Jan03

Windows 7 install - windows is unable to install to the selected location. Error: 0x80300001

Author // Jim Categories // Quick Notes

So I was trying to install Windows 7. The catch is that I have a ASUS P6T Deluxe motherboard and I use the Marvell SAS controller for my drives. But really any non-standard mass storage drive will have the exact same issue. So when the install starts it predictably can't find any drives and it has the alert at the bottom "No Drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation".

So far, so good, I was expecting this and I have my updated Marvell SAS Controller driver from ASUS ready to go. I remove the Windows 7 DVD and put in my SAS Controller driver CD. Browse to the location and pick the right driver and hit 'Next'. The driver appeared to load. My drives show up and I'm ready to go...yeah!

Wait what's this at the bottom?.. another alert "Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partition 1"....hmmm ok well Windows 7 looks like it created two partitions here, one that says "System Reserved" that is only about 100MB..and the remainder of the drive as another partition. So I click on the large partition assuming this would be the logical place to install Windows and I still have the alert on the bottom. I click the "Show Details" and I get the error "Windows is unable to install to the selected location - Error: 0x80300001".

I could tell you how much time I spent thinking this was a driver issue and scouring the Internet for updated drivers for Windows 7. Let's just say it was "a while".

So here's the trick...

Replace the words "Windows is unable to install to the selected location - Error: 0x80300001" with the words "Please re-insert the Windows 7 DVD" in your brain. Swap out the driver CD you left in there with the original install media. Then make sure your non-reserved partition is selected and hit "Refresh". Error message should disappear and you can continue your install.

About the Author

Jim

Jim

Jim loves hanging out with his friends and having a good time. I mean..he would if he had any friends. But Jim's a loner; A brilliant, misunderstood loner.

Comments (5)

  • Rob M
    Rob M
    13 April 2012 am30 03:41 |

    Hi, Just wanted to add that I had this setup: ASUS P6T - SSD Drive as primary Drive, and I wanted to load VHD files on this. I got the same errors as you.

    Link I was following was http://johnpapa.net/bootoffmetal

    Once i got the SSD to show up I had to do load the drivers and actaully go back a menu i.e cancel install then it goes back to main menu then i clicked Install Now again.

    This time selecting the SSD didn't show any issues , the VHD gave a error (Somethign about bios not supportign) but still allowed me to go "next" and install.

    I used this Intel Driver on the ASUS website: Intel Chipset Inf Update Program V9.1.1.1014

    When loading off a USB stick the files were in a folder called "ALL" which i had unzipped to a USB stick using another computer, I selected the "SATA controller 1 Drivers half way down the list of compatible devices".

    HOpe this helps someone it was a couple of ours of frustration.

    reply
  • Frazzled
    Frazzled
    03 March 2011 pm31 22:22 |

    OMG... it worked !!!
    I spent 2 or 3 hours trying to get past that error. Whooda thunk ???

    Thanks so much for this post !!!

    reply
  • Tone
    Tone
    07 July 2010 pm31 13:15 |

    thanks you man!
    you make my day!

    reply
  • Colin
    Colin
    10 March 2010 pm31 18:41 |

    Thank you that saved me some time.
    I wouldn't have jumped to that conclusion

    reply
  • dave34
    dave34
    21 January 2010 pm31 15:17 |

    ahhh...I read this and said there's no way this my problem..but it was. Thx!

    reply

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