BleepingComputer.com: Could I install W7 on one HDD and keep XP on the other?

I ran WDC's diagnostic program on the HDD, and it showed that the SMART status was A-OK. The Smart and Extended tests presented no errors whatsoever.

I've already tried to format the HDD with the Win 7 DVD, and it appeared to do so, but it won't allow me to install W7 to the HDD because "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition".

Dave

You seem to be having trouble getting the Win 7 DVD to do what needs to be done (and I have no idea why).

Dave Finlay, on 23 April 2011 - 10:57 PM, said:

Let's do exactly that.

Download dban and burn to CD (it will be bootable).

• Download this older version of dban dban-1.0.7_i386.iso
  
• Use ImgBurn to burn the ISO image to a CD.

Disconnect the HDD on which you have XP installed <<< Important!!!

• dban will nuke every HDD attached to the system!

Boot from the dban CD and type "autonuke" when prompted, and press <ENTER>

• Allow to finish wiping the HDD clean and then remove the dban CD.

Reconnect the HDD with Windows XP on it.

Boot with the Win 7 DVD, partition, format and install.

This post has been edited by AustrAlien: 24 April 2011 - 06:50 PM

After failing to delete the partition with the Win 7 DVD, I, via XP, went to My Computer/Manage/Disk Configuration and manually deleted the partitions on the W7 HDD, leaving all of its space unallocated. I also used the Western Digital diagnostic app (Windows version) to "Write Zeros" to the entire drive, assuring its emptiness. I thought I had finally cleared this up, but when I went to install W7 on the now-unallocated HDD, it STILL wouldn't install because "Setup could not find a new system partition or locate existing system partition". And when I created a partition for the HDD, it still wouldn't install. So should I go ahead with your method then?

Dave

I am just as much in the dark on this one as you are.

What you have already tried should be equivalent to my suggestion to run dban.

At this stage, all I can suggest you do is re-try the whole thing from scratch and then post the details of performing the Win 7 installation step-by-step, screen-by-screen here, and have us follow along with you every step of the way so we can actually see what is happening.

If you are willing (reduced to crying) to go that way, then yes, run dban and wipe the drive. Leave the XP HDD physically disconnected and removed from the computer instead of re-connecting it. (We will try the Win 7 install without the complication of having a second HDD connected.)

When you have done that, let us know. We will then walk with you step-by-step from this point.

Are you able to take digital pictures of the screen when you are performing the Win 7 installation? Do you know how to post those pics on a web site and then put the link in your posts, so we can actually see each screen you will be looking at? Let us know if you need help with learning how to do this.

I d/led the program and burned it to CD, following your instructions to remove the Win XP HDD, but I found that the scan was taking too long (5 1/2 hours just for the first of three passes!), so after 1 1/2 hours of autonuke I bailed. I just went with the "Write Zeros/Full Erase" option on the WDC diagnostic utility. I'm gonna try to install W7 once more, without the Win XP HDD plugged in, and if I see that the problem persists then I guess I'll have to RMA the new HDD and get a replacement. Does this sound like a software or hardware issue, because every diagnostic I've thrown at this new HDD shows it running rock-solid. Damn me for messing around with EasyBCD.

Forgot to mention, after running another "Write Zeros/Full Erase" on the new HDD, I got a message at the end saying "failed to update disk property!". What would that mean?

Dave Finlay, on 25 April 2011 - 02:42 AM, said:

I think that you should do a couple of things:

• Download the DOS version of the WD HDD utility and burn it to a CD. Boot from the CD and run the Quick test and the Extended test. That is a more reliable diagnostic method than is running the Windows version of the utility. It may also offer to make a repair at some stage, indicating that there is a problem.
  
• Allow dban to run its full course. Does it report any errors?
  
• Run the WD HDD diagnostic utility booting from the CD once again.

If there are no errors, then it is unlikely that there is a problem with the HDD.

This post has been edited by AustrAlien: 25 April 2011 - 04:25 AM

Googling your posted error message "Setup could not find a new system partition or locate existing system partition" led me to the following link:
Windows 7 Won’t Install; “Unable to Create a New System Partition”

Interesting "bug"(s) in the Windows (7?) installation process. The number of comments below the article, and their content, supports a conclusion that your problem is strictly software, and not due to a problem with your new HDD.

This post has been edited by AustrAlien: 25 April 2011 - 05:11 AM

That link turned out to be JUST what I needed! When installing Win 7, I have to plug in my USB drive to load the Clevo's SATA drivers in order for the system's HDD to be visible and accessible. I continued leaving the USB drive in while trying to partition and install. This time around, I took it out, and also removed the XP drive from the boot order just in case, and I was able to install Win 7 again! Strange, as I recall the first time around leaving it in and being able to install W7 just fine.

Before re-installing Win 7, I burned the the DOS version of the WD Diagnostic utility and ran both Quick and Extended tests. Both tests came out clean with no errors, so it indeed appears that it's not a problem with my HDD(s), thankfully as I was about to return it for a replacement.

I am pleased to see you took the appropriate actions and got past the little stumbling block to the installation of Win 7. Clearly there are many that have fallen victim to that little hurdle, and Win 7 is not always as straight-forward to install as is often thought.

The old rule/practice of "have only one hard drive attached when installing an operating system" is still relevant it would seem (and that applies to USB hard drives and/or flashdrives equally).

Good one, Dave .... onward and upward!