Which Partition to install Windows?

[RoboFTW]

My friend is having issues installing windows. I completely forgot which Partition I installed windows on myself. When installing windows she has 2 options, The 900 or so gb on her HDD and a smaller partition. Which is the right one to install to?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Smaller partition most likely is just for bootloader with size 100mb or 300mb.
Windows can not be installed in such a small partition.

So - choose the big one.

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

The smaller one most likely, unless as Skynet said its just for the bootloader. Windows 7 needs up to 20 GB of space depending on whether she's using 32 or 64 bit, same for Windows 10 iirc. But here's a step by step guide for Windows 7: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html For Windows 10: https://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

 

[RoboFTW]

The smaller one, but here's a step by step guide for Windows 7 https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Would it be the exact same on windows 10?

 

[captaincharisma]

if you made windows create the partitions automatically then windows should be on the biggest partition

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

The smaller one, but here's a step by step guide for Windows 7 https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Would it be the exact same on windows 10?

I edited original response and added a guide for windows 10 as well. Here's another hopefully helpful link that may be helpful if she isn't doing a clean install http://www.pcworld.com/article/248980/how-to-partition-and-format-your-hard-drive-in-windows.html

 

[SkyNetRising]

The smaller one, but here's a step by step guide for Windows 7 https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Would it be the exact same on windows 10?

That instruction is so wrong for windows 7 (as well as for windows 10).
With 10GB OS partition you'll run out of space almost immediately,
With 20GB OS partition - a bit later - when next big windows update gets rolled out.
Windows for comfortable operation needs at least 60GB (100GB recommended).

 

[RoboFTW]

this is the options she gets, she tried to install directly on the larger one but for some reason got an error? its a legit windows 10 disc also.

 

[RoboFTW]

The only thing she said was the error said something about windows not being able to format the file? (this is after she formatted the main drive and started the actual install)

 

[SkyNetRising]

Probably disk is partitioned in wrong format.
Clean the drive before installing windows there.
Go to command prompt (press Shift+F10) and execute:

• diskpart
  list disk (this gives list of available disks)
  select disk 0 (choose the corect disk, because next command will clean it completely)
  clean
  exit

Then relaunch the installation.

 

[captaincharisma]

just delete all the partitions and create a new one with all the apace the HDD has and windows will automatically create all the partitions it needs

 

[RoboFTW]

Probably disk is partitioned in wrong format.
Clean the drive before installing windows there.
Go to command prompt (press Shift+F10) and execute:

• diskpart
  list disk (this gives list of available disks)
  select disk 0 (choose the corect disk, because next command will clean it completely)
  clean
  exit

Then relaunch the installation.

Do that on that windows partition page?
Would you need to select the partition 2 I assume. so "select disk 2"

 

[captaincharisma]

Probably disk is partitioned in wrong format.
Clean the drive before installing windows there.
Go to command prompt (press Shift+F10) and execute:

• diskpart
  list disk (this gives list of available disks)
  select disk 0 (choose the corect disk, because next command will clean it completely)
  clean
  exit

Then relaunch the installation.

Do that on that windows partition page?
Would you need to select the partition 2 I assume. so "select disk 2"

yes, you highlight each partition and delete them, then highlight the unallocated space option once the 2 partitions are deleted and click new and then apply.

 

[RoboFTW]

will try some and see what happens

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

The smaller one, but here's a step by step guide for Windows 7 https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Would it be the exact same on windows 10?

That instruction is so wrong for windows 7 (as well as for windows 10).
With 10GB OS partition you'll run out of space almost immediately,
With 20GB OS partition - a bit later - when next big windows update gets rolled out.
Windows for comfortable operation needs at least 60GB (100GB recommended).

While I've never used Windows 10, whenever I've clean installed/repaired win xp or 7 on other machines in the past, I installed from disk, which is more or less the method described in the win7 tutorial, and have yet to run into a problem with those machines yet, when it comes to the OS & updates despite them being very old. Though my apologies for mentioning minimum space required, my intention wasn't to mislead or confuse.

Anyhow, it's possible OP's friend is possibly trying to install Windows on a HDD that isn't properly formatted/partitioned, which the last link should help with if that is the case.

 

[ArtPog]

1. When you make reference to the "main drive" you're referring to the 1 TB HDD your friend intends to install Win 10 on, right?

2. When she selected Partition 2 as the partition on which to install the OS you indicate she "got an error". Could you determine precisely what the error message was?

3. Possibly the error message has a connection to the partitioning scheme of the HDD on which she intends to install the Win 10 OS.

4. You indicate that she initially formatted the drive. Can you determine if she initialized the disk to the MBR-partitioning-scheme or the GPT-partitioning scheme?

5. With the current UEFI-interface we're dealing with today it's a more complicated process to install an OS as compared with the "old" BIOS-interface. The partitioning-scheme of the drive that will be the recipient of the OS is relevant to the installation process.

6. So it's crucial to know two things at this point...
1. What partitioning scheme did she select for the 1 TB HDD - MBR or GPT?
2. What was the precise error message that appeared when she selected Partition 2 on which to install the Win 10 OS?

7. One other thing...what is the installation media she's using to install the Win 10 OS? The Windows Media Tool? An installation DVD?

 

[RoboFTW]

The smaller one, but here's a step by step guide for Windows 7 https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52291-partition-hard-drive-windows-7-install.html

Would it be the exact same on windows 10?

That instruction is so wrong for windows 7 (as well as for windows 10).
With 10GB OS partition you'll run out of space almost immediately,
With 20GB OS partition - a bit later - when next big windows update gets rolled out.
Windows for comfortable operation needs at least 60GB (100GB recommended).

While I've never used Windows 10, whenever I've clean installed/repaired win xp or 7 on other machines in the past, I installed from disk, which is more or less the method described in the win7 tutorial, and have yet to run into a problem with those machines yet, when it comes to the OS & updates despite them being very old. Though my apologies for mentioning minimum space required, my intention wasn't to mislead or confuse.

Anyhow, it's possible OP's friend is possibly trying to install Windows on a HDD that isn't properly formatted/partitioned, which the last link should help with if that is the case.

Yeah i will try to see what happens. Unfortunately she is not at home at moment so can't get an answer just yet. Will try make sure its formatted properly

 

[RoboFTW]

Unsure about the specific message as she left home shortly after. Going to go through these methods when she gets home and make sure it is formatted correctly and see if it works any better

 

[RoboFTW]

She is also using an installation disc