Upgrading Windows 98 to Windows XP has failed

[Michael Gates]

I have attempted to upgrade a Windows 98 desktop machine to Windows XP Home
Edition (2002 Upgrade version). I chose to delete the previous version of
Windows and change the disk format to NTFS from FAT. When the computer
rebooted it immediately came up with the message that the file 'hal.dll was
missing from the windows root directory'. I have attempted to reinstall from
the beginning again but get the same message on reboot. There is no DOS
prompt and any key you hit just restarts the computer until the same message
appears.

Any help on what to do next would be very useful.

Mike

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have attempted to upgrade a Windows 98 desktop machine to Windows XP Home
Edition (2002 Upgrade version). I chose to delete the previous version of
Windows and change the disk format to NTFS from FAT. When the computer
rebooted it immediately came up with the message that the file 'hal.dll was
missing from the windows root directory'. I have attempted to reinstall from
the beginning again but get the same message on reboot. There is no DOS
prompt and any key you hit just restarts the computer until the same message
appears.

Any help on what to do next would be very useful.

Mike

(e-mail address removed)

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

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

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[Will Denny]

Hi

Please see if the following articles help:

"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;310064&Product=winxp

"HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to
Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316639&Product=winxp

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
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