Trouble Upgrading to Vista

[Guest]

I own a Dell Dimension 9200 (XPS 410). Today I tried to install Windows Vista
Home Premium Upgrade, but the installation failed right near the end. This
computer is Windows Vista Capable and I exceed all the requirements. It
currently is running Windows XP Media Center 2005.

What I did was 1) uninstall Norton Internet Security (as suggested by Norton
technician); 2) backed up some files and applications; 3) and inserted the
Windows Vista DVD. I followed all the steps with no problems, until the
installation was finishing up. My final screen said:

Copying Windows files
Gathering files
Expanding files
Installing features and updates
Completing Upgrade (53%)

The first four had green checkmarks beside them to indicate they had been
finished.
But then it "hung" during the completion task. I waited awhile for it to
resume, but no luck. So I rebooted. I then got the message "The upgrade was
not successful. Your previous version of Windows is being restored."

Should I try again? Any other suggestions?

 

[Rock]

I own a Dell Dimension 9200 (XPS 410). Today I tried to install Windows
Vista
Home Premium Upgrade, but the installation failed right near the end. This
computer is Windows Vista Capable and I exceed all the requirements. It
currently is running Windows XP Media Center 2005.

What I did was 1) uninstall Norton Internet Security (as suggested by
Norton
technician); 2) backed up some files and applications; 3) and inserted the
Windows Vista DVD. I followed all the steps with no problems, until the
installation was finishing up. My final screen said:

Copying Windows files
Gathering files
Expanding files
Installing features and updates
Completing Upgrade (53%)

The first four had green checkmarks beside them to indicate they had been
finished.
But then it "hung" during the completion task. I waited awhile for it to
resume, but no luck. So I rebooted. I then got the message "The upgrade
was
not successful. Your previous version of Windows is being restored."

Should I try again? Any other suggestions?

What else did the upgrade advisor say could be a problem? There had to be
more than just NIS, though maybe the very remnants of NIS left over from
your uninstall of it was part or all of the problem. Download the NIS
removal tool from the Symantec web site and run it.

Is the system clean of malware?

Did you research on the computer manufacturer's web site for compatibility
info and info on Vista drivers, and on the web sites for all the hardware
and software for drivers, updates and compatibility info?

Disconnect all hardware except the monitor, keyboard, mouse and CD drive.
Remove all hard drives except the one Vista will be installed on, and try
again.

If that doesn't work you might have to do a clean install? Use WET from the
Vista DVD on the XP installation to create a file containing the user files
and settings to migrate them to Vista after the install.

How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one
Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634/en-us

Make sure you have an independent backup of important data, besides using
WET. I recommend imaging the XP system to an external hard drive using
something like Acronis True Image Home, version 10 before doing the upgrade
or the clean install.

 

[Guest]

What else did the upgrade advisor say could be a problem? There had to be
more than just NIS, though maybe the very remnants of NIS left over from
your uninstall of it was part or all of the problem. Download the NIS
removal tool from the Symantec web site and run it.

-- Okay: I used the removal tool. See here for the results of two different
Upgrade advisors:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...iew=by_date_ascending&message.id=30035#M30035

Is the system clean of malware?

-- Yes, a full scan was done earlier today.

Did you research on the computer manufacturer's web site for compatibility
info and info on Vista drivers, and on the web sites for all the hardware
and software for drivers, updates and compatibility info?

-- Well, actually, no. I thought that updating drivers and such was done
after Vista install, possibly prompted during or after the Vista
installation. I guess I was mistaken.

Disconnect all hardware except the monitor, keyboard, mouse and CD drive.
Remove all hard drives except the one Vista will be installed on, and try
again.

-- I can do that.

If that doesn't work you might have to do a clean install? Use WET from the
Vista DVD on the XP installation to create a file containing the user files
and settings to migrate them to Vista after the install.

How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one
Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634/en-us

Make sure you have an independent backup of important data, besides using
WET. I recommend imaging the XP system to an external hard drive using
something like Acronis True Image Home, version 10 before doing the upgrade
or the clean install.

-- Unfortunately, I do not have an external hardrive or anything beg enough
to hold 12GB of backup data. If I really have to address all of those issues
the Dell Windows Vista Readiness Assessment Tool mentioned, I might just get
someone over here to do it.

Thanks Rock

 

[Rock]

>

-- Okay: I used the removal tool. See here for the results of two
different
Upgrade advisors:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...iew=by_date_ascending&message.id=30035#M30035


-- Yes, a full scan was done earlier today.


-- Well, actually, no. I thought that updating drivers and such was done
after Vista install, possibly prompted during or after the Vista
installation. I guess I was mistaken.


-- I can do that.


-- Unfortunately, I do not have an external hardrive or anything beg
enough
to hold 12GB of backup data. If I really have to address all of those
issues
the Dell Windows Vista Readiness Assessment Tool mentioned, I might just
get
someone over here to do it.

I suggest you look into putting together an external hard drive. Get a bare
drive and put it in an external hard drive enclosure. The costs are very
reasonable, much less than a preassembled unit. You can put together a
320GB external drive for less than $100.

What do you do for backup? What if the system drive crashed? How would you
recover from that? An external drive with Acronis True image is a good
backup/recovery solution and it can be used in Vista once you complete the
upgrade.

The point of researching for drivers is to see if there are drivers
available for the computer and all your hardware. You want to know this
before hand.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

I suggest you look into putting together an external hard drive. Get a bare
drive and put it in an external hard drive enclosure. The costs are very
reasonable, much less than a preassembled unit. You can put together a
320GB external drive for less than $100.

What do you do for backup? What if the system drive crashed? How would you
recover from that? An external drive with Acronis True image is a good
backup/recovery solution and it can be used in Vista once you complete the
upgrade.

-- I have backed up some applications and pictures and files on DVD-R as
well as regularly backup important documents on a 2GB flashdrive.

The point of researching for drivers is to see if there are drivers
available for the computer and all your hardware. You want to know this
before hand.

-- When I enter my service tag at the Dell site, 47 drivers are listed, some
marked Urgent, some Recommended, some Optional. I don't know if I need all of
these. Many of them seem to be old.

It seems I should uninstall about a dozen programs, even though the
Microsoft Advisor says only 5.

Good luck.

Thanks