your system partition does not have enough space instal

I have a boot partition (so I call it) C: with just enough space to boot my various dual boot'rs of Windows XP, XP64, and whatever else I might be installing.
Running Vista installation from the XP64 (running at D:) the installation is unable to recognize massive amounts of free space on D: E: F: et. al.
You get the error message "System partition does not have enough free space" and the installation ends. No recognition that you don't really ALWAYS want to install to C:, that you are actively running Windows on a totally different partition, and on and on.
No opportunity to input the true location you wish to install to. Just Nope Sorry. And that's it.
Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy aye?
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it needs space to install the installation files.
-- Jon Hildrum DTS MVP Jon_Hildrum@msn.com www.hildrum.com "ChrisWilds" wrote in message

I have a boot partition (so I call it) C: with just enough space to boot my various dual boot'rs of Windows XP, XP64, and whatever else I might be installing.
Running Vista installation from the XP64 (running at D:) the installation is unable to recognize massive amounts of free space on D: E: F: et. al.
You get the error message "System partition does not have enough free space" and the installation ends. No recognition that you don't really ALWAYS want to install to C:, that you are actively running Windows on a totally different partition, and on and on.
No opportunity to input the true location you wish to install to. Just Nope Sorry. And that's it.
Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy aye?
---------------- This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx?mid=372bb924-7f82-42bd-afe1-c4153334f63d&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup

Yes, I think we all know it needs space for the installation files. The problem is, it doesn't install them as previous releases have, on the actively running Windows partition.
The installation requires (apparently) that the installation files _must_ install to C: regardless of the fact the Windows is running on D: (or any) and that there are 5Gb's available on D.
Face it: on a dual/multiple boot system you want to keep your boot partition free and clear as much as possible.
I believe that there are some things that haven't been thought out yet related to the installation routine.
"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:

it needs space to install the installation files.
-- Jon Hildrum DTS MVP Jon_Hildrum@msn.com www.hildrum.com "ChrisWilds" wrote in message I have a boot partition (so I call it) C: with just enough space to boot my various dual boot'rs of Windows XP, XP64, and whatever else I might be installing.
Running Vista installation from the XP64 (running at D:) the installation is unable to recognize massive amounts of free space on D: E: F: et. al.
You get the error message "System partition does not have enough free space" and the installation ends. No recognition that you don't really ALWAYS want to install to C:, that you are actively running Windows on a totally different partition, and on and on.
No opportunity to input the true location you wish to install to. Just Nope Sorry. And that's it.
Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy aye?
---------------- This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
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Chris--
1) Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy but you should try to bug that. I have a lot of ideas for installation but getting them to listen is a whole other paradigm. I'm going to show you explicitly where to direct that feedback--I'm going to give you a direct email address to Darly Gorter and 2 other email addresses to copy at MSFT. While MSFT sometimes sees posts here, it's not a good feedback venue for MSFT but it shouldn't stop you from discussing your suggestions here.
2) I don't know this in as explicit detail as perhaps some of the others, Colin, etc. might but I do know that when you are multibooting, because I do that all the time with Vista, and let's say that you have another OS on C:\ and some more partitions we'll call D, E, F etc. that Vista still its going to install some files to C:\ regardless. If anyone knows exactly what they are and how much space, please post.
I have been told on occasion on a box when C:\ is full to the brim that Vista wants about 650-700MB of space--I can't remember the exact number
I know for example C:\boot gets files that relate to and come with Vista on a multiboot. There may be some XP boot files too there. The BCD store info is there, as is fixntfs utility and they can be used among other 3rd party apps to fix boot loader problems. I wish I knew more details about fixntfs. Ko Zee who posts here occasionally has that down. Maybe Colin can help with that.
If you have ideas/suggestions/criticism on how you think setup should run, although it's late in the Vista game but it is still a work in progress--I can't tell you team by team how much work is in progress--I could tell you for a day what I think needs to be work in progress:
Microsoft says they love feedback. I think they love feedback like the Bush ranch in Crawford Texas loves Cindy Sheehan myself. They are very sensitive about certain feedback subjects, notably that the OEM purchasers of Vista will be deprived of Win RE access because the media will be short the code just as it was for 500 million unfortunate XP preinstalled desktops and will be for x number of million Vista preinstalled desktops or so called recovery partitions or so called recovery discs from OEM named partners (same counterparts now exist in Windows XP).
*MSFT has a slide in circulation that claims studies show 400 million Vista desktops OEM in 24 months.
Direct mail to the MSFT setup team:
Darrell Gorter Vista Setup Team Darrellg@.microsoft.com
Vinny Flint Vista Setup Team mjflyn@microsoft.com
Copy:
Nick White Developer, Vista Team Blog Proprietor nicholas.white@microsoft.com
Corey Snow, Developer and Connect Team Leader csnow@microsoft.com
Good luck,
CH

