"No Earthly Use" wrote:

> Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar problems.
>
> To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no matter how
> useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're not on
> your own sometimes.
>
> Thanks
>
> "BobT" wrote:
>
> > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
> >
> > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
> >
> > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point (which
> > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial Number.
> > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the setup or
> > boot my old windows.
> >
> > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
> >
> > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a Reptrospect BU
> > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue Disks!!!!
> >
> > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct manner
> > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
> >
> >

You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers to
download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing Vista.

Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted up
and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade automatically
like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
causing problems.

In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER (My
COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click on a
volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"

Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and WinXP
changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not sure
this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.

Dear Ed, thanks for those suggestions - I'll go looking for the drivers and
update what I can. I'll also look at whether WinXP can manage drive letters
in that sophisticated way - I suspect not, but it would be worth a try.

Thanks for that - good ideas!

"Ed Stoddard" wrote:

>
>
> "No Earthly Use" wrote:
>
> > Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar problems.
> >
> > To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no matter how
> > useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're not on
> > your own sometimes.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > "BobT" wrote:
> >
> > > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
> > >
> > > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
> > >
> > > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point (which
> > > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial Number.
> > > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the setup or
> > > boot my old windows.
> > >
> > > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
> > >
> > > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a Reptrospect BU
> > > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue Disks!!!!
> > >
> > > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct manner
> > > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
> > >
> > >
>
> You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
> their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers to
> download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing Vista.
>
> Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted up
> and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade automatically
> like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
> causing problems.
>
> In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER (My
> COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
> MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click on a
> volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"
>
> Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and WinXP
> changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not sure
> this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.

"Ed Stoddard" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:39D6D585-9E17-4302-BBA1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> "No Earthly Use" wrote:
>
>> Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar problems.
>>
>> To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no matter
>> how
>> useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're not on
>> your own sometimes.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> "BobT" wrote:
>>
>> > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
>> >
>> > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
>> >
>> > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point (which
>> > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial
>> > Number.
>> > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the
>> > setup or
>> > boot my old windows.
>> >
>> > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
>> >
>> > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a Reptrospect BU
>> > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue Disks!!!!
>> >
>> > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct
>> > manner
>> > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
>> >
>> >
>
> You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
> their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers to
> download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing
> Vista.
>
> Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted up
> and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade automatically
> like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
> causing problems.
>
> In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER (My
> COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
> MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click on a
> volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"
>
> Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and WinXP
> changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not sure
> this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.


Ed, that is a REALLY dangerous operation, changing the Boot drive letter.
1) Changing the Boot drive letter does NOT change references to that drive in
the Registry, AFAIK.
2) Nor does it change other references to that drive in various programs.

I certainly wouldn't do it. Better to simply take out Drive C:, then make
your secondary drive the Boot drive by making it the master, then installing
Windows on it.

Anyway, I don't believe it is even possible to change the drive letter of the
Boot drive.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
------------------------------------------------------

"No Earthly Use" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F05F4CA6-0A3E-401F-83D4-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear Ed, thanks for those suggestions - I'll go looking for the drivers and
> update what I can. I'll also look at whether WinXP can manage drive letters
> in that sophisticated way - I suspect not, but it would be worth a try.
>
> Thanks for that - good ideas!
>
> "Ed Stoddard" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "No Earthly Use" wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar problems.
>> >
>> > To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no matter
>> > how
>> > useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're not
>> > on
>> > your own sometimes.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > "BobT" wrote:
>> >
>> > > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
>> > >
>> > > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
>> > >
>> > > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point (which
>> > > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial
>> > > Number.
>> > > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the
>> > > setup or
>> > > boot my old windows.
>> > >
>> > > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
>> > >
>> > > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a Reptrospect
>> > > BU
>> > > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue Disks!!!!
>> > >
>> > > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct
>> > > manner
>> > > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
>> > >
>> > >
>>
>> You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
>> their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers to
>> download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing
>> Vista.
>>
>> Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted up
>> and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade automatically
>> like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
>> causing problems.
>>
>> In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER (My
>> COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
>> MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click on
>> a
>> volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"
>>
>> Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and
>> WinXP
>> changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not
>> sure
>> this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.

Good luck on that one, friend. As I told Mr. Stoddard, that is VERY
DANGEROUS, and could make it not possible to boot Windows without completely
reinstalling it. You could also lose any user data on that drive.


--
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for that warning, Donald. I couldn't see any simple way of doing this
in XP anyway, but I'm not going to risk crashing my system! I'll keep trying
with the other suggestions, but it's still not behaving itself.

Is it possible to install Vista in Safe Mode, or does it require all the
other gubbins to be loaded first? Just a thought that has crossed my (not
very bright!) mind.

