Fixed: We Couldn't Format the Selected Partition | 0x8004242d Error [2022]

"I just can't get past the formatting attempt when trying to format my HDD for a clean install of Windows 10. Windows says 'Failed to format the selected partition. error: 0x8004242d', how to fix it?"

Error 0x8004242d usually comes up with an error message that states as, "Failed to format the selected partition. Error: 0x8004242d" on a popup window during the Windows installation process.

failed to format the selected partition - 0x8004242d error

Quick Fix Navigation:

Here is quick navigation of all possible fixes. Try the next fixes to get rid of the 0x8004242d error from your computer now:

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Format the selected partition under the bootable disk	Run Qiling Partition Master > Go to the WinPE Creator...Full steps
Fix 2. Delete Disk Partition, Create New Volume	Boot from Bootable USB > Delete all partitions > Create new volume...Full steps
Fix 3. Clean Disk with Diskpart.exe	Run Command Prompt > Type diskpart > list disk > select disk # (# is disk number) > clean...Full steps
Fix 4. Format Disk during Windows installation process	Run the install Windows setup > Accustom(Advanced) > Delete > Create > Format...Full steps

Error 0x8004242d - Failed to Format the Selected Partition

If you are having the same issue of being unable to format a selected partition, don't worry. In this part, you'll learn the causes that prevent you from installing Windows OS on the target disk.

So what caused the 0x8004242d error during the Windows installation process? Check the list below.

Causes of 0x8004242d Error: Failed to or We Couldn't Format the Selected Partition:

The setup disk has a corrupted file system error.
Windows is incompatible with a mass storage controller or a mass storage driver.
A mass storage controller or a mass storage driver is outdated.
The data cable in the computer is loose.
The hard disk which you want to install Windows OS on is a dynamic disk.

You May Also Interest In:

Windows Could Not Format A Partition on Disk 0 - 0x80070057

Besides the 0x8004242d error, there is another similar trouble, named 0x80070057, that may have prevented you from installing Windows OS. Click to fix it Now!

So how do you fix the 0x8004242d error - "Failed to format the selected partition" error and allow Windows to install on the target partition again? Follow to make your disk available for Windows installation again with the fixes in the next part.

4 Fixes for Failed to Format the Selected Partition | 0x8004242d Error

After figuring out the reasons that stop you from formatting the disk partition for Windows 10/8/7 installation, it's time to find the best solutions that can help fix the formatting error 0x8004242d.

Quick Fix: Open the computer case and check the connection cable > if it's loose, tight the drive cable > restart PC.

If this quick fix worked, congratulations and you can stop here. If not, don't worry. Move to the guide below, you'll fix this issue.

 Warning: Note that the upcoming fixes may cause data loss. Please make sure you have created a backup of important files on your target disk. Qiling file backup software can help.

Fix 1. Format the Selected Partition via Qiling Bootable Disk

If the target disk contains file system corruption error or unknown disk errors, it sends the error message when trying to format the partition to install Windows.

Fortunately, you can download Qiling partition manager software - Partition Master here to complete the format from a bootable disk, and then finish installing Windows without any trouble.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

#1. Create an Qiling Partition Master Bootable Disk

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of Qiling Partition Master, you should prepare a storage media, like a USB drive, flash drive or a CD/DVD disc. Then, correctly connect the drive to your computer.

Step 2. Launch Qiling Partition Master, find the "WinPE Creator" feature on the top. Click on it.

Step 3. You can choose the USB or CD/DVD when the drive is available. However, if you do not have a storage device at hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive, and later burn it to a storage media. Once made the option, click the "Proceed" button to begin.

When the process finishes, you have successfully created an Qiling Partition Master WinPE bootable disk. Now, you can manage your hard disks and partitions through the bootable drive whenever the computer fails to boot normally.

If you have RAID drives, load the RAID driver first by clicking Add Driver from the menu bar, which can help you add the driver of your device under WinPE environment, as some specific device cannot be recognized under WinPE environment without drivers installed, such as RAID or some specific hard disk.

#2. Boot PC from Qiling Bootable Disk

Step 1. Connect the bootable disk USB to your PC.

Step 2. Restart PC and press F2/F8/Del to enter BIOS.

Step 3. Set Qiling bootable USB as the boot drive, save the changes and restart PC.

