XP Upgrade