that errors won't occur during the process.

 

In Windows 10, one of the most common installation obstacles is the "We couldn't create a new partition" error. There are many reasons why this error occurs. However, you can easily fix it using the following methods.

Disconnect all other external and internal storage devices.

One of the most common reasons behind partition errors is interference from other connected peripheral devices. Therefore, the first step you should take when diagnosing the error is to remove all external and internal storage devices, except for the main hard drive (HDD) and the USB drive you are using to install Windows.

This includes external hard drives, SSDs , USB drives, and SD cards. To avoid confusion, remove any external USB WiFi and Bluetooth adapters.

 

If removing the internal hard drives is too complicated, you can disable them using the BIOS . While the steps will vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer, the process will be similar to the following:

Step 1 : Press F2 or DEL immediately when you see the manufacturer's logo when you power on your computer. The exact keys will vary depending on the manufacturer.

Step 2 : Once you're in the BIOS , find the menu that lists all the devices connected to your computer.

Step 3 : Turn off all storage devices except the one you will install Windows on.

Step 4 : Restart your computer .

How to use third-party software to create a Windows bootable device.

Sometimes, the "We Couldn't Create a New Partition" error can be caused by an improperly created Windows bootable device. This is often an error with the Windows Media Creation tool. To eliminate this possibility, create a bootable device using third-party software. There are many programs available to create a bootable Windows USB drive from an ISO .

Readers may refer to one of the following guidelines:

1. How to create a bootable USB drive or Windows installation USB using Rufus
2. Guide to quickly creating a bootable USB drive with Hiren's BootCD.
3. How to create a MultiBoot USB using Ventoy, creating a bootable USB is extremely easy with Ventoy.

 

How to set your hard drive as the first boot device.

Normally, when installing Windows, a USB drive or CD is the first boot device. However, in some cases, doing so can cause Windows to mistake the USB drive or CD for the hard drive, resulting in the error "We Couldn't Create a New Partition".

Fortunately, this can be easily resolved by selecting the hard drive as the first boot device:

Step 1 : Disconnect the USB or CD containing Windows from your computer.

Step 2 : Access the motherboard's BIOS.

Step 3 : Now, find the boot menu in the BIOS. You can refer to your motherboard's user manual for easy searching.

Step 4 : In the list of boot devices, make sure the hard drive is at the top, meaning it's the first boot device.

Step 5 : After doing this, connect the USB or Windows CD and restart your computer.

Step 6 : Immediately after your computer restarts, press F8, F10, F11 , or F12 to enter the boot menu. Depending on your motherboard, it may be any of the keys mentioned above. Please refer to your manual.

Step 7 : Select USB or CD as the boot device from this menu.

Step 8 : Proceed with the Windows installation.

Use Diskpart to create a new partition.

The Diskpart utility can be used to create new partitions during Windows installation. It is run using the Command Prompt during the Windows installation process.

Remember to back up your data before proceeding with the following steps, as they will completely wipe your hard drive.

Here's how you can use Diskpart to create a new partition:

Step 1 : Immediately after encountering the error "We couldn't create a new partition," close the setup wizard. Then click the Repair option.

 

Step 2 : Now, go to Advanced Tools and then click on Command Prompt.

Step 3 : In the Command Prompt, type start diskpart and press Enter.

Step 4 : Next, type " list disk" and press Enter. This will display a list of hard drives (HDDs) connected to your computer.

Step 5 : Find the relevant number next to the hard drive you want to partition. Type select disk x (here, replace x with your hard drive number).

Step 6 : Now, you will need to enter the command string listed below.

1. clean
2. create partition primary
3. active
4. format fs=ntfs quick
5. assign

Step 7 : After the process is complete, close the Command Prompt. You can type `exit` in the console to do so.

Step 8 : Restart the Windows installation process.

How to convert a Windows partition to GPT format

GPT partitions have fewer limitations than the default MBR format. Therefore, it's worthwhile converting the partition to GPT format and then installing Windows. Here, you will also have to use the Diskpart utility. The only caveat is that converting the partition format from MBR to GPT will erase all files, so make sure you back up all important data before proceeding.

Here's how you can convert your Windows partition to GPT format:

Step 1 : Follow steps 1 and 2 from above to open Command Prompt .

Step 2 : Type start diskpart in the Command Prompt and press Enter.

Step 3 : Next, type list disk and press Enter.

Step 4 : Now, type ` select disk x` , where x corresponds to the number next to the list of hard drives.

Step 5 : You will need to completely erase the hard drive before continuing. To do so, type clean and press Enter.

Step 6 : Finally, type convert gpt and press Enter.

Step 7 : Wait for the process to complete, then try reinstalling Windows.

Using the methods listed above, you can easily fix the "We Couldn't Create a New Partition" error and install Windows smoothly. However, you may also encounter other common Windows installation errors. Therefore, it's best to know the steps you can take to resolve them.