SP3 tries to install to a different drive...

[rickybearcb]

I've created a dual boot between Windows 7 and Windows XP and for some reason, all my drivers and Service Pack 3 keep wanting to install to the C drive. (I used a Windows XP SP2 disc to install Windows XP.) The C drive is for system recovery for Windows 7, the D drive is Windows 7, and the F drive is Windows XP. I've found out how to get the drivers to install to the F drive, but every time I try to install SP3, even if I click on the F drive, it still wants to install to the C drive and the installation fails because there's not enough room for it on the C drive. Is there a way I can fix this problem? I've looked all over the internet, and I can't find anyone else in my situation at all, or any articles/how-to's on it. Every time I search it, it just brings up results about how to dual boot...

 

[USAFRet]

You're trying this while booted in to the XP OS? What does XP think its boot drive letter is? C or F?

 

[rickybearcb]

You're trying this while booted in to the XP OS? What does XP think its boot drive letter is? C or F?

Yes, I'm trying this while I'm booted into Windows XP. I don't know what XP thinks it's drive letter is. It's F, but it tries to install to C for some reason.

 

[USAFRet]

Open Windows Explorer. See what drive letters are there, and what is on them.

 

[rickybearcb]

Open Windows Explorer. See what drive letters are there, and what is on them.

I know what they are. I'm not stupid. I just found out how to fix the problem. I had to edit something in the registry. My problem is fixed. I don't know who you take me for. I stated above exactly what was wrong and you're trying to make me look like I'm an idiot. The solution I found was on the Microsoft website, someone had posted about having a similar problem with a Mac Boot Camp, except his problem was slightly different, but I tried the suggestion that someone gave him and it worked for me.

Link to it: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-windows_update/xp-error-not-enough-drive-space-cant-install/1519eefa-b767-486f-9920-76b2e5c3792f

My problem was that I couldn't do updates because I didn't have IE8 and SP3, but I couldn't install SP3 because of what I stated in my first post, and so I found that post on Microsoft and it fixed my problem.

Here's what Santosh Y on Microsoft said to do to fix it:

a. Click Start, click Run, type “regedit” (without quotes) and then click OK.
b. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
c. On the Edit menu, point to New, and click String Value.
d. In the text box under the Name column, type "BootDir" (without quotes) and press ENTER.
e. Right-click the name BootDir, and then, click Modify.
f. In the Edit String Value dialog box, type the drive letter for your system drive, and then click OK.
For example, if your system drive is C: then, type "C:\" (without quotes).
g. Close Registry Editor and restart the computer.
h. Install Windows XP Service Pack 3 that you downloaded.

Except that I didn't need to create a new BootDir (it wouldn't let me anyway since one already existed). All I needed to do was change the drive letter from C to F.

 

[USAFRet]

Wasn't trying to make anyone look like an idiot....just trying to get to the root of the problem. Often, futzing around with drive letters, especially boot drive letters, leads to issues.
Without knowing how you got to this point, starting at the beginning is usually a good thing.

Sorry if I caused offense. Glad to see you got it fixed.