Vista - Clean Install From Upgrade Vista

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted out Bratboy.

Grrr, running into a weird snag.

I followed the guide and did the first round of installing with no key, it installed fine and runs. Then I figured before I did the reinstall with the key I'd go ahead and make sure I'd installed all the drivers etc I would need so the upgrade wouldn't need to find them.

I then started the install from within the working x86 install on C:\ , it starts and then complains that another drive, D:\, that nothing is on thats 200 meg in size doesnt have enough space and errors out. I thought okay and shrank the drive next to the D drive but the drive shrank from the other end so Instead of having space after the D drive I could expand to the space is after the drive I shrank so I still can't make the D Drive larger.

I then tried to boot using the install CD, it asks for the key, I input it and then it says you have to run setup from withing the existing OS. This is very fustraiting.

Any suggestions or solutions? Any help would really be appreciated on how I can possibly get around this problem either by moving the F Drive over so the free space is next to the D drive or get around this complaining that there isnt enough space on D when my X86 install is on C which has plenty of spare space.

Hi Bratboy,

When you installed Vista for the second time, did you select the same C: drive to install is on?

When I run the install from within The first install I don't even get an option.

I click setup get the first window where you select Install now, click that and things sort of close then I get the mssg about the other drive not having enough space and the install goes back to the main install window.

Will try again in a sec and make sure to write down the error mssg it gives. be just a moment

Okay here you go I'm on my C: drive that has VX86 installed.
1. Run setup off the DVD from within Vx86.

2. Start up window opens.

3. Click the "Install Now" button.

After a few seconds I get the following mssg and error number:

"The system partition (D does not have enough space. Windows install needs at least 448 megabytes (MB) of space on this partition. To install Windows freeenough space and restart install

Error Code 0x80070070"

I don't even get an option to select a drive to install to. And if I start the second install from bootup then I get as far as entering the key and am told I must run setup from within Windows. Its a vicious circle. Am about to the point of trying to find a hack because I really don't want to go thru the hell of deleting all the partitions and then one at a time creating partitions and reinstalling each OS again. I suppose In the alternative I could just delet both the partitions that have V86 and Windows installed so that there is only a partition holding Vx64 and then creat a part & install VX86 then reboot and create a second part and install Win 7 but its a pain.

Then again I dont really even play with Win7 so I suppose the other alternatives are to either delete Winx86 and Win 7 parts from within Vx64 ithen just reboot to the DVD of x86 and create new partitions when I get to the drive window. Then my Main drive would only have 2 , or 3 if I decide I still want W7, partitions period. The only thing is since I'm in a multi boot config now would that screw up my Vx86 install?

Hi bratboy,

Please post a screenshot of the Disk Management window, like this



Thanks

Here you go that very last lil spot says 2 MB Unallocated
(hope I did it right)

When did you get the 200mb system partition - the one on the left?

In what order did you install Vx64 and Win7 ?

Just turned up back when I first tried to partition the drive. I thought manybe deleting it might help but was afraid it would screw up the other drives

Actually back when I had my other MB I had problems getting my system up and running between new drives and hardware then and first OS I had luck getting to install was Win7 then when I got a new MB by Asus I was able to install Vista X64

Beginning to think the only way I'll fix things is to back up everything off my Vista x64 drive to another drive. Then start by installing V32 and during the disk partitioning step just deleting all the parts and then redividing the drive into 3 equal partitions, finish getting a clean install from upgrade DVD of V32 on then install V64 to the 2nd Part and then Win7 to the third. just a pain having toreinstall everything and all because of one stupid DRM removal app I really like that wont work with anything higher than V32. I've tried running it in every compatability mode out of V64 and no go.

Hi,

7 likes to make that 200mb partition - if you don't already have an Active partition on the hd.

It is the System partition as it contains the boot files thru which all your o/s boot up.

You can't delete it from within windows.

You are the first person I have seen try this combination and order of installs.

Presumably, VX64 just installed clean by booting from the dvd and pointing it at ( what was at the time ) the third partition.

You don't have 448mb on the 200mb System partition obviously - only seems to be a problem when doing the upgrade install.

Do you want all 3 o/s installed?

If so, you could install 7 again and stop it from making that 200mb partition.

Why not use the key you got with your 64 bit dvd - presumably that's not an upgrade key.

SIW2