5 Ways to Overcome We Couldn't Create A New Partition Or Locate An Existing One

 If Windows has trouble creating a new partition during installation and gives the error message "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one", here's how to fix it.

Microsoft Windows is pretty easy to install, even if you're a novice user. However, this does not mean you will be free from errors.

On Windows, one of the most common installation hurdles is the “We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one” error message. There are several reasons why this error appears, but you can easily fix it using the following method.

1. Remove All External And Internal Storage Devices

Remove All External And Internal Storage Devices

One of the most common reasons behind partition errors is interference from other connected peripherals. So, the first step that you should take while diagnosing the error is to disconnect all external and internal storage devices except the main hard disk drive (HDD) and the USB that you used to install Windows.

This includes external HDDs, Solid State Drives (SSD), USB drives, and SD cards. Just in case, also remove the external USB Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters.

If removing the internal HDD is too much of a hassle, you can disable it using the BIOS. While the steps vary across motherboard manufacturers, the process should be similar to this:

1. Press F2 or DEL as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo when turning on the computer. The exact key differs across manufacturers.

2. Once in the BIOS, look for a menu that lists all the devices connected to your computer.

3. Disable all storage devices except the one you will use to install Windows.

4. Restart the computer.

2. Use Third Party Software To Make Windows Bootable Devices

Sometimes, the “We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one” error can be caused by an improperly made bootable Windows. This is usually an error caused by the Windows Media Creation tool. To eliminate this possibility, make the device bootable using third party software.

There are many programs to create a Windows bootable USB. As an example, we'll be using Rufus Portable, an open-source bootable USB creation program:

Use Third Party Software To Make Windows Bootable Device

1. Download Rufus.

2. Download the Windows Media Creation tool. If you have downloaded it, just run it. You will need it to download the Windows ISO file.

3. Accept the license agreement in Media Creation Tool.

4. In the next window, click Create installation media. Click Next.

5. Select the relevant Windows version and edition on the next page. Click Next.

6. Now, select the ISO File option. Click Next.

7. Select the ISO file download location.

8. After the ISO file has finished downloading, run Rufus.

9. Under Device, select the relevant USB drive from the drop-down menu.

10. Under Boot Selection, select the Disk or ISO File option.

11. Click Select, then browse to the Windows ISO file that you just downloaded.

12. Click Start.

13. Rufus will create a bootable USB drive for you.

14.

3. Set Hard Drive As First Boot Device

Usually, when installing Windows, your USB or CD will be the first boot device. But there are instances where doing this can cause Windows to confuse the USB drive or CD for the hard drive, leading to the “We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one” error.

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

Set Hard Drive As First Boot Device

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

2. Enter the motherboard BIOS using the method previously mentioned.

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

4. Under the menu that lists the boot device, make sure the hard drive is at the top, i.e. the first boot device.

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

6. Immediately after the computer reboots, press F8, F10, F11, or F12 to enter the boot menu. Depending on your motherboard, it can be one of the keys mentioned above.

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

8. Proceed to install Windows.

4. Use Diskpart To Create A New Partition

The diskpart utility can be used to create new partitions while installing Windows. It is executed using the Command Prompt during the Windows installation process. Remember to back up your data before trying these steps, as they will completely wipe the hard drive. Here's how to use Diskpart to create a new partition:

Use Diskpart To Create A New Partition

1. As soon as you get the error message “We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one”, close the setup wizard. Then click on the Repair option.

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

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

4. Type list disk, and press Enter. This will display a list of hard disk drives (HDD) connected to your computer.

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).

6. Now, you have to type in the chain of command which will be listed below. Remember to press Enter after typing each command.

+clean

+ create partition primary

+ active

+ format fs=ntfs quick

+ assign

7. After the process is complete, close the Command Prompt. You can type exit in the console to do this.

8. Restart the Windows installation process.

5. Convert Windows Partition To GPT Format

GPT partition has many advantages compared to MBR format. So, it's a good idea to convert partition to GPT format and then install Windows. Here too, you have to use the Diskpart utility. The only caveat is that converting the partition format from MBR to GPT will delete all your files, so make sure to back up all important data before proceeding.

Here's how to convert your Windows Partition to GPT format:

Convert Windows Partition To GPT Format

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

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

3. After this, type list disk and press Enter.

4. Now, enter select disk x , where x corresponds to the number next to your hard drive listing.

5. You must completely wipe the hard drive before proceeding. To do so, type clean and press Enter.

6. Finally, type convert gpt and press Enter.

7. Wait for the process to finish, then try reinstalling Windows.

Conclusion

So that's how to solve We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one. Using the methods listed above, you can easily fix the error and install Windows smoothly.