"windows cannot be installed to this disk"

I also get an error "windows is unable to install to the selected location"

maybe this helps :
http://jaminquimby.com/joomla253/work-stations/85-windows-7/73-how-to-install-windows-7-ultimate-onto-a-vhd-drive

Hi,

The link to Jamin looks good. I'm curious though: you say "a machine hosting Hyper-V". Do you mean a computer running Hyper-v (free) with no OS, or running Windows Server with Hyper-V installed?

Also, why do you want to dual-boot? If you want to create a Windows 7 VHD, why not just do it in Hyper-V which you've already got working?


The mistake you made originally was to reboot. Once you boot from DVD and created the VHD from the command prompt, just switch back to the setup GUI. Rebooting dismounts the VHD so setup cannot see it. Dual-booting also needs you to edit the boot manager which is covered well in the Jamin article.

Mike

Hi guys, I am looking for help with my specific error above.  There are thousands of articles like the link I posted or the link you posted that basically do the same thing.  I realize you need to edit the boot manager and I have done this a million different ways.  I have a problem outside the very general case where everything works.

Hi,

I think Windows setup is being "special" as it seems it gives that misleading error message: see figure M on this article.

Dual-boot with a VHD

Kudos to Mr Schultz to screenshots and not missing details out that others seem to.

I hope that's it :).

Mike

Not even close, please allow others to answer.

My question still stands.  If you don't have experience with this specific issue, please do not post a link.  I am only interested in this question.

"windows cannot be installed to this disk" - Why am I getting this error and how do I resolve it?

"windows cannot be installed to this disk" - Why am I getting this error and how do I resolve it?

You CANNOT resolve it.  BUT, you CAN ignore it.  I can retype the instructions from article on the subject, but that would be pointless.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_7/A_8951-Boot-from-VHD.html

Cut and paste from my article:
Close the command prompt and click the word/button Refresh on the disk selection page of the Windows setup wizard.  The newly created and attached VHD file should appear as a new drive available to the system.  Click on the VHD disk as it appears in the setup wizard so that it is selected as the disk where you want to install Windows. You may notice a warning that says Windows cannot be installed to this disk. (Show details) - you can ignore this warning.

Hi,

I am not stopping anyone from answering.
The article I linked says:

"As you can see in Figure M, I have selected my 50GB VHD. Keep in mind that when you select the VHD, you’ll see a Warning message that says that Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Even though Windows Setup displays this warning message, you can ignore it as the procedure does indeed function correctly. In fact, the installation procedure will progress quite rapidly and restart several times as it completes the installation on the VHD - just like it would on a normal hard disk"

I,e, just ignore the warning and continue the setup.

If you read it and missed that part it's the same answer leew gave above.

Sorry for the delay, I was away for a week.  I tried this and get an error "Windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error: 0x80300024"

I finally figured it out.  I found an article that said you need to detach all other drives before installing.  I did that, rebooted and was able to start the installation to the partition on the hard disk.  I didn't get it on a vhd, and I might try that next.  I was just glad to get past that step.

This was the answer.