Trying to run Upgrade Advisor on ME system--got "Required Resource

[Guest]

Cannot be Located"...
Downloaded Upgrade Advisor (for 2 1/2 hours!) last night to see whether
upgrading to XP would be a good idea...and when I tried to run it, I got that
error message.
Thought maybe it was because I wasn't online at the time, but I tried again
this morning while online, and I still get the same error.
Do I have to try downloading it again, or is it perhaps due to a
corrupted/missing file on my severely limping ME OS?
Diane

 

[Jim Macklin]

Try the "XP Readiness Test" on www.pcpitstop.com or borrow
someone's XP CD and run the upgrade advisor from the CD. It
is "best" to run it on-line since it will download the
latest version, but the app will run while off-line.

The PC Pit Stop test is just fine and works OK, even on
dial-up.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message
| Cannot be Located"...
| Downloaded Upgrade Advisor (for 2 1/2 hours!) last night
to see whether
| upgrading to XP would be a good idea...and when I tried to
run it, I got that
| error message.
| Thought maybe it was because I wasn't online at the time,
but I tried again
| this morning while online, and I still get the same error.
| Do I have to try downloading it again, or is it perhaps
due to a
| corrupted/missing file on my severely limping ME OS?
| Diane

 

[Malke]

Cannot be Located"...
Downloaded Upgrade Advisor (for 2 1/2 hours!) last night to see
whether upgrading to XP would be a good idea...and when I tried to run
it, I got that error message.
Thought maybe it was because I wasn't online at the time, but I tried
again this morning while online, and I still get the same error.
Do I have to try downloading it again, or is it perhaps due to a
corrupted/missing file on my severely limping ME OS?
Diane

It is quite possible that you got a corrupted download, but since you
have a "severely limping ME" installation, an upgrade would not be a
good idea. Upgrading to XP over a damaged ME installation will not
solve your problems. In fact, even if the installation completes you
will undoubtedly have even more of a mess on your hands.

You should either clean up the ME mess or back up your data, format, and
clean install the operating system of your choice. You should make sure
that your hardware will work with XP, of course. Post your hardware
specs and we'll be able to give you an idea here since you can't run
the Upgrade Advisor.

Malke

 

[Guest]

It is quite possible that you got a corrupted download, but since you
have a "severely limping ME" installation, an upgrade would not be a
good idea. Upgrading to XP over a damaged ME installation will not
solve your problems. In fact, even if the installation completes you
will undoubtedly have even more of a mess on your hands.

You should either clean up the ME mess or back up your data, format, and
clean install the operating system of your choice. You should make sure
that your hardware will work with XP, of course. Post your hardware
specs and we'll be able to give you an idea here since you can't run
the Upgrade Advisor.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

Hi again,
Thanks for the responses. Here are my system specs:
I have a Dell Dimension 8100, Pentium 4, running ME 4.90.3000 (which began
crashing about a week after I started running the d*** thing & now is
crashing LOTS, up to probably 3-4 times a day, depending on what I try to
do...) 128 mb RAM (which, I understand from reading other threads here, is
probably insufficient for running XP...<sigh>), a 37.2 GB hard drive (27.4
free), and alot of frustration.
Diane

 

[Guest]

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. Here are my system specs:
I have a Dell Dimension 8100, Pentium 4, running ME 4.90.3000 (which began
crashing about a week after I started running the d*** thing... and is now
crashing with regularity...about 3-4 times a day, depending on what I try to
do...), with 128 MB of RAM (which, as I understand from reading other threads
here, is insufficient to run XP...<sigh>), a 37.2 GB hard drive with 27.4
free, and ALOT of frustration...

 

[Malke]

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. Here are my system specs:
I have a Dell Dimension 8100, Pentium 4, running ME 4.90.3000 (which
began crashing about a week after I started running the d*** thing...
and is now crashing with regularity...about 3-4 times a day, depending
on what I try to do...), with 128 MB of RAM (which, as I understand
from reading other threads here, is insufficient to run XP...<sigh>),
a 37.2 GB hard drive with 27.4 free, and ALOT of frustration...

