xp home upgrade: cannot find previous version of Windows

  • Thread starter Thread starter ben webster
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ben webster

Could someone please help me figure out how to force XP
Home edition upgrade to recognize the windows 98 files on
my computer? 98 started to tank, so I went out and bought
the XP home upgrade, but when I boot up the CD, it says it
can't find Windows on the system. I know I can do a full
install, but that really isn't an option because I can't
afford to lose all my other files on the hard drive
(mostly in the My Documents folder). Are there certain
files the upgrade is looking for? Where does it look for
these files? Any help at all would be appreciated.
 
When you get the "cannot find previous version of Windows" message,
remove the Windows XP CD from the CD drive and insert your Windows 98
CD, then hit enter.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Could someone please help me figure out how to force XP
| Home edition upgrade to recognize the windows 98 files on
| my computer? 98 started to tank, so I went out and bought
| the XP home upgrade, but when I boot up the CD, it says it
| can't find Windows on the system. I know I can do a full
| install, but that really isn't an option because I can't
| afford to lose all my other files on the hard drive
| (mostly in the My Documents folder). Are there certain
| files the upgrade is looking for? Where does it look for
| these files? Any help at all would be appreciated.
 
Carey,
thanks for the help, but after I do this the program still
doesn't offer me the choice of just doing an upgrade. I
am concerned that I will lose my files if I do a full
installation.
 
In order to upgrade over Windows 98, you need a
"Retail Upgrade Version" of Windows XP. If you
happen to have acquired an "OEM Version", that version
cannot perform an upgrade.....only a "clean install"
on a freshly reformatted drive.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Carey,
| thanks for the help, but after I do this the program still
| doesn't offer me the choice of just doing an upgrade. I
| am concerned that I will lose my files if I do a full
| installation.
 
ben webster said:
Could someone please help me figure out how to force XP
Home edition upgrade to recognize the windows 98 files on
my computer? 98 started to tank, so I went out and bought
the XP home upgrade, but when I boot up the CD, it says it
can't find Windows on the system. I know I can do a full
install, but that really isn't an option because I can't
afford to lose all my other files on the hard drive
(mostly in the My Documents folder). Are there certain
files the upgrade is looking for? Where does it look for
these files? Any help at all would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Is your Windows 98 still workable?

Perhaps you need to repair the problems with it, at least to the point
that it is bootable.

Then, with Windows 98 running, insert the XP Upgrade CD and all should
go smoothly.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
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