"Donald McDaniel" wrote:

> "No Earthly Use" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:F05F4CA6-0A3E-401F-83D4-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Dear Ed, thanks for those suggestions - I'll go looking for the drivers and
> > update what I can. I'll also look at whether WinXP can manage drive letters
> > in that sophisticated way - I suspect not, but it would be worth a try.
> >
> > Thanks for that - good ideas!
> >
> > "Ed Stoddard" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> "No Earthly Use" wrote:
> >>
> >> > Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar problems.
> >> >
> >> > To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no matter
> >> > how
> >> > useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're not
> >> > on
> >> > your own sometimes.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks
> >> >
> >> > "BobT" wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
> >> > >
> >> > > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
> >> > >
> >> > > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point (which
> >> > > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial
> >> > > Number.
> >> > > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the
> >> > > setup or
> >> > > boot my old windows.
> >> > >
> >> > > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
> >> > >
> >> > > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a Reptrospect
> >> > > BU
> >> > > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue Disks!!!!
> >> > >
> >> > > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct
> >> > > manner
> >> > > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >>
> >> You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
> >> their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers to
> >> download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing
> >> Vista.
> >>
> >> Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted up
> >> and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade automatically
> >> like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
> >> causing problems.
> >>
> >> In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER (My
> >> COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
> >> MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click on
> >> a
> >> volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"
> >>
> >> Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and
> >> WinXP
> >> changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not
> >> sure
> >> this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.
>
> Good luck on that one, friend. As I told Mr. Stoddard, that is VERY
> DANGEROUS, and could make it not possible to boot Windows without completely
> reinstalling it. You could also lose any user data on that drive.
>
>
> --
> Donald L McDaniel
> Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
>

"No Earthly Use" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:83BD8501-1E1E-4D89-9512-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for that warning, Donald. I couldn't see any simple way of doing
> this
> in XP anyway, but I'm not going to risk crashing my system! I'll keep
> trying
> with the other suggestions, but it's still not behaving itself.
>
> Is it possible to install Vista in Safe Mode, or does it require all the
> other gubbins to be loaded first? Just a thought that has crossed my (not
> very bright!) mind.
>
> "Donald McDaniel" wrote:
>
>> "No Earthly Use" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:F05F4CA6-0A3E-401F-83D4-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Dear Ed, thanks for those suggestions - I'll go looking for the drivers
>> > and
>> > update what I can. I'll also look at whether WinXP can manage drive
>> > letters
>> > in that sophisticated way - I suspect not, but it would be worth a try.
>> >
>> > Thanks for that - good ideas!
>> >
>> > "Ed Stoddard" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "No Earthly Use" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Thanks for your support, Bob, and sorry that you've had similar
>> >> > problems.
>> >> >
>> >> > To be honest, I'm desperate enough to accept help from anyone, no
>> >> > matter
>> >> > how
>> >> > useless their posts may appear! It's just nice to know that you're
>> >> > not
>> >> > on
>> >> > your own sometimes.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks
>> >> >
>> >> > "BobT" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > > NEU- I have the same problem as you.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > My Vista advisor, and some other stuff says that an upgrade is fine.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > When I try either an upgrade or a clean install, I reach a point
>> >> > > (which
>> >> > > varies each time) that loops back to the window that wants my Serial
>> >> > > Number.
>> >> > > or if I am lucky, and catch the reboot on time, lets me rollback the
>> >> > > setup or
>> >> > > boot my old windows.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > I am not sure why the other posters are not responding helpfully?
>> >> > >
>> >> > > I was lucky, and made both an Acronis True Image BU, and a
>> >> > > Reptrospect
>> >> > > BU
>> >> > > prior to this frustrating install process, along with Resue
>> >> > > Disks!!!!
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Certainly, there is a MS guru that can address this in a more direct
>> >> > > manner
>> >> > > than the useless posts I have seen so far?.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >>
>> >> You can check what drivers need updating at www.driveragent.com by using
>> >> their free scan. Then go to the vendors site for most current drivers
>> >> to
>> >> download. It's best to have the latest WinXP drivers before installing
>> >> Vista.
>> >>
>> >> Too, could it be as simple as going into WinXP when you have that booted
>> >> up
>> >> and reversing the drive letters so Vista can do its upgrade
>> >> automatically
>> >> like it wants to do to the c: drive?? The dual booting process might be
>> >> causing problems.
>> >>
>> >> In Vista I know you can change drive letters by right clicking COMPUTER
>> >> (My
>> >> COMPUTER in WinXP) then clicking on MANAGE, then double clicking DISK
>> >> MANAGEMENT under STORAGE. When that area is shown, one can right click
>> >> on
>> >> a
>> >> volume detail window and choose "Change Drive Letters & Paths"
>> >>
>> >> Perhaps if the partition you are loading Vista on is changed to c: and
>> >> WinXP
>> >> changed to something esle, your installation will be accomplished. Not
>> >> sure
>> >> this will work but understand you are searching for ideas.
>>
>> Good luck on that one, friend. As I told Mr. Stoddard, that is VERY
>> DANGEROUS, and could make it not possible to boot Windows without
>> completely
>> reinstalling it. You could also lose any user data on that drive.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Donald L McDaniel
>> Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
>> ------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>


Since all retail versions of Vista can be installed "clean", the installer
does not need all the other "gubbins" -- Just working and compatible hardware.

Please, sir, don't short-change yourself. You have all the intelligenced
needed. This is just a NEW OS. There are ALWAYS problems when a new OS is
introduced, even for experts.

I just had a terrible problem getting my new Logitech MX 5000 Laser Desktop
installed. I kept downloading the wrong driver (and Logitech kept pointing me
to the wrong one). The ONLY difference between the two drivers was that one
was for computers with built-in Bluetooth, and one (the one I needed) was for
computers without built-Bluetooth. I assumed because Logitech pointed me to
the one I DIDN'T need that it was correct. One was named "setpoint330.bt"
(this one was for computers with built-in Bluetooth), and one was named
"setpoint330.br" (this was actually the one I needed). And Logitech said
nothing about this. You can imagine the terror and frustration I was feeling
toward the end.

In the end, its ALWAYS something simple like that. (My addition to Murphy's
Law).

Anyway, I hope you get it installed. Perhaps you could bring it to a local
tech with experience setting up computers for/with Vista? He would have the
machine right there, and would be able to have a better picture than we could.

Good Luck...

--
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
------------------------------------------------------