Windows 7 complains it doesn't have enough space to install, XP now won't boot

[Goi]

Hi,

I have an 80GB SSD, with a 100MB system partition, and then 2 other partitions split roughly half/half.

It used to be a dual boot system. I installed XP on the 3rd partition, then Windows 7 on the 2nd partition. The 2nd partition is now empty as it was wiped.

I'm now unable to boot to XP, probably cos the boot loader was in the 2nd partition.

I'm also unable to reinstall Windows 7 on the 2nd partition, because whenever I do so I get the message:

Setup was unable to use the existing system partition because it does not contain the required free space.

This is despite the partition having almost 40GB of space.

I'm not sure what's in the system partition.

How do I resolve this?

Thanks.

 

[postaled]

Boot off of a live-cd of a linux distribution and then you can check out whats on the partition.

 

[Goi]

I think it was what Windows 7/XP created during installation.

Is there any way of either installing Win7 on the 2nd partition, or fixing the boot loader so that XP boots?

 

[Wangstang]

Hi,

I have an 80GB SSD, with a 100MB system partition, and then 2 other partitions split roughly half/half.

It used to be a dual boot system. I installed XP on the 3rd partition, then Windows 7 on the 2nd partition. The 2nd partition is now empty as it was wiped.

I'm now unable to boot to XP, probably cos the boot loader was in the 2nd partition.

I'm also unable to reinstall Windows 7 on the 2nd partition, because whenever I do so I get the message:



This is despite the partition having almost 40GB of space.

I'm not sure what's in the system partition.

How do I resolve this?

Thanks.

Does it offer you the oportunity to format the 2nd partition when you are trying to install Windows 7 on it?

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html

 

[Goi]

@Wangstang, yes, I've tried to create a partition, delete a partition, or create a partition and format it, none of them work.

@JackMDS, I can't even boot up to Windows, how do I get an elevated command prompt?

 

[Level_1]

Try using gparted(linux live disc) and change the boot flag on the xp partition to enable then reboot normally. If that didn't work then boot to xp recovery console(xp disc) and run the command -> bootcfg /rebuild <-.

 

[Goi]

Thanks. I used the Windows 7 DVD to repair the startup configuration.