Computer restarted unexpectedly error

[John]

I thought I was finally done after 5 hours. I was out of the room, came
back and it said, "Computer re-booted unexpectedly. Windows installation
can not proceed." Then it says to reboot and start installation over
again. Is this going to be another 5 hours?

To start over I had to boot from the installation disk... otherwise it
just goes through the same routine, even in dos mode after F8.

When I did begin to start over it starts right from the start. Am I
going to have to go through everything again? And how do I know the same
thing won't happen? Does it recognise it's already put 5 hours into
this? Does it think this is a brand new install?

The re-start of installation looks different. I am doing an upgrade on
an HP media center xp computer. I'm terrified I will lose all my
settings and programs because it will now do a new install. I have the
data backed up.

John

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi John,

Something caused a catastrophic failure of setup, so everything that has
been done so far will be for naught. Starting over will create a new
installation, not an upgrade as the original install was likely too far
along for setup to revert back to the original installation. Installed
programs and personal settings will not be in the new install, as it will
not be an upgrade but rather a clean install.

You might try the steps here to regain the original install, whereupon you
can retry the upgrade:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168

Keep in mind though that the failure may be due to currently installed
software or a piece of hardware attached to the system. Running the upgrade
advisor is often not sufficient to detect these issues. Things you should do
before retrying:

- Uninstall, not just disable, any current antivirus and antispyware
software (and disconnect the system from the internet)
- Ensure that boot time protection in the system BIOS is disabled
- Detach any unnecessary hardware
- Uninstall video driver packages and revert to a standard VGA driver for
now
- Check with the system manufacturer to ensure that this model is upgradable

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[John]

I hear all these instructions now... what I should have done... from you
and others. What I did was read the little green instruction book that
came with the upgrade disk and did everything it said. Obviously those
were not the correct or sufficient instructions.

What I should have done is what my older brother told me... get an Mac.

John