Upgrading 98SE to XP Pro in Safe Mode ??

[Doug Shepard]

Due to the death of a motherboard, I upgraded my Win98SE
PC with new motherboard, graphics card, & modem card. I've
been unable to get the machine to boot in anything other
than safe mode or the command prompt. Trying a normal boot
results in a fault in CONFIGMGR & I cant seem to force the
hardware manager to recognize and/or prompt me for new
drivers by doing anything with Device Mgr in Safe Mode. I
only have access to the CDROM drive when booting to a
command prompt. After several months of periodic attempts
to resurrect the OS, I'm ready to get a bit more drastic.
Does anyone know if it's possible to upgrade to XP Pro
while only running Win 98SE in safe mode or the command
prompt?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

No, you cannot upgrade to Windows XP while in Safe Mode.
What you need to do is open your BIOS and set your CD Drive
as the first bootable device, place the Windows XP CD in the
drive and reboot, then select the "Upgrade" option during setup.

HOW TO: Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;316941


Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| Due to the death of a motherboard, I upgraded my Win98SE
| PC with new motherboard, graphics card, & modem card. I've
| been unable to get the machine to boot in anything other
| than safe mode or the command prompt. Trying a normal boot
| results in a fault in CONFIGMGR & I cant seem to force the
| hardware manager to recognize and/or prompt me for new
| drivers by doing anything with Device Mgr in Safe Mode. I
| only have access to the CDROM drive when booting to a
| command prompt. After several months of periodic attempts
| to resurrect the OS, I'm ready to get a bit more drastic.
| Does anyone know if it's possible to upgrade to XP Pro
| while only running Win 98SE in safe mode or the command
| prompt?
|

 

[Darrell Gorter[MSFT]]

Hello Doug,
You should be able to upgrade while in Safe Mode. Booting from the CD will
not give an option to upgrade Windows 98SE.
See for example:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316639

- Start your computer in Safe mode and then run either Winnt32.exe (the

upgrade), or the winnt32.exe /checkupgradeonly (Upgrade Advisor)

command. Safe mode uses only a minimal set of drivers, services, and

programs and can help to simplify the installation and remove items

that may interfere with the upgrade process. However, Safe mode does

not affect the upgrade process. Items that are not loaded are still

examined and may be included in the report.\

Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
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