#3. Format The Target Partition with Qiling Partition Master

After booting your computer from the bootable disk, you can proceed with the formatting process with Qiling Partition Master.

Here are the steps to format the target disk with the 'failed to format the selected partition' error:

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

Step 2. In the new window, set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click "Proceed".

Step 3. Then you will see a warning window, click "OK" in it to start formatting the partition on your hard drive.

Fix 2. Delete All Partitions and Create a New Volume

If Fix 1 doesn't work, or the target drive contains a partition that is not supported by Windows, you may also receive this error during the Windows installation process.

To do so, you can still turn to Qiling Partition Master for help:

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

#1. Create and Boot PC from Qiling Partition Master Bootable Disk

Step 1. Create a bootable disk via Qiling Partition Master.

Step 2. Connect the bootable disk to your PC and reboot the computer.

Step 3. Press F2/F8/Del to enter BIOS, and set the bootable disk as Boot Drive.

Step 4. Save the changes and restart the PC.

#2. Delete All Partitions

Step 1. Launch Qiling Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2. Select to delete partition or delete all partitions on hard drive.

Delete single partition: right-click on a partition that you want to delete and choose "Delete...".
Delete all partitions: right-click a hard drive that you want to delete all partitions, and select "Delete All...".

Make sure that you've backed up the important data on the selected partition because this manner will compeletely remove data.

Step 3. Click "OK" to confirm the deletion.

 Important: Now, you can enter Disk Management and check if your target disk is Dynamic.; If yes, you need to convert Dynamic to Basic disk first.

#3. Create A New Volume as NTFS

After making sure your disk is Basic, you can now create a new partition on the drive for Windows installation:

Step 1. Open Disk Management and right-click the unallocated target disk.

Step 2. Select "New Simple Volume", set a new drive letter for the disk, select "NTFS" as the file system.

Create new volume on target disk to fix 0x8004242d error while installing Windows

Step 3. Set to add all space into one partition, click "OK" and click "Finish".

After this, you should be able to continue installing Windows OS on the target disk without the 0x8004242d error anymore.

Fix 3. Clean Disk with Diskpart.exe Utility

Cleaning the problematic disk using Diskpart would solve the format error. However, all the partitions and data on the disk will be permanently removed. Back up the drive if the data is useful.

Step 1. Launch a Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type diskpart into the Command Prompt window, and press "Enter".

Step 3. Type list disk and press "Enter".

Examine the output of the command to identify the number of the disk you want to clean.

Step 4. Type select disk # (replace the # with the number of the disk you are going to clean) and hit Enter.

Step 5. Type clean and press "Enter". This will delete all partitions and data on the selected disk!

Clean target disk with cmd

When the "diskpart succeeded in cleaning the disk" message appears, you've wiped the disk partition.

Step 6. Type create partition primary and hit Enter.

Step 7. Type format fs=ntfs and hit Enter.

create and format partition on target disk with 0x8004242d error

Step 8. Type assign + a new drive letter and hit Enter.

Step 9. Type exit and hit Enter to close Prompt Command.

After this, close the Command Prompt to continue installing Windows OS on the disk.

Fix 4. Format Partition during Window Installation Process

To fix the error like 0x8004242d or 0x80070057, you can choose to delete all partitions first, then create a new partition, and finally format the partition.

Step 1. Run the Windows installation setup program - like Windows installation media.

Step 2. Click "Install Now". Choose "I accept the terms of license", click "Next".

Step 2. Click "Custom(advanced)".

windows install setup

Step 3. Choose partition and click "Delete".

install windows delete disk partition

 Notice:: If you have many partitions, please choose each partition for deleting. Then you can view an unallocated space. Select New.

Step 4. Delete the existing partition on the target disk, click "Create new partition" and select the new partition, click "Format"

What to Do after Fixing 0x8004242d Error? Install Windows on Your Disk

On this page, we collected 4 reliable fixes to help you resolve the Windows installation failure issue with the "Failed to format the selected partition. Error: 0x8004242d" error.

For an efficient and easy way out, Qiling Partition Master can help you boot PC from a bootable disk and complete the format, getting rid of the 0x8004242d error from your target disk.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

After this, the disk is viable for you to install Windows 10/8/7 without any further issues. For a step-by-step guide, you may refer to Fresh Install Windows 10/8/7 for help.