Windows installation: Couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one

Question

I was trying to get a clean Windows installation on my hard drive, but am running into some issues. I get to the part where I need to select which hard drive I want to install Windows on. I have 2 harddrives, but both give this error:

We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one. For more information, see the Setup log files.

Extra info:

• Trying to install Windows 8.1
• The computer had Windows 8.1 installed before that too
• I'm installing through an USB drive with MBR partition scheme
• Screenshot of the error message
• My BIOS settings: 1, 2, 3
• I'm unable to copy or upload my Setup log files (since no OS) but I seem to be getting the exact same ones as here

Things I have tried:

• Cleaning the DISKPART
• Formatting the drives before attempting to install Windows
• Deleting and re-adding the drives
• Deleting and attempting to install on unallocated space
• Changing the boot order in the BIOS between Harddrive and USB
• Changing the SATA mode in the BIOS between AHCI and IDE
• Changing the EFI mode in the BIOS
• Disabling USB Legacy Boot mode and re-enabling it again
• Resetting the PC through the advanced Repair options, however this would corrupt the USB drive and result in this error
• Plugging out one of the hard drives so there was only one to install to
• Unplugging the USB, however it wouldn't let me continue the installation or even get to the first step without the USB.
• Fixing the MBR
• Tried Windows 7
• Resetting the BIOS to default Factory settings

None of these solutions worked.

Answer 1

Apparently my specific BIOS version simply did not allow OS installation through USB:

Serial ATA AHCI BIOS, Version iSrc 1.20E
Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Intel Corporation
**This version supports only Hard Disk and CDROM disks.**
Please wait. This will take few seconds.

This would appear for about 0,5 sec during the boot sequence.

I found an old Windows 7 CDRom and it's installing without issues now.

Answer 2

I had the same error installing windows 2012 server R2 in a Dell R210 II. My machine didn't give me a message saying it wouldn't support USB, but I tried practically everything that the OP did to no success. I checked the log %WINDIR%\Panther\setuperr.log and had the message:

Error [0x06069e] IBS GetMachineInfo:Couldn't find boot disk on this BIOS-based computer

I came across a webpage that said the windows installation had problems because it was using USB3.0 and I should try an older USB. I did that too and it didn't work, but it got me in the right track. I booted a CD with grub and booted the USB from there, finally it worked. Here's what I did once I got GRUB loaded:

c # to access the command line
root (hd1,0) # hd1 is the USB stick
chainloader +1
boot

This fooled the windows installer, because I was no longer booting from the USB, I was booting from a CD instead, even though the installer was loaded from the USB. I hope this helps other people.

Answer 3

I had the same problem until I used USB 2.0 drive which worked... I used 3.0 before and tried everything without luck. USB 2.0 FIXED this problem.