Re: Can't install Vista

Run Setup repair mode, start up a command prompt, and see if there is an
option to "fixmbr" or something like that. This command prompt doesn't have
as many commands as XP Recovery Console, but there are a few useful ones.
Then you may have to repartition the drive, even though you have reformatted
it. As they say, there may be a low level Vista x64 driver or boot block
left on the system. It is also possible that the x64 partition which you
formatted is the wrong "type" to install x86. I am thinking that you need
to delete a partition, create a new one, and then format it in x86 Setup.
You may also have to mark the desired boot partition as active. There is a
program "bootsect" in the "boot" directory of the install DVD, which
installs the Vista Boot Manager, also something called "bcdedit" which you
may have to get involved with. These are documented more fully in TechNet
http://technet.microsoft.com.

Good luck,

Earle

"Spirit" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23DBhUb91IHA.4492@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am still thinking a low level driver left on system.

"Jan :)" <abuse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uiGM2U91IHA.5560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Spirit, yes, I have tried both drives, they are separate drives not
partitions. I have seen this happen before with another user, and they had
a
very long and difficult time trying to reinstall. I don't see why it is
so
difficult to reinstall Vista on a drive that it has been installed on
before
if the drive has a) been deleted and b) reformatted. There is not reason
I
can think of that should prevent the installation for seeing my drives as
having the sufficient criteria for installation. That is what is the
problem, and I have never seen this before, and I have done a lot of
reinstalls during the Vista beta. And yes, I have done a test on the
drives
and they test fine.

Jan :)

"Spirit" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23Stc7P91IHA.3756@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Since you mentioned "Drives" have you tried only with the 2nd one now
as the primary? In fact leave the primary now out of the machine until
OS is installed..... I am thinking the 64 bit might leave a low level
driver
on machine.

Might need to contact Driver Maker and/or Microsoft.

"Jan :)" <no abuse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ufQrUI91IHA.5728@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I had Vista Ultimate x64 installed on my machines, and wanted to install
the
x86. But, when I tried to install the x86 after deleting the x64 version,
I
now get an error that says that "Windows is unable to find a system
volume
that meets its criteria for installation." I have reformatted the drive
and
all else that I can think of, but, it it continues to throw the error
message. What should I do? I am sure that my system and hardware is
sufficient to handle the Vista install, and I am trying to install to the
same drive that I had the other installed to:
Processor
2.00 gigahertz AMD 64 Opteron's (2 installed)
Main Circuit Board
Tyan Tiger K8WE
Memory Modules
2 GB RAM

I don't understand what the problem is and I hope someone here can help.

Jan :)




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Transfer 32 bit to 64 bit - new drive
    ... Set your BIOS to boot from DVD; insert the Vista x64 DVD and reboot from it to run Setup. ... Let it create and format a new partition on the new HDD and install Vista x64 there. ... When you are sure that you have transferred or preserved everything you need from them, you can use Drive Management to delete and/or reformat the former Drives C: and G: on Disk 1 and create new drives there for other uses. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup)
  • Re: Multiple Vista boot options
    ... There would be a boot sector on both the XP and Vista drives. ... My goal was to install XP Pro on Drive 1 rather than Drive 0. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup)
  • Re: Dells Vista Premium ordered!
    ... I much rather install Vista ontop of Vista then over XP, ... As for a clean install, the work around, from what I have read, is to ... media, it's not a retail full product media, and it's probably not a ... install XP on the new drive, and then (now having two drives with XP ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Cant install Vista (Resolved)
    ... "If all is right you could also in the BIOS disable the option to boot other devices and only the internal would have been available to boot from. ... Some Bioses even have the option to set the USB drives to be selectable at boot to use if needed to boot from. ... The external drive was attached/installed long after the original install of Vista since January this year. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.general)
  • Re: Vista Windows Update
    ... Startup Repair - My gut feeling,as you have indicated, is that the problem ... the documentation MS offers for said updating issues with Vista are ... hell will I install any Symantec crud on it, it may not be much help. ... Command Prompt program by right-clicking Command Prompt, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)