I'm finishing a new build with an Asus P8P67 Deluxe, 2600K processor and 4 GB Mushkin Redline 996805 RAM. I'm unable to install WIN 7. Getting a "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing partition..." I'm trying to install on a new, formatted WD Caviar Black drive. I have the 1502 BIOS set to defaults and reduced the RAM to a single 2 GB stick. I've tried different drives and SATA ports but get the same message. I've tried a Microsoft upgrade DVD and an DVD with an iso obtained from Microsoft. Do I need a driver? How could I get or install one? I've Googled the error message. It shows up, mostly in relation to Vista installs and I haven't seen any solution. Any suggestions? I'm beginning to proceed VFR into IFR conditions, and you know that never works out well. Help!

Did you try manually creating a new partition after formatting it? At the start of the W7 install when it asks you what type of installation you want, choose "custom (advanced)". Then make sure there's a partition on which to install the OS. If it's just unallocated space, you will have to create a new partition. Then make sure you have the intended partition selected when you click next. Also be sure to backup all your personal files, preferably to another hard drive but at the very least a separate partition.See this tutorial.

Thanks for your quick response. ...that's a nice tutorial. I partitioned and formatted the drive in another machine. My problem occurs after I select Custom Install.There's a single partition and on the install screen it shows as "Disk 0 Partition 1". As soon as I click "Next" I get the error massage and can't get any further.

Thanks for your quick response. ...that's a nice tutorial. I partitioned and formatted the drive in another machine. My problem occurs after I select Custom Install.There's a single partition and on the install screen it shows as "Disk 0 Partition 1". As soon as I click "Next" I get the error massage and can't get any further.

Can't you format the disk right there in Corey's second pic window?

That was it. I tried formatting at that screen and it appeared to format but I still got the error message. Then I deleted the existing partition, formatted...and the install continued. In a few hours I should be stumbling through overclocking. Thanks!

Tip: for future Windows installations, don't pre-format the drive in another machine. Windows needs to create a 100MB partition reserved for system use in order to install and function.

Thanks..I hadn't heard that before.

Thanks..I hadn't heard that before.

That makes two of us!

That makes two of us!

You've had an affair with that weird little System Reserved partition before, haven't you? j/k

Tip: for future Windows installations, don't pre-format the drive in another machine. Windows needs to create a 100MB partition reserved for system use in order to install and function.

Plus, if it's a SSD, you want the partition aligned properly. Windows will detect that it's a SSD and do that automatically when it formats the drive.