Fix: “Windows Setup Can’t Find or Create a Partition”
This can happen on clean installs, new PCs, or systems with existing partitions, and is usually resolved with a few quick steps.
If you’re seeing the message “We couldn’t create a new partition” or “Windows Setup can’t find or create a partition” during installation, it usually means that Windows is having trouble configuring the target drive.
Why This Happens
This issue commonly occurs due to:
A USB installer confusing the Windows setup process
Existing partitions or drive formatting errors
Drive not being listed as the first boot device
BIOS settings like RAID/AHCI interfering with detection
Drive is not correctly initialized or previously used in a different OS (e.g. Linux/Mac)
How to Fix It
1. Unplug All Other Drives and USB Devices
Leave only the drive where Windows will be installed
Disconnect other internal or external storage devices
Also unplug secondary USBs, hubs, or dongles
Then restart the installer.
2. Use Shift + F10 to Manually Clean the Drive
This will erase all data on the drive. Be sure to back up anything important first.
At the “Where do you want to install Windows?” screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt
Enter the following commands:
diskpart
list disk
select disk X ← (replace X with the disk number)
clean
exit
Close Command Prompt, click Refresh, and try again
Windows should now be able to create a new partition from the unallocated space.
3. Use the Media Creation Tool to Rebuild the USB Installer
A faulty or outdated installer can also cause this error.
Use the official Media Creation Tool to recreate the installer:
Windows 10
Windows 11
Make sure to use an 8GB or larger USB stick and format it cleanly before re-creating the installer.
4. Try a USB 2.0 Port Instead of USB 3.0
Using a USB 2.0 port helps avoid driver issues that could interfere with disk detection during setup.
Still Not Working?
If the issue persists, send us:
A screenshot or photo of the error
Your PC model or motherboard brand
The version of Windows you’re installing
Email: help@thesoftwarekings.com
We’ll walk you through a working solution.
Want Help Now?
Ask Kingbot in the corner of your screen or message our support team