Question I'm so frustrated - - - why can't I install Windows on this computer ?

[flon_klar]

Background: For the past week, I've been dealing with an issue regarding the sudden inability of my computer to access the internet. The guys here on Tom's were very patient with me, talking me through different tests, and trying to help. I had the tech from the ISP out to look at everything- he found nothing wrong with his equipment. I talked with the Motorola (router) tech- we determined that it wasn't his equipment either. I couldn't find any hardware problems, so finally I made the decision that the problem must lie in Windows so I decided to install a fresh copy of the OS. I was able to get online, because I remembered I had an old C: drive that was functional. I popped it in, and that OS was still able to get an internet connection.

So I made the USB boot drive from the Microsoft website and let it work. After a while, the machine stopped, shut down completely. I figured it was done. I restarted it, but it wouldn't boot (yes, I changed the boot order in BIOS). I changed the boot order back to the old drive that worked, and then took a look at the drive that I had intended to load the new copy of Windows on. It was blank. So apparently the drive had been formatted but the OS had not been installed. I tried again, several times, to install Windows on it, but I kept getting a message that Windows could not be installed on that partition because it was the wrong file system. I thought it was weird that Windows had formatted it to a system it couldn't use.

I went to Disk Management to check it out and reformat it. "Format" was grayed out. I tried to format it from the context menu. It wouldn't format, saying that the drive was open and in use, even though it wasn't.

I feel like I'm going crazy. Nothing I can do will allow me to install a fresh copy of Windows on, or even format, this drive. Every time I try to run the new installation, the computer goes into automatic repair mode, but then tells me it cannot repair it. Does anyone have some suggestions of how to troubleshoot and resolve this?? Thanks.

 

[TerryLaze]

Sounds a lot like the disk is dying.
The makers webpage might have a tool to check its health, otherwise use a generic tool like crystal disk info or anything that can show you smart info.

 

[flon_klar]

Sounds a lot like the disk is dying.
The makers webpage might have a tool to check its health, otherwise use a generic tool like crystal disk info or anything that can show you smart info.

I will look on Samsung’s site, but crystal disk and disk management both say it’s healthy.

 

[caution1397]

Samsung Magicician - for the ssd,

Samsung Magician Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung Magician software is designed to help you manage your Samsung SSD with a simple, intuitive user interface. Download files & find supported models.

semiconductor.samsung.com

How to Check SSD Health in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Find out how many writes your SSD has left.

www.tomshardware.com

I would recommend you turn on onedrive, and have a backup of your windows/files, because eventually all the SSD's will fail. (I keep some old DISK drives, from Samsung, and keep a backup of all my files on them.)

 

[JayGau]

Are you doing all of this with both drives connected? Don't do that. Remove the old drive, keep only the one you want to install Windows on and the installer usb drive. And use the usb boot bypass to boot with the installer.

 

[flon_klar]

I checked the drive with Magician. It says it is perfectly healthy.

Samsung Magicician - for the ssd,

Samsung Magician Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung Magician software is designed to help you manage your Samsung SSD with a simple, intuitive user interface. Download files & find supported models.

semiconductor.samsung.com

How to Check SSD Health in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Find out how many writes your SSD has left.

www.tomshardware.com

I would recommend you turn on onedrive, and have a backup of your windows/files, because eventually all the SSD's will fail. (I keep some old DISK drives, from Samsung, and keep a backup of all my files on them.)

I have my entire computer backed up off site.

 

[flon_klar]

Are you doing all of this with both drives connected? Don't do that. Remove the old drive, keep only the one you want to install Windows on and the installer usb drive. And use the usb boot bypass to boot with the installer.

No, all drives except the one are disconnected. And I’m booting with the USB.

This is the message I get when it’s time to install:
“Windows can’t be installed on drive 0 partition 2.
[Details]: The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks.”

So, I attempted to use mbr2gpt to convert the disk. (The drive has the 2TB partition sandwiched in between (2) 500MB partitions.) mbr2gpt will only address the first little partition.

