Cannot install Windows 8.1 on new SSD because Windows "Couldn't create a new partition". I've tried everything.

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smeyer3

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Jul 17, 2009
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I bought a new Samsung 850 EVO 250gb SSD. I have a Asus M4A87TD EVO motherboard.

I cannot install Windows 8.1 on it. I am currently using the USB installation method. I keep getting the message ""We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one. For more information, see the Setup log files." This has been extremely frustrating.

Here is an image showing what I get. It's simply one drive and one partition.

I have done a lot of research on this and cannot figure it out. I have tried:
-Unplugging all other hard drives. Thumb drives. Even disk drives.
-I have changed my SATA to AHCI mode in my BIOS
-Formatted and created a "new" partition dozens of times in the Windows installation process.
-Did the DISKPART command in the command prompt. No luck.
-I connected the SSD to another computer. I am able to format it and make it a working secondary drive.

I feel like I can't find any more solutions than the ones I have tried. Do I give up and get a new SSD? Will using a DVD instead of a USB to install Windows help? Any help on this would be amazing. Thanks.

 
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Yeah, I am able to boot into the USB install media. Put in my windows serial. Then it just won't let me proceed past choosing the drive where Windows will be installed. I've made sure there is only one partition using the whole drive, and still no luck
 
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I'm not quite sure how to do this. Would have have to connect my SSD to another computer, install the driver, then try and install windows on it after that?

 
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In the install routine, select Custom.
Delete whatever partitions are on there.
Format.
See what happens.
 
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I think I have done this multiple times. There is only just one partition. I format the drive. Then I delete the partition. Then a create a new one. Still no luck. I followed this. It just doesn't work for me.
 
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Yeah, it's frustrating. The youtube video I linked, the top comment mentions that he tried using a smaller thumb drive and it worked for him. Maybe I'll try that. Although I feel like probably won't make a difference. Other than that, I'm out of ideas.
 
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It's a brand new drive. So Windows 7 was not on it to my knowledge. I tried to disable CSM / Legacy Boot in the BIOS, but I couldn't see any of those options. I don't know what that even is. If you still think disabling those would help (even though my ssd is new), can you clarify how I might do that? Thanks.
 
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I just checked for the manual and there are some bad news: unfortunately, Win 8 is not officially supported by your motherboard. Try to update the BIOS to the latest version available, but since 2011 there is no other BIOS releases, so I guess you'll be stuck with Win 7 at best.

You can try to do a Win 8.1 upgrade from the Win 7; before doing this though, check if there are Win 8 drivers for chipset / audio / video card, etc.
 
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Huh. This is interesting. I was running Windows 8.1 on my motherboard just fine with another hard drive. Then I upgraded to an SSD and that's where I am now. Although I don't remember if I just upgraded W7 to W8 or if I did a clean install of W8. I guess the good news is that I know I can run W8 on my mobo. Maybe I just have to try and install W7 first, and then upgrade it from there. Anyway, I'll look into this and I will try it out and let you know. I really appreciate the time you took to look up my mobo manual. You're great.
 
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So, I was able to fix my problem. I'm not exactly sure which factor played in. I tried using a different USB thumb drive that I created again using Microsoft's media creation tool. However, my valid W8 key wasn't working in the Windows install process. So I "downloaded" a W8 ISO, used rufus to mount it on my USB drive, and when I installed W8 using that, for some reason it didn't give me any partition problems. So, I'm not sure if I simply had a faulty USB thumb drive, or there was some sort of issue with Microsoft's media creation tool and my mobo/ssd. Anyway, I'm glad I got things working, despite not knowing exactly what the problem was.
 
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I am having the exact same problem with the exact same Samsung 850 PRO SSD.

Installing from 64-bit DVD.

Please can anyone help - this is a brand new drive, I am not computer naïve, but Windows 8.1 will not create a partition or even see the ones I create on another machine.

Completely stuck, exact same problem as this person. Obviously this is an issue.
 
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For it to work for me, I torrented Windows and put it on a new 8gb USB drive using Rufus to make the ISO bootable from my USB. I was able to install Windows that way. I was able to put my legitimate Windows serial after that process to make everything square. I'm not sure which one of those steps solved my problem, but things are working for me now.
 
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I have experienced the same problem.
I did the following to install Windows 7/8.1/10.

Download Parted Magic.
Boot to Parted Magic (DVD Rom)
Partition the SSD as NTFS.
Boot to Windows 10 (USP Drive)
Install Windows 7/8.1/10

Good luck.
 
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