Hi back at you! This machine can run XP with no problem except for the
RAM. The constant crashing might even be caused by bad RAM or other
hardware problems. I would do some hardware testing, focusing first on
the RAM and the overheating:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

OK, so now you've tested the hardware and maybe fixed the bits that
weren't working. This may make ME work just fine and you'll be happy
and stay with it. If not and you decide to go with XP, buy more RAM. It
needs to be the right RAM for your motherboard, and some motherboards
need matched RAM. A good place to buy RAM is www.crucial.com - they
have a memory wizard to walk you through getting the right kind. You
want at least 256MB of RAM for XP; 512MB is better.

Back up all your data and clean install Windows. Don't mess around with
an upgrade install since your ME wasn't that stable to begin with.
Upgrades can work fine, but not on a wobbly underbase if you see what I
mean. Here's a link to help:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

When you install, don't have any peripherals attached. Do your research
ahead of time to determine if the printers, etc. you have will work
with XP. Same thing goes for software - make sure there are no known
issues with a program *before* you install it (like older versions of
Easy CD Creator for instance).

Do not put a Windows system on the Internet until you have a firewall in
place. XP with Service Pack 2 has a built-in firewall you can use. If
you buy a new retail copy of XP, it will have SP2 integrated into it
now.

If you need more help, please post back.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi back at you! This machine can run XP with no problem except for the
RAM. The constant crashing might even be caused by bad RAM or other
hardware problems. I would do some hardware testing, focusing first on
the RAM and the overheating:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

OK, so now you've tested the hardware and maybe fixed the bits that
weren't working. This may make ME work just fine and you'll be happy
and stay with it. If not and you decide to go with XP, buy more RAM. It
needs to be the right RAM for your motherboard, and some motherboards
need matched RAM. A good place to buy RAM is www.crucial.com - they
have a memory wizard to walk you through getting the right kind. You
want at least 256MB of RAM for XP; 512MB is better.

Back up all your data and clean install Windows. Don't mess around with
an upgrade install since your ME wasn't that stable to begin with.
Upgrades can work fine, but not on a wobbly underbase if you see what I
mean. Here's a link to help:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

When you install, don't have any peripherals attached. Do your research
ahead of time to determine if the printers, etc. you have will work
with XP. Same thing goes for software - make sure there are no known
issues with a program *before* you install it (like older versions of
Easy CD Creator for instance).

Do not put a Windows system on the Internet until you have a firewall in
place. XP with Service Pack 2 has a built-in firewall you can use. If
you buy a new retail copy of XP, it will have SP2 integrated into it
now.

If you need more help, please post back.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

WOW...seems I've got my work cut out for me!@! Thanks so much for your time
& suggestions. I'll get workin on 'em in the mornin. I'll LYK what
happens...BTW, I think it'd be kinda hard for this thing to be
overheating...my thermostat is set at 61!
Diane

 

[Malke]

WOW...seems I've got my work cut out for me!@! Thanks so much for your
time & suggestions. I'll get workin on 'em in the mornin. I'll LYK
what happens...BTW, I think it'd be kinda hard for this thing to be
overheating...my thermostat is set at 61!
Diane

Well, the outside world isn't necessarily the same temp as the
inside-computer world. Heat and dust are mortal enemies of computers.
If all the testing and figuring out seems daunting, take your machine
to a good local professional (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of store)
and have them check it out and do the necessary. Go do something fun
while they're working.

Malke

 

[Altered_Ego]

If your computer was crashing from the start, you should have contacted
Dell and told them to get it working properly. Is it still under
warranty? Have you tried using your Restore disks or restore utility?

It's very difficult to upgrade to a new operating system if you have a
computer that is proprietary. Some computer manufacturers use modified
versions of operating systems that work with their configuration alone.

Chances are that your computer is indeed too old, and not up to handling
Windows XP. Have you considered buying a newer computer?