Windows system can only support four primary partition per disk drive. However, there are cases when this limit may cause the Windows setup to fail. An example: an attempt to set up Windows Server 2003 on a computer where the hard drive has already four primary partitions containing data, setup proces fails with a message like "Setup cannot create a new partition".
It looks logical, but there are cases when the computer with only three primary partitions returns exactly the same error. The setup can't create another partition, and this could seem strange.
However, if you examine the disk, a hidden disk partition can be found. It is a common practice to create, say, a hidden partition containing OS distribution files, to re-install OS ab initio quickly. A number of OEM use this practice.
Thus, before trying to install Windows product, in case multi-boot configuration is desired, make sure thre's at least one unused primary partition record.
It looks logical, but there are cases when the computer with only three primary partitions returns exactly the same error. The setup can't create another partition, and this could seem strange.
However, if you examine the disk, a hidden disk partition can be found. It is a common practice to create, say, a hidden partition containing OS distribution files, to re-install OS ab initio quickly. A number of OEM use this practice.
Thus, before trying to install Windows product, in case multi-boot configuration is desired, make sure thre's at least one unused primary partition record.