"ChrisWilds" wrote in message

I have a boot partition (so I call it) C: with just enough space to boot my various dual boot'rs of Windows XP, XP64, and whatever else I might be installing.
Running Vista installation from the XP64 (running at D:) the installation is unable to recognize massive amounts of free space on D: E: F: et. al.
You get the error message "System partition does not have enough free space" and the installation ends. No recognition that you don't really ALWAYS want to install to C:, that you are actively running Windows on a totally different partition, and on and on.
No opportunity to input the true location you wish to install to. Just Nope Sorry. And that's it.
Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy aye?
---------------- This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx?mid=372bb924-7f82-42bd-afe1-c4153334f63d&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup

Chris your ideas are very valid. I have made it possible for you to take them straight to the horsey's mouth.
To extend this a bit, it has always pissed me off that many 3rd party applications, not just Windows install files on C:\ although as I've said to Bernie, not being a developer and not being a setup expert like these guys are, I can't walk the necessary mile in their shoes. I don't know what things are preventing this from happening.
Widely known cases in point are AV programs (Win One Care or Norton or any other, and Nero).
To get another pet peeve off my chest, (I tend to be very shy and reticent about these and like to hold any criticism very close to the chestnever getting out how I really feel) MSFT for years has persisted in making log information scatter in logs to the 4 corners of Windows, ectopically and metastatically and then when you find the logs for Office or setup for Windows (and I can back this up and name the non-intuitive mystical names of many of these files) then when you get there they are encrypted and most people can't interpret them. In some instances, I can take a room full of MSFT MVPs and I guarandamntee you they can't interpret the logs without special tools to do so.
This benefits MSFT as far as information gathering, but it is of no benefit for the end user, and it should be. I can also point out a gamut of event viewer messages that could not be interpreted by a room full of MSFT MVPs.
Many excellent detailed ideas that were thought out and written with great care, have been suggested to the setup team by TBTs in droves in the early months of Vista Beta (July-September of 2005 and subsequent months) I can assure you, and many months ago when there was more time to do something about it. I've done everything I can to give you the direct email address to the guys on the planet (not all but a couple of very talented ones who are in a position to design, fix, and remodel Vista setup at Redmond, Washington home of Vista setup).
I can't say that the suggestions fell on deaf ears, because the ears were on very talented heads. I can say none of them were implemented but the reasons weren't ever offered in detail. A lot of us would love to know why.
CH
"ChrisWilds" wrote in message

Yes, I think we all know it needs space for the installation files. The problem is, it doesn't install them as previous releases have, on the actively running Windows partition.
The installation requires (apparently) that the installation files _must_ install to C: regardless of the fact the Windows is running on D: (or any) and that there are 5Gb's available on D.
Face it: on a dual/multiple boot system you want to keep your boot partition free and clear as much as possible.
I believe that there are some things that haven't been thought out yet related to the installation routine.
"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:
it needs space to install the installation files.
-- Jon Hildrum DTS MVP Jon_Hildrum@msn.com www.hildrum.com "ChrisWilds" wrote in message I have a boot partition (so I call it) C: with just enough space to boot my various dual boot'rs of Windows XP, XP64, and whatever else I might be installing.
Running Vista installation from the XP64 (running at D:) the installation is unable to recognize massive amounts of free space on D: E: F: et. al.
You get the error message "System partition does not have enough free space" and the installation ends. No recognition that you don't really ALWAYS want to install to C:, that you are actively running Windows on a totally different partition, and on and on.
No opportunity to input the true location you wish to install to. Just Nope Sorry. And that's it.
Maybe a more flexible installation would be handy aye?
---------------- This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx?mid=372bb924-7f82-42bd-afe1-c4153334f63d&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup