Can't create partition or locate existing one when installing windows 8.1

Solution 1:

Set your bios to boot the Hard Drive first. Then when the computer is starting up start the BOOT MENU (Usually F10, F11 or F12). This will allow you to boot from the flash drive.

I just had the same issue re-installing Windows MP 2012 on a Dell server.

Windows 8.x looks at the BIOS Boot order to determine where to put the "boot loader" and it refuses to put it on a removable device.

Solution 2:

Your hard drive may be using a GPT table. There is one possibility that you didn't boot your installation CD or USB from EFI mode. If the installation CD boots in the legacy mode, it is not able to handle the GPT table.

Go to you BIOS settings, which can be usually done by enter the booting menu. After entering the BIOS settings, try to look for something like "legacy booting" and disable it. Then reboot to install.

Solution 3:

I have Windows 8.1 x64 on a USB 3.0 Silicon Power 64GB flash drive. I was trying to install it on a SAMSUNG N150 netbook after I deleted all partitions including recovery.

In BIOS, in the boot order menu, I have the netbook's HDD as first and the USB flash drive as second.

Before I finally tried the recommendation, I had created three partitions on the hard drive just for the heck of it. Then I did what xuhdev said, to disable USB legacy booting from BIOS.

I did that and then restarted the computer. After that the USB flash drive was no longer recognized by the computer and no longer showed up in the boot menu in BIOS. So I had to enter the BIOS again and there I saw the USB was not recognized and the LED light was not flashing on the USB. So I had to re-enable USB legacy booting. I restarted the computer and tried to install Win 8.1 again. I clicked the first partition. To my huge surprise, it began installing! I was literally shocked. I am so happy it finally worked.

But, I also remember that when I disabled legacy, I had put my flash drive on a different port. Then I put the flash drive in a different port, then I enabled the legacy thing, and the rest you already know.

I also tried switching USB ports and that did not work either. It wasn't until I disabled and re-enabled legacy booting that it worked for me.

Solution 4:

Make sure you give the Windows installer unallocated space so it can create its own partitions (you can do this using the GParted application which comes in most Linux live-CDs).

Also, GPT partition tables are preferred I believe.