Windows 2000 Setup Does Not Allow Selection of Partition Type

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

SYMPTOMS

When you create a partition on your hard disk during Windows 2000 Setup, you are not allowed to select the type of partition to create (primary or extended).

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows 2000 Setup determines the partition type for you, based on the existing partition table and where you choose to install Windows 2000.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use the following steps:

1. Before you install Windows 2000, start your computer using a Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or MS-DOS boot disk.



2. Use the Fdisk.exe program to create the partition(s) you want.



3. Start Windows 2000 Setup and install to the partition you created.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 2000 text-mode Setup uses the following rules to determine the type of partition that is created when you choose to create a partition:

• If no partitions are present on the drive, a primary partition is created.



• If only a primary partition exists, Setup creates an extended partition using all unallocated space on the volume, and then creates a logical drive with the size you specify.



• If both a primary and an extended partition exist, Setup creates another primary partition.

Q138364 Windows NT Partitioning Rules During Setup

Q242444 Err Msg: 'Setup Cannot Create a New Partition' During Text Mode

Additional query words: installation winnt logical drive letters

Keywords : kbenv
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb