Failed to format the selected partition (Error: 0x80004005)

I am attempting to install Windows Vista Beta 2 64 bit. I burned my DVD at
1x, without any reported problems. The DVD boots, and I reach the point where
I nominate the partition to format (there are currently no NTFS partitions on
the single SATA disk). I attempt to format it, and I get the error above. Any
clues?

Are you installing the SATA drivers prior to attempting to format? It maybe
that the operating system cannot see the SATA drive. I know SATA drives are
temperamental with Windows XP, so they are probably worse with Vista.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
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"Clothears" <Clothears@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AF5D7642-423E-4DC7-8B4C-4228823BE73C@microsoft.com...
>I am attempting to install Windows Vista Beta 2 64 bit. I burned my DVD at
> 1x, without any reported problems. The DVD boots, and I reach the point
> where
> I nominate the partition to format (there are currently no NTFS partitions
> on
> the single SATA disk). I attempt to format it, and I get the error above.
> Any
> clues?

i have the same problem, but windows vista can see my SATA, actually it
displays the Name, Total Size and Free Size of my SATA.

regards
alex

"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:O7%23c2brnGHA.4340@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Are you installing the SATA drivers prior to attempting to format? It
> maybe that the operating system cannot see the SATA drive. I know SATA
> drives are temperamental with Windows XP, so they are probably worse with
> Vista.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
> either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail..
>
>
> "Clothears" <Clothears@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AF5D7642-423E-4DC7-8B4C-4228823BE73C@microsoft.com...
>>I am attempting to install Windows Vista Beta 2 64 bit. I burned my DVD
>>at
>> 1x, without any reported problems. The DVD boots, and I reach the point
>> where
>> I nominate the partition to format (there are currently no NTFS
>> partitions on
>> the single SATA disk). I attempt to format it, and I get the error above.
>> Any
>> clues?
>
>

i also tried an IDE disk and got the same error message.

regards

alex
"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:O7%23c2brnGHA.4340@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Are you installing the SATA drivers prior to attempting to format? It
> maybe that the operating system cannot see the SATA drive. I know SATA
> drives are temperamental with Windows XP, so they are probably worse with
> Vista.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
> either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail..
>
>
> "Clothears" <Clothears@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AF5D7642-423E-4DC7-8B4C-4228823BE73C@microsoft.com...
>>I am attempting to install Windows Vista Beta 2 64 bit. I burned my DVD
>>at
>> 1x, without any reported problems. The DVD boots, and I reach the point
>> where
>> I nominate the partition to format (there are currently no NTFS
>> partitions on
>> the single SATA disk). I attempt to format it, and I get the error above.
>> Any
>> clues?
>
>

I haven't installed any additional drivers. Since the installer has
accurately read the partition table, what could usefully be additionally
loaded? Searching the Microsoft site for 0x80004005 suggests that it is a
catch-all error code, so it doesn't of itself give much of a clue.

"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> Are you installing the SATA drivers prior to attempting to format? It maybe
> that the operating system cannot see the SATA drive. I know SATA drives are
> temperamental with Windows XP, so they are probably worse with Vista.
>

I had 3 partitions on my SATA, i deleted one to install RC1 but when i tried
to format it it gave me error "error 0x800424f". this sounds similar. I will
try to reformat the entire drive and let you know if that worked.

"Clothears" wrote:

> I haven't installed any additional drivers. Since the installer has
> accurately read the partition table, what could usefully be additionally
> loaded? Searching the Microsoft site for 0x80004005 suggests that it is a
> catch-all error code, so it doesn't of itself give much of a clue.
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
> > Are you installing the SATA drivers prior to attempting to format? It maybe
> > that the operating system cannot see the SATA drive. I know SATA drives are
> > temperamental with Windows XP, so they are probably worse with Vista.
> >
>

[JamesR404]

Yes, same here. Using a SATA drive. I am able to format other partitions on that drive, that are NTFS, just not the primary that isn't NTFS.... *sigh*.

Same catch all 0x80004005 as you guys.

Any suggestions?

[JamesR404]

OK, decided to format the drive in another windows PC. There I discovered I needed to remove the volume* and add it again before being able to format the problematic partition.

*(which can't be done via windows setup, or well, maybe via the recovery console)

[hu8mypho]

in short if you delete that partition and create a new one, you will be fine. Alternatively you can just install straight to the entire disk and update the size after the fact.

[dsgermick]

I deleted and formatted the new partition and it worked perfectly. thanks so much!

[ND10N]

you guys are awesome!!!! I just spend 15 hours fixing a my screw up of trying to set up a multi boot on a 64bit vista machine only to find out the hard way the disks included were only recovery discs not the Vista OS! Kept getting error after error, and was unable to restore. No OS was found on my HD and then when I finally got a ISO copy of Vista and gotto this screen it gave me the same issue of not formatting. I deleted the partition then added it again, and it formatted successfully! Hoooray!!

I thought I would share this link though too, because this is the best fail safe disc to have in any geeks arsenal.. ultimatebootcd. It really saved me after corrupting the MBR some how.


-ND10N-
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein