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

Microsoft Windows is quite easy to install, even if you are a novice user. However, this does not mean that errors will not occur in the process.

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 peripherals. So, the first step you should do when diagnosing the error is to remove all external and internal storage devices, except the main hard drive (HDD) and USB you are using to install Windows.

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

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If removing the internal hard drives is too complicated, you can disable them using the BIOS. Although the steps will vary by board manufacturer, the process will be similar to this:

Step 1 : Press F2 or DEL as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo when powering on the computer. The exact keys will vary by manufacturer.

Step 2 : Once you are inside the BIOS, find the menu that lists all the devices connected to the computer.

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

Step 4 : Restart the computer.

How to use third-party software to create a Windows boot device

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

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Readers can refer to one of the following instructions:

How to set the hard drive as the first boot device

Normally, when installing Windows, USB or CD will be the first boot device. But there are cases where doing this can lead to Windows mistaking a USB or CD for a hard drive, leading to the "We Couldn't Create a New Partition" error.

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

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

Step 2 : Go to the motherboard's BIOS.

Step 3 : Now, find the boot menu in BIOS. You can refer to the motherboard manual to find it easily.

Step 4 : In the menu listing boot devices, make sure the hard drive is at the top, meaning this is the first boot device.

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

Step 6 : As soon as your computer restarts, press F8, F10, F11 or F12 to enter the boot menu. Depending on the motherboard, it could be any of the aforementioned keys. Please refer to the instruction manual.

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

Step 8 : Proceed to install Windows.

Use Diskpart to create a new partition

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

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

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

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Step 1 : As soon as you get the "We couldn't create a new partition" error, close the setup wizard. Then click on the Repair option.

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

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

Step 4 : Then, 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 have to enter a series of commands listed below.

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

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

Step 8 : Restart the Windows installation process.

How to convert Windows partition to GPT format

GPT partitions have fewer restrictions than the default MBR format. So it's worth converting the partition to GPT format and then installing Windows. Here, you will also have to use the Diskpart utility. The only thing to note is that converting the partition format from MBR to GPT will delete all files, so make sure you back up all important data before continuing.

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

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

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

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

Step 4 : Now, enter select disk x , where x corresponds to the number next to the hard drive list.

Step 5 : You will have 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 to install Windows again.

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. So, it's best to understand the steps you can take to resolve them.

Marvin Fry

Update 13 July 2024