I tried to clean it in diskpart; I got an error saying “clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume.”

How do I format this drive so I can install Windows on it?

 

[BFG-9000]

So, I attempted to use mbr2gpt to convert the disk. (The drive has the 2TB partition sandwiched in between (2) 500MB partitions.) mbr2gpt will only address the first little partition.

I tried to clean it in diskpart; I got an error saying “clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume.”

How do I format this drive so I can install Windows on it?

Don't do any of that. When Windows asks where you'd like to install to, choose Advanced, then delete all partitions off the disk and direct it to install to the unpartitioned space. The installer will handle creating GPT partitions and formatting them itself.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Id suggest while in advanced splitting the drive into two partitions. Maybe 250GB for 'C' (or 175GB) and the rest to the later to be created D-Drive. Keep Windows isolated on its own partition so if you ever need to reset Windows or reinstall all your files can sit on the spare partition and keep the other NVMe for gaming/productivity tasks. That way as your wearing down the read/write cycles and if you were say installing a game while working on a word document you aren't taxing one drive

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, all drives except the one are disconnected. And I’m booting with the USB.

This is the message I get when it’s time to install:
“Windows can’t be installed on drive 0 partition 2.
[Details]: The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks.”

So, I attempted to use mbr2gpt to convert the disk. (The drive has the 2TB partition sandwiched in between (2) 500MB partitions.) mbr2gpt will only address the first little partition.

I tried to clean it in diskpart; I got an error saying “clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume.”

How do I format this drive so I can install Windows on it?

Use THIS EXACT method and you won't need to worry about doing anything to the drive. Windows will do everything that needs done. If Windows cannot, then there is a hardware level issue either with the drive, the storage controller or other onboard motherboard component, a problem with the USB drive you are trying to install from or some other hardware issue.

In case you should ever need to do a CLEAN install of Windows, this guide will help to ensure it gets done properly.

How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10, the RIGHT way​

What's the exact model of your power supply? And by "model" I don't mean XXX brand 500w. I mean, like, Corsair RMx 650, Core reactor II 650w, EVGA G2 750w, etc.

 

[cruisetung]

Search GPARTED GPT UEFI on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gparted+gpt

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gparted+uefi

 

[flon_klar]

Don't do any of that. When Windows asks where you'd like to install to, choose Advanced, then delete all partitions off the disk and direct it to install to the unpartitioned space. The installer will handle creating GPT partitions and formatting them itself.

Here's a link to a little slideshow of the failed installation process. Please tell me where I went wrong; I don't see it.

https://imgur.com/a/windows

View: https://imgur.com/a/windows-installation-process-43nlYoZ

 

[flon_klar]

Use THIS EXACT method and you won't need to worry about doing anything to the drive. Windows will do everything that needs done. If Windows cannot, then there is a hardware level issue either with the drive, the storage controller or other onboard motherboard component, a problem with the USB drive you are trying to install from or some other hardware issue.

In case you should ever need to do a CLEAN install of Windows, this guide will help to ensure it gets done properly.

How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10, the RIGHT way​

What's the exact model of your power supply? And by "model" I don't mean XXX brand 500w. I mean, like, Corsair RMx 650, Core reactor II 650w, EVGA G2 750w, etc.

My PS is a Corsair RM750X shift.

 

[flon_klar]

Id suggest while in advanced splitting the drive into two partitions. Maybe 250GB for 'C' (or 175GB) and the rest to the later to be created D-Drive. Keep Windows isolated on its own partition so if you ever need to reset Windows or reinstall all your files can sit on the spare partition and keep the other NVMe for gaming/productivity tasks. That way as your wearing down the read/write cycles and if you were say installing a game while working on a word document you aren't taxing one drive

My 2TB NVMe SSD C: drive, the one I'm trying to install on, is only for OS and software. All my data files are on a separate 4TB HDD, and my sound samples are on (4) 500GB SSDs, plus my spare OS drive that I've been booting from.

