Cannot find a previous version of windows

[David McCulloch]

PROBLEM:
After booting from WinXP's Setup CD (I am attempting to upgrade WinME to
WinXP), Setup gives me the following error:

"Setup cannot find a previous version of Windows installed on your
computer."

BACKGROUND:
* I am upgrading my dad's PC (hardware and Windows), so I copied his hard
drive (40GB to 80GB) using Western Digital's full-featured diskette (it
partitions and formats while it copies). Before the copy, I wrote zeroes to
the disk and performed a full check-out.

* Because I am using much newer hardware, I am unable to boot into Windows
ME normally, but I am able to boot into WinME's Safe Mode. Unfortunately,
it doesn't see my CD so I cannot start WinXP Setup from there.

* If I boot from the WinXP CD, Setup does not recognize that WinME has been
loaded onto the hard drive and asks me to load a WinME CD so I can prove
that I own an earlier version of Windows. (I upgraded my own PC this way,
but Setup found Win98.)

* WinXP's recovery console... A BOOTCFG scan cannot find any Windows
operating systems installed. It suggested that I run CHKDSK. CHKDSK, even
with its "p" and "r" options, does not find anything wrong.

QUESTIONS:
- Is there a way to make WinME's Safe mode see my new CD?

- If WinME saw my CD, could I start WinXP's Setup program from WinME
(thereby forcing it to see WinME on C: )?

- If I boot from the WinME CD, could I somehow use it to add a driver for my
new CD?

Dave

 

[Rich Barry]

David, I think you can install WinXP straight away as long as you have a
Legal WinMe CD. Go here for some Info
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm Select I and scroll
down to Installation Problems.

 

[Alex Nichol]

PROBLEM:
After booting from WinXP's Setup CD (I am attempting to upgrade WinME to
WinXP), Setup gives me the following error:

"Setup cannot find a previous version of Windows installed on your
computer."

To do an upgrade you run the XP CD *from* the existing system, taking
Install and continuing into upgrade. You can if you wish then take
New install, and when it asks where hit ESC, delete the current
partition and make a new one - by that time the check for eligibility
has been made.

Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm