Upgrade from ME to XP Pro - Please HELP ME!!!! Ahhhhhhh!

[Guest]

I have an UPGRADE CD version of XP Professional. Originally I wanted to
reformat my hard drive that has Windows ME on it and start fresh, but then I
read something in the XP manual that states I can perform a new installation
"if my current operating system supports an upgrade to Windows XP
Professional, but I do not want to keep my exisiting files and personalized
settings" and/or "my computer does not have an operating system". So, my
question is, by putting in the XP Pro upgrade CD and choosing "New
Installation", will this in effect give me the same result I want - by
deleting my operating system completely and then simply installing Windows XP
Professional Edition? In other words, will it be the same as reformatting my
hard drive and installing XP Pro as my new OS? If not, can I reformat my
hardrive, then pop in this Upgrade CD and choose "New Installation"?, since
that would fall under the category of "Your computer does not have an
operating system"? - OR-, am I going to have to reformat my hard drive,
reinstall WIN ME and its drivers, then use the upgrade XP Pro CD?(maybe not
in that order?)

Please help me!!!!!! :-/

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

If you want a completely clean installation, boot from the XP install disc. Don't run setup from within Windows ME. As part of setup, you'll have the chance to format your hard disk.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

However, before you do, ensure that you have XP drivers for your hardware.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, but the UPGRADE version of XP PRofessional is not a bootable disk.

 

[Guest]

Allen,

So I can technically "reformat" my drive by inserting the UPGRADE CD of XP
Pro, with ME still installed, and select "New Installation"? It says that
will delete all programs or system files from a previous installation - but
does that mean that I think it does - "reformat"?

Don't forget, I am using an UPGRADE CD and that in itself is NOT a bootable
CD.

 

[Guest]

Hi Doug,

I cannot boot from the XP install disk because the Upgrade XP Professional
disk is not a bootable CD.

Don't forget, I am using an UPGRADE CD and that in itself is not a bootable
CD.

Thank you kindly for your reply.

 

[Rock]

Thank you, but the UPGRADE version of XP PRofessional is not a bootable disk.

Yes it is. All XP installation CDs are bootable. Set the boot order in
the BIOS to boot first from CD.

 

[Guest]

I did. It never booted. Hmmmm, is there something wrong with my computer?
It is already set to boot from CD/DVD first. I have Dell Inspiron 800 laptop.

 

[Guest]

I meant to type Dell Inspiron 8000 Laptop.

Yes it is. All XP installation CDs are bootable. Set the boot order in
the BIOS to boot first from CD.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Is this a retail/OEM disc, and not a recovery CD? If so, it is bootable. During the install process it will ask you for the CD for your qualifying product (98/Me/Win2K). If you don't have a fully installable disc for 98/Me/Win2K, you'll have to do an upgrade installation. As a side note, a Windows 95 disc will work for proof of upgrade eligibility.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Thank you, but the UPGRADE version of XP PRofessional is not a
bootable disk.

Sorry, that's not correct. If it doesn't boot on your computer,
either the boot order is set wrong, or you have some other issue.

 

[Rock]

I did. It never booted. Hmmmm, is there something wrong with my computer?
It is already set to boot from CD/DVD first. I have Dell Inspiron 800 laptop.

:

Download the setup boot floppies and boot with those to run the setup.
You will still need the installation CD.

How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310994

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have an UPGRADE CD version of XP Professional. Originally I wanted to
reformat my hard drive that has Windows ME on it and start fresh, but then I
read something in the XP manual that states I can perform a new installation
"if my current operating system supports an upgrade to Windows XP
Professional, but I do not want to keep my exisiting files and personalized
settings" and/or "my computer does not have an operating system". So, my
question is, by putting in the XP Pro upgrade CD and choosing "New
Installation", will this in effect give me the same result I want - by
deleting my operating system completely and then simply installing Windows XP
Professional Edition? In other words, will it be the same as reformatting my
hard drive and installing XP Pro as my new OS? If not, can I reformat my
hardrive, then pop in this Upgrade CD and choose "New Installation"?, since
that would fall under the category of "Your computer does not have an
operating system"? - OR-, am I going to have to reformat my hard drive,
reinstall WIN ME and its drivers, then use the upgrade XP Pro CD?(maybe not
in that order?)

Please help me!!!!!! :-/

It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier
OS.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Doug,

I cannot boot from the XP install disk because the Upgrade XP Professional
disk is not a bootable CD.

All legitimate WinXP installation CDs, including Upgrade CDs, are
bootable. If the CD you have isn't bootable, take it back to where ever
you purchased it and request a replacement.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thank you, but the UPGRADE version of XP PRofessional is not a bootable disk.

Then it's not a legitimate CD.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Hi and thank you very much for all your helpful information. I spoke with
DELL support and talked with 5 techs and they all said different things and
quite frankly they are lousy and need much more training. Unfortunately so
do I. With that in mind, how do I "start the upgrade from within the current
Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a clean installation,
to include formatting the drive"? Is it as simple as putting in the upgrade
CD and praying it boots from CD/DVD then following the directions? Or should
I download the 6 bootable XP diskettes to boot?

Thank you very much.

 

[Guest]

ok, I finally got the computer to boot from the CD! And it went to Windows
setup. Then, a few minutes later, it came p with this error:
File\i386\vgaoem.fon could not be loaded. Error code 7.

What a bummer.

Any idea's anyone?

thanks.

 

[Guest]

Damn, ok I tried it again - 3 more times in fact, and got these errors:
File:\i386\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error is code 4.

And then this error (twice): File:\setupreg.hiv could not be loaded. The
error code is 47872.

What's going on?

thanks in advance.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

ok, I finally got the computer to boot from the CD! And it went to Windows
setup. Then, a few minutes later, it came p with this error:
File\i386\vgaoem.fon could not be loaded. Error code 7.

What a bummer.

Any idea's anyone?

Problems copying files or corrupted files during installation are
most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware; in order of
likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the motherboard. Only on
very rare occasions the installation CD is the problem.

HOW TO Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation When You
Upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q310064


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Malke]

Damn, ok I tried it again - 3 more times in fact, and got these
errors: File:\i386\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error is code
4.

And then this error (twice): File:\setupreg.hiv could not be loaded.
The error code is 47872.

What's going on?

You probably have failing hardware, with the RAM being the first suspect
and the hard drive being the second. This is the most common reason for
failure to install an operating system. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps (not all may be applicable):

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. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power
supply can be faulty.

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

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke