Fix 0x8004242d Error: We Couldn't Format the Selected Partition [2020]

Error 0x8004242d - Failed to Format the Selected Partition

"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?"

If you are having the same issue of being unable to format a selected partition, try the next two fixes to format your partition now:

We Couldn't Format the Selected Partition

Besides the error message 'Failed to format the selected partition with error code 0x8004242d', there is another similar trouble that prevents people from installing a Windows operating system from scratch. It's 'we couldn't format the selected partition 0x80070057'.

What are the causes? Be clear that such format failure usually suggests your setup disk has corrupted, Windows is incompatible with a mass storage controller or a mass storage driver, a mass storage controller or a mass storage driver is outdated, a data cable in the computer is loose, hardware issues have occurred, or it's only because the hard disk on which you want to install Windows OS is a dynamic disk.

3 Fixes for Failed to Format the Selected Partition Error

If you see error code like 0x8004242d or 0x80070057, you are faced with the formatting failure.

After figuring out the reasons that stop people 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/0x80070057.

Solution 1. Format the Selected Partition via EaseUS Bootable Disk

Since Windows cannot be installed on the dynamic disk, it sends error when trying to format the partition to install. Luckily, you can download EaseUS at the first attempt to create bootable disk, and then format the selected partition without any trouble.

#1. Create an EaseUS Partition Master WinPE Bootable Disk

 

Step 1: Prepare a disc or drive

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

Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to the "WinPE Creator" feature on the top. Click on it.

Step 2: Create EaseUS Partition Master bootable drive

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 "Proceed".

You have created an EaseUS 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. Format Partition with EaseUS Partition Master

After creating the boot disk, you can proceed with the formatting process with EaseUS Partition Master, or just go back to install the Windows OS.

Now, the next step is about how to format a partition with EaseUS Partition Master to fix the 'failed to format the selected partition' error.

 

Step 1: Run EaseUS 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), and Cluster size for the partition to be formatted, then click "OK".

Step 3: Then you will see a warning window, click "OK" in it to continue.

Step 4: Click the "Execute Operation" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition on your hard drive.

Compared with the two solutions below, Solution 1 mentioned above looks simple for you. If you have interested in formatting disk through Diskpart and Install Windows process, please be careful. When some unclear information appears, the top propriety is to stop the operation and go back to Solution 1.

Solution 2. Clean Disk with Diskpart.exe Utility

Cleaning 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 the command: diskpart into the Command Prompt window, and press "Enter".

Step 3: Type the command: list disk and press "Enter".

Step 4: Examine the output of the command to identify the number of the disk you want to clean. Once you feel certain about the disk number, type the command: select disk # (replace the # with the number of the disk you are going to clean).

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

Step 6: When 'diskpart succeeded in cleaning the disk' appears, you've wiped the disk partition. Close the Command Prompt to continue installing Windows OS on the disk.

Solution 3: 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 install Windows setup. Click Install now.

Choose I accept the terms of license > Next

Step 2: Click Custom(advanced).

Step 3: Choose partition and Delete.

Delete the existing partition on disk * > Create new partition > Select new partition and click Format