Re: Can't install Vista

"Earle Horton" <earleh_nospam_@live.com> wrote in message news:...

> 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@notthere.net> wrote in message

> news:%23DBhUb91IHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> I am still thinking a low level driver left on system.

>

> "Jan :)" <abuse@localhost.invalid> wrote in message

> news:uiGM2U91IHA.5560@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> 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@notthere.net> wrote in message

>> news:%23Stc7P91IHA.3756@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> 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@localhost.invalid> wrote in message

>> news:ufQrUI91IHA.5728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>>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 :)

>>>

>>

>

>