 

[cruisetung]

Here's a link to a little slideshow of the failed installation process. Please tell me where I went wrong; I don't see it.

https://imgur.com/a/windows

View: https://imgur.com/a/windows-installation-process-43nlYoZ

You need to delete all partitions first, make the whole disk "unallocated space".

 

[SkyNetRising]

This is the message I get when it’s time to install:
“Windows can’t be installed on drive 0 partition 2.
[Details]: The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks.”

Clean the drive before installing windows onto it. Use diskpart clean method.
Don't clean the wrong disk.
Verify, if disk number belongs to proper disk, you're trying to clean.

I tried to clean it in diskpart; I got an error saying “clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume.”
How do I format this drive so I can install Windows on it?

You can not clean a drive, if you're booting from it.
You have to boot from windows installation USB flash drive instead.

 

[Darkbreeze]

My PS is a Corsair RM750X shift.

Fair enough. That's a quality unit and I have no concerns there.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You are not deleting all the existing partitions on the drive during the installation process. I can see in your images that you've chosen to install on a partition when there are other existing partitions on the drive. Take another look at my guide and when you get to the screen where it asks "Where do you want to install Windows", assuming there is only the USB drive and the target drive attached, delete ALL of the existing partitions for "Drive 0" until there is ONLY a single unformatted entry remaining. Then, click on that partition and click install. Windows will create the necessary partitions and perform all formatting functions that are required. Nothing else you need to do. It's literally that simple. If that won't work, and you've done it EXACTLY as I explained, then you have a hardware issue or a problem with your installation media or created a corrupt installation image.

There is no other answer.

 

[flon_klar]

I guess I’m not being clear. I am not trying to clean, format, or install to a drive that is in use. I am currently booting from an OLD 500GB C: drive with a functional copy of Windows. The drive I want to install Windows on is a 2TB drive. Each of these is clearly identified as such by BIOS and the computer. The 2TB drive is Disk 0/Drive E:. The old boot drive is Disk4/Drive C:. There is no confusion. The 2TB drive is EMPTY. If I try to access it, I am told “This folder is empty.” When I attempt the installation, I disconnect every drive but the 2TB. I turn in the computer, enter BIOS, change my boot drive to the Sandisk that is plugged into my USB port. The computer then reboots to the USB drive, from which it attempts to install Windows. See my post above with the screenshots. In Disk Management, where it is described as “Healthy (Page File, Primary Partition),” when I right click on the 2TB drive, “Format” is grayed out, and I am unable to Delete the volume or reallocate it. Using DISKPART to CLEAN the drive, I get an error message that tells me “Clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume,” which the drive is not, but apparently the machine thinks it is. I get the same message if I attempt to clean disk 4, partition 2 (see screen shot).

https://imgur.com/a/hORQu4X

View: https://imgur.com/a/hORQu4X


I would like to fix this situation so I can successfully reinstall Windows, but I do not have the knowledge I need to convince the system that E is not C!

 

[USAFRet]

I would like to fix this situation so I can successfully reinstall Windows, but I do not have the knowledge I need to convince the system that E is not C!

Crete a USB to install the OS with
Power off.
Physically disconnect ALL drives except that which you want the OS on.
Boot from the USB.
Install.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

How To - Windows 11 clean install tutorial

Windows 11 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows 11, version 23H2 or newer but can be equally applied to earlier versions which may have some basic differences in the screens you see but will largely remain similar in...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[SkyNetRising]

I get an error message that tells me “Clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume,”
which the drive is not, but apparently the machine thinks it is.

Disk 0 partition E: contains pagefile. This is clearly being shown on Disk Management screenshot.
Because of that you can not clean that disk.

I get the same message if I attempt to clean disk 4, partition 2 (see screen shot).

