The partition at index 4 was created using the terminal (but it couldve been created using the plus minus in disk utility), and i have no problems whatsoever creating non-free space partitions with either of these methods.

I am still trying to install Windows while I am waiting for answers, so it was intentionally added and does not affect my problem. also please ignore the separate NTFS partition. Is there any reason this would be happening? Is there anyway to force a 'free space' partition to be created To clarify: when I try to create a partition of 'free space' using disk utility, it is formatted automatically and against my will to HFS+ Journaled. I go to disk utility, click on my harddrive, partition, then the plus at the bottom and select free space, resize to 50 GB and apply. I have more than enough room.I managed to do it once earlier today, but now whenever I try to create the free space partition it automatically formats it to the journaled mac os. This is for Windows if that matters, and is independent of Boot Camp. I've been trying to partition my harddrive to have ~50 gb of unallocated space (right now there's one partition with the operating system on it, so I would like to have that plus the free space).

Vanilla mac utility