windows won t install laptop

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx does specify that the HDD free space should be 15GB. It is the line below the recommended HDD as 40GB.
"crossmr" wrote in message

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

Correction: recommended HDD is 20GB with 15GB free space.
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx does specify that the HDD free space should be 15GB. It is the line below the recommended HDD as 40GB.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

Too stupid for a beta OS.
When you help someone like this they will just be back in a few more days with more stupid question.
This group is being flooded with moronic questions: How do I get a product key Where do I get a driver for xyz hardware Won't install on my lapotop Won't install on my computer circa 1968 My crappy video card won't run aero glass (the sky is falling) My crappy sound card doesn't work Can't figure out how to activate Will my 16 bit program from 1992 run on Vista How long can I use Vista Beta How do I dual boot I NEED STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO GET XP BACK cannot delete windows.old file
Ignore them, children should only listen to adult conversations, not be incouraged to join in.
On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:21:01 -0700, crossmr wrote:

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

Actually moron, the problem was that the hard drive partition wasn't set active, which is no where in the "required" notes. take the stick out of your ass before you post again.
"2" wrote:

Too stupid for a beta OS.
When you help someone like this they will just be back in a few more days with more stupid question.
This group is being flooded with moronic questions: How do I get a product key Where do I get a driver for xyz hardware Won't install on my lapotop Won't install on my computer circa 1968 My crappy video card won't run aero glass (the sky is falling) My crappy sound card doesn't work Can't figure out how to activate Will my 16 bit program from 1992 run on Vista How long can I use Vista Beta How do I dual boot I NEED STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO GET XP BACK cannot delete windows.old file
Ignore them, children should only listen to adult conversations, not be incouraged to join in.
On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:21:01 -0700, crossmr crossmr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

So the Installer did not show any hard drives in the window where you are asked to check where to install? Or did you not get that far?
Laptops are notorious for not working well in Betas where there is limited driver support, but as Colin mentioned the HD controller should be one of the more common ones that are included.

"crossmr" wrote in message

So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

I think that was a record...6 duplicate posts...the most I had seen before was 3 ;-)
"crossmr" wrote in message

I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

No, I could see the harddrive, make the partition, format the partition but it wouldn't actually continue with the installation from there. I have solved the problem by setting the partition active. Absolute stupidest thing ever as far as I'm concerned. And the reason for all the duplicate posts was because it was telling me there was an error and my post wasn't received.
"Zapper" wrote:

So the Installer did not show any hard drives in the window where you are asked to check where to install? Or did you not get that far?
Laptops are notorious for not working well in Betas where there is limited driver support, but as Colin mentioned the HD controller should be one of the more common ones that are included.

"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

Microsoft also recommends burning at your slowest speed, 2x or 4x. MS is getting reports of a lot of file read errors and found that the commonest solution was the burn speed. However, that would not account for not seeing the partition. Vista writes Boot Configuration Data to the 'system' drive so if you are using grub or lilo you should do some research before doing any thing that will change the mbr.
Another thing is to check the partition and make sure it is basic and not dynamic.
"crossmr" wrote in message

I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

As I said below. The probelm was the partition needed to be set active. The media is also good as I've previously installed on my desktop from it. Its installing (slowly) now. Slightly slower DVD drive and slower hard drive is making for a much longer copying of files.
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

Microsoft also recommends burning at your slowest speed, 2x or 4x. MS is getting reports of a lot of file read errors and found that the commonest solution was the burn speed. However, that would not account for not seeing the partition. Vista writes Boot Configuration Data to the 'system' drive so if you are using grub or lilo you should do some research before doing any thing that will change the mbr.
Another thing is to check the partition and make sure it is basic and not dynamic.
"crossmr" wrote in message I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

It's not his fault. It's the web-based newsreader telling him (incorrectly) that the posting failed.
"Zapper" wrote in message

I think that was a record...6 duplicate posts...the most I had seen before was 3 ;-)
"crossmr" wrote in message I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

I know it was the web based newgroup....that is why I put the smiley instead of screaming at him like Conor would do...but... If he would have even looked into the newsgroup at all, he would have seen that this problem is VERY obvious and could have not posted 6 times before he realised it was going through...

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

It's not his fault. It's the web-based newsreader telling him (incorrectly) that the posting failed.
"Zapper" wrote in message I think that was a record...6 duplicate posts...the most I had seen before was 3 ;-)
"crossmr" wrote in message I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.

I can see that a person would not think to do that. He is getting an error message. Why would expect the post to appear anyway? We just have to be kind to them and one day it will get fixed.
"Zapper" wrote in message

I know it was the web based newgroup....that is why I put the smiley instead of screaming at him like Conor would do...but... If he would have even looked into the newsgroup at all, he would have seen that this problem is VERY obvious and could have not posted 6 times before he realised it was going through...

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message It's not his fault. It's the web-based newsreader telling him (incorrectly) that the posting failed.
"Zapper" wrote in message I think that was a record...6 duplicate posts...the most I had seen before was 3 ;-)
"crossmr" wrote in message I doubt the upgrade advisor will run in Linux so its not much help to me. I know the media is good I installed off it onto my desktop without error. I'm going to try setting that particular partition as active as I've heard that can solve the problem
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
You have enough space. Vista requires about 11GB for installation and a little less after installation.
Why don't you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor to see if you need to do something to your computer before installing Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Looking at your specs online it looks like the hard drive controller would not require any special driver, but you probably ought to check on that.
Don't expect Glass.
"crossmr" wrote in message So I have a Toshiba Tecra A3. 40 GB HD which I've currently allocated 17.5 GB for Vista. The "capable" requirements off the website don't list a minimum hard drive space, yet I've allocated this space and formatted it and the install complains: Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.
Anyone know whats going on here? Some way I can get it to install. I installed it on my desktop as a triple boot and I only allocated around 20 GB there for it to install. If there WAS a limit it should have been listed and expressed before I formatted my laptop and downloaded 500 MB worth of updates and spent 2 hours getting the other partition nice and tidy.