"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 :)
>>>
>>
>
>