Fixed: Unable to format partition on disk 0 (Error code 0x80070057)

Updated By

Tracy King 

Authored By

Linda 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

To address the issue where "Windows failed to format the partition on disk 0. An error occurred while preparing the selected installation partition. Error code: 0x80070057," we have compiled three of the most effective solutions for you.

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Error code: 0x80070057 - The system was unable to format the partition on disk 0.

If you see the error code 0x80070057, it means there's a problem with your storage device, like a hard drive or SSD. Since error code 0x80070057 usually relates to storage issues, it'll often pop up when you try to install new apps or run Windows updates. You might also encounter this error when upgrading from an older version of Windows, such as Windows 7 or 8.1, to Windows 10.

"Windows was unable to format the partition on disk 0" is one of the most common errors associated with error code 0x80070057. Do you know what this error means or how to fix it to proceed with the Windows operating system installation?

"Windows is unable to format the partition on disk 0" or similar issues

You've created installation media, backed up all your important data, and you're all set to reinstall Windows, only to get stuck in the process because Windows can't format the partition you want to install it on? It ends up with the error “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Disk 0 Partition 1.” You're not alone. Many other users have had this unpleasant experience with Windows 10/8/7.

Usually, you might receive different error messages depending on the version of Windows you're using. For example:

• Windows unable to complete format
• Windows unable to create partition on Disk 0
• Failed to format the selected partition in Windows 7
• Windows unable to format the system partition on this disk
• Unable to format the selected partition in Windows 8/10

This message is then followed by an error code such as 0x80070057 or 0x8004242d. We'll go through the steps to fix this error below. If you found this article useful, please share it on social media to help others who might be struggling with the same issue.

How to Fix "Windows Unable to Format Partition on Disk 0"

Quickly check all the 3 solutions: Windows fails to format partition on disk 0

1. Solution 1. Format the partition with Partition Manager during boot
2. Solution 2. Format the partition while installing Windows
3. Solution 3. Format the partition with Command Prompt

Fix 1: Format the partition with a bootable partition manager

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a reliable bootable formatting tool that you can download and install on your computer. With just a few simple steps, it can effectively help you fix the "Windows was unable to format partition on disk 0" error.

With it, you can select “Create WinPE Bootable Disk” on the main interface. Connect the bootable USB and launch Partition Master, then follow the steps below:

Step 1. Run Partition Master, right click the hard drive partition you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2: In the new window, set the "Volume Label", "File System" (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and "Cluster Size" for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Step 3: You will now see a warning dialog; click “Yes” to proceed.

4. Click on the “Perform 1 Task” button to check your changes, and then click on “Apply” to start formatting the hard drive partition.

Fix 2: Format the partition during Windows installation

To resolve this issue, you can first choose to delete the existing partition, create a new partition, and then continue with the format.

Step 1: Boot from the Windows installation DVD and click Install Now.

Step 2: On the Setup screen, click Customize (Advanced).

Step 3: Delete all partitions on Disk 0.

Step 4: Create a new partition in the unallocated space on Disk 0.

Step 5: Select the partition where you want to install Windows, and proceed with the installation.

Sometimes, you may encounter the "We could not create a new partition or locate an existing one" error at Step 4. If so, please continue to try formatting the partition in the Command Prompt window or the bootable Partition Manager to fix the problem.

Fix 3: Format the partition using Diskpart in Command Prompt

For users, the Windows Command Prompt is an all-encompassing and reliable way to deal with most hard drive issues. To format the system partition on Disk 0, you need to create a Windows 10 or Windows 7 installation media beforehand. For instance, to resolve the issue of being unable to format a partition on Disk 0 in Windows 7, you should follow these steps:

Step 1: Boot your computer from the Windows 7 installation USB drive or DVD. Instead of choosing "Install Windows 7," select "Repair your computer" and then click "Use recovery tools..."

Step 2. In the next window, choose "Command Prompt (Admin)"

Step 3: In the Command Prompt, enter each of the following commands one by one, followed by pressing the Enter key:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk 0
• clean
• create partition primary
• select partition 1
• active
• format fs=ntfs

Finally, close the Command Prompt, and try installing Windows again.

Which method do you prefer to fix the “Windows was unable to format the partition on Disk 0” issue?

This article offers three comprehensive solutions to the full error message "Windows failed to format the partition on disk 0... Error code 0x80070057" encountered during the installation of Windows 7/8/10. You can apply these solutions to resolve similar errors like "[Windows failed to format the system partition on this disk]," "[Failed to format the selected partition]," or "[Windows failed to create a partition on Disk 0]," and so on.

The first option is simple and straightforward: you can install the Windows operating system from scratch, deleting all partitions and creating new ones in the process.

The Command Prompt solution works, albeit it's considered the most complex of the three. Many average users will be intimidated just by the first step of creating a Windows installation media.

Using a third-party disk partition manager is a simpler and safer solution than either of the command prompt methods, and you won't have to delete all your partitions or type complex Diskpart commands to fix installation issues caused by failed formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions on "Windows Unable to Format Disk 0 Partition"

Here, we've listed some frequently asked questions by users online. If you have more queries regarding the "Windows unable to format Disk 0 Partition" issue, continue reading to find the answers:

**How to fix the "Windows 10 cannot be installed on Drive 0 Partition 1" issue?** If you encounter an error stating "Windows 10 cannot be installed on Drive 0 Partition 1," try these methods to resolve the problem: 1. **Check the Disk Partition:** - Open Disk Management by right-clicking "This PC" or "My Computer," selecting "Manage," and then choosing "Disk Management." - Ensure that Partition 1 is marked as active. If not, right-click the partition and choose "Set as Active." 2. **Create a Primary Partition:** - If Partition 1 is an extended partition, delete it first, then create a new primary partition. 3. **Format the Partition:** - Right-click the partition where you want to install Windows and select "Format." - Choose the file system as NTFS, with the default allocation unit size, and click "OK." - Note: This will erase all data on the partition, so make sure to back up important files. 4. **Restart the Installation Process:** - Insert the Windows installation media as a USB or DVD. - Enter your BIOS settings and change the boot order to boot from USB or DVD. - Follow the installation wizard's instructions. 5. **Repair with Command Prompt:** - During the installation process, choose "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Command Prompt." - Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: ``` diskpart list disk select disk X (X is your hard drive number) list partition select partition Y (Y is the partition number for Windows installation) active exit ``` - Exit and restart the installation process. If none of these steps help, consider seeking professional technical support assistance.

Here's a list of solutions to try addressing the error, "Windows 10 cannot be installed on Disk 0 Partition 1":

1. Delete any existing partitions on Disk 0 using CMD or Disk Management.
2. Convert Disk 0 from GPT to MBR using a reliable disk conversion software like Partition Master.

For more information, please refer to this page for help: Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partition 1.

2. Why can't I install Windows on Partition 1 of Disk 0?

Normally, when you get the error "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is of the GPT partition style" during Windows installation, it's mainly because your computer is not set to boot in UEFI mode but the disk size is larger than 2TB. If you encounter this issue on your computer, the best solution is to convert Disk 0 from MBR to GPT. You can easily do this by following the instructions in the guide and simply clicking a few times to convert MBR to GPT.

3. How to fix "Windows was unable to format" issue?

The "Windows unable to format" issue can be caused by various reasons. You can try the methods listed below to resolve it:

• Format using a formatting software like Partition Master.
• Format through CMD (Command Prompt).
• Format through Disk Management.
• Scan and remove malware or viruses.

For more details, you can refer to this page for help: 7 Ways to Fix “Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format”.