Scenario:
Some users are confused by Windows 7 cannot create
primary partition with disk management frequently.
A win 7 user tells me that he wants to install dual boot
system, and uses another primary partition to store the new OS. So he shrinks C
drive by disk management but the new one is a logical drive.
A disk on MBR is allowed 4 primary partitions at most or
3 primary partitions and 1 extend partition. If you already have 4 primary
partition, you are not allowed to create another one. If you have 3 primary
partition and one extend partition, you can try to create a logical on the extend
partition, and then convert logical to primary.
Why does Windows 7 cannot create primary partition?
The dual boot system is a really useful way to realize
our needs which can provide a better performance or a better compatibility etc.
However, when we try to install dual boot system, we are usually confused by windows
7 cannot create primary. What is the reason for it? Let's see it.
1. It's related to the partition
style on your computer. An MBR disk is
allowed to create 4 primary partitions or 3 primary partitions and 1 extend
partition. So if you already have 4 primary partitions, you can't create primary
partition. If you have 3 primary partitions and 1 extend partition, you can convert
it to primary. In addition, you can convert MBR to GPT. GPT disk is no limitation on
the number of primary partition and you can create primary up to 128.
2. The disk has insufficient free space to
create primary partition. In this way, you have to back up your files
and data, format it and create partition again. Or you can change your disk with a
larger hard disk, such as HDD, SSD etc.
Currently, you may get the reason why windows 7 cannot
create primary partition. Next, we will say how to solve the problem windows 7
cannot create primary partition.
How to fix Windows 7 cannot create primary
partition?
Create primary partition in Disk Management
Step 1: Right click the partition you
want to create primary, selectNew Simple Volume.

Step 2: Subsequently click Next and
Finish. Then you will see a new primary partition(G).

That's all the steps you need to do. In the second
window, you can see three primary partitions. If you try to create another
partition, it will be a logical partition by default. It is annoying in reality.
There is no way to create more than 3 primary partitions. If you want to
create more than 3 primary partitions on MBR disk, you can create primary
partition using Diskpart or directly turn to a professional partition
manager ike AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Create primary partition using partition manager
After saying above Windows built-in tool, we will
continue to tell you another freeware which can create more than 3 primary
partitions easily.
Step 1: Download AOMEI Partition Assistant, install
and launch it. Then enter the main page, click one unallocated space and select Create
Partition.

Step 2: Enter a new window, you
will see following page. Please click Advanced and select Primary
Partition in the drop-down box, then tick OK to continue the
operation.

Step 3: After all sets, then
preview and click Apply.

Step 4: In this window, you can see
all the detail information of creating partition.
Click Proceed to ensure you want to execute this
operation.

Step 5: Now, you just need to wait.
After all the operation finish, you will receive a message like”Congratulation!
All operations have been completed successfully ” then click
OK.

If you do not have unallocated space on the disk, you can
choose to change
simple volume to primary partition on an MBR disk. In addition, if you
want more than four primary partitions you can convert MBR to GPT.
Low disk space is the problem which upset many users. We
know the simplest way is to increase the capacity of partition. That is all because
of the improper distribution of disk during installation. To solve the problem
completely, you can choose to create a reasonable primary partition size during
installation.
Create primary partition in Windows 7 during
installation
We all know, the primary partition is the only partition
which can be set active and used to boot computer. If your computer does not
exist active partition , the computer will fail to boot. The GPT disk is no
limitation for the number of primary partition, so i will take creating primary
partition in Windows 7 during installation on MBR disk as an example below.
Step 1: After the first
initial screen, you will see another window. In this window, you have to select one
type of installation. You have to select the Custom(Advanced),
as this is new copy of your windows.

Step 2: In the Install Windows
pop-up, input“Shift+F10” and subsequently input”diskpart”>”list
disk”>”select disk (number)”>”create partition
primary”>”active” in the new window. After that, you will
receive a message like “DiskPart marked the current partition as
active” and click Next to finish all
the later operation.

Summary
Windows 7 cannot create primary partition mainly depend
on your partition style. On MBR, you can create 4 primary partitions at most.
However, on GPT disk, you can create more than 4 primary partitions. If you just
need 4 primary partitions, the MBR disk is good enough. If you want to more primary
partitions, you can choose to convert MBR disk to GPT.