Alright, so here's the deal...

For a while, I wanted to mess with Linux. I don't know why, but I wanted to. So, what I did was use WUBI and install Ubuntu. Because of some unknown reason (Intel Rapid Start? Half the drivers being on a Lenovo-installed SSD [separate from the main hard drive]?) it wouldn't dual boot. So, I decided to use Linux Mint instead, and install it in a partition. Since Windows 7 Home Premium won't make partitions any more if you have a certain number already, I just shrank my system drive and left empty space for the installer to claim.

When I installed Mint, it worked, but left my Windows 7 installation unable to boot and eventually it corrupted. I tried to use a system repair disc I burned earlier but it didn't find the Windows installation, so I assume the partition corrupted.

I used this link:http://www.pcworld.com/article/248995/how_to_install_windows_7_without_the_disc.html to try and reinstall Windows. What happened was that originally it said that the partition I was trying to reinstall from had been locked down by the OEM (Lenovo). So, I went into GParted, wiped EVERYTHING, and selected 'Construct new Boot record' or whatever that function is, and now the error is:

"Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the setup log files for more information."

Does anyone know how to see the log files? Can anyone help? This system is a month old but the warranty only covers hardware failures, and I would need to pay around USD$60 for them to fix it.

Please help. Any ideas? this is my main machine...

Extra information: I have at my disposal:

System Repair Disc (Burned myself)

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1 installation disk (burned from the pcworld links)

Gparted Live CD

Linux Mint 13 live cd

A system backup (from the morning before this catastrophe) made using the Windows Backup and Restore. I put it on an external drive...that should be safe for now.