You do not clean a partition. Clean command doesn't operate with partitions.
You clean entire disk. Clean command removes all partitioning info from DISK.

I would like to fix this situation so I can successfully reinstall Windows, but I do not have the knowledge I need to convince the system that E is not C!

Boot from windows installation media and perform diskpart clean.
Or delete all partitions on target disk.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I guess I’m not being clear.

You are being totally clear, you simply aren't wanting to listen to the answer that is required to move forward. I, and others, have told you SPECIFICALLY how to rectify your problem, and you are simply not hearing it. This is not new. We see this all the time. Unfortunately, I guess you're going to have to go through the painful process of learning it for yourself before you will believe what we all already know from YEARS of dealing with the same problem you are dealing with.

 

[BFG-9000]

The 2TB drive is EMPTY. If I try to access it, I am told “This folder is empty.”

This alone means the disk is not empty, but has a partition on it with a drive letter which is formatted. If it was truly empty it would instead prompt you to initialize the drive by making a GPT or MBR partition on it.

Everyone has been suggesting deleting all partitions, but I specifically said to use the Windows Installation Media to do so, because then we know you have booted from USB so none of the partitions will be locked. But for some reason you insist that formatting just one partition on a MBR formatted disk should be enough. Maybe if you did the same thing 4000 more times that would make the difference?

In Disk Management, where it is described as “Healthy (Page File, Primary Partition),” when I right click on the 2TB drive, “Format” is grayed out, and I am unable to Delete the volume or reallocate it. Using DISKPART to CLEAN the drive, I get an error message that tells me “Clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, page file, crash dump or hibernation volume,” which the drive is not, but apparently the machine thinks it is. I get the same message if I attempt to clean disk 4, partition 2 (see screen shot).

https://imgur.com/a/hORQu4X

View: https://imgur.com/a/hORQu4X


I would like to fix this situation so I can successfully reinstall Windows, but I do not have the knowledge I need to convince the system that E is not C!

Again when in Windows, system partitions are going to be locked. Even when they are not on the same disk Windows is on. This isn't Windows 3.11 which happily let you start formatting the very drive Windows was on. We've gone from the user needs to be all-powerful to the user needs to be protected from themselves so here are all these safety nannies who know better.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Everyone has been suggesting deleting all partitions, but I specifically said to use the Windows Installation Media to do so,

This is EXACTLY what I said as well. And EXACTLY what my CLEAN INSTALL guide recommends. This is the ONLY way it should be done unless you are an outlier and are doing something more exotic like a dual boot system or some other nonsense.

 

[flon_klar]

You are being totally clear, you simply aren't wanting to listen to the answer that is required to move forward. I, and others, have told you SPECIFICALLY how to rectify your problem, and you are simply not hearing it. This is not new. We see this all the time. Unfortunately, I guess you're going to have to go through the painful process of learning it for yourself before you will believe what we all already know from YEARS of dealing with the same problem you are dealing with.

This is EXACTLY what I said as well. And EXACTLY what my CLEAN INSTALL guide recommends. This is the ONLY way it should be done unless you are an outlier and are doing something more exotic like a dual boot system or some other nonsense.

BFG-9000 and Darkbreeze- I have been listening, and I have been trying to delete partitions. Where do you suggest I do this? There is no function in the Installation Media to delete anything. If you look at my images of the installation process, you will see that it does not mention deleting anything, at least I'm not seeing it as such.

Disk 0 partition E: contains pagefile. This is clearly being shown on Disk Management screenshot.
Because of that you can not clean that disk.

You do not clean a partition. Clean command doesn't operate with partitions.
You clean entire disk. Clean command removes all partitioning info from DISK.

Boot from windows installation media and perform diskpart clean.
Or delete all partitions on target disk.

I understand this, I was simply trying ANYTHING to get the partitions off the drive. If I boot from the Installation Media, how do I access Powershell to perform Clean? Where is the function that deletes partitions? This is where I'm lost.