Creating a new volume on hard drive.

[Evelyn22]

I want to install Windows 10  on a partitioned drive on my Elitebook 8460p Windows 7 laptop.  When I create my new simple volume, I get the following message:  "The operation you selected will convert the selected disk(s) to dynamic disk(s).  If you convert the disk(s) to dynamic, you will not be ale to start installed operating systems from any volume on the disk(s) (except the current boot volume).  Are you sure you want to continue?"  I want to keep my Windows 7 operating system and all my files.  Is there a way around this? 

[WAWood]

@Evelyn22 

The simple answer is -- not easily.  Let me explain ...

Your older PC is partitioned using a scheme that only allows for 4 upper-level partitions and OEM laptops, like those from HP, come with those 4 already used up.  This prevents you from creating any more.  IF you try to do that, you will force conversion to Dynamic Disks -- something you do NOT want to do.

To do what you want will be a lot of work, but it can be done:

1) Copy the contents of HP_TOOLS partition to a folder in "C"

2) Remove the HP_TOOLS partition

3) Shrink the OS partition down to make room for the new OS

4) Create a new Primary partition to hold the new OS

Then, you can install Windows to the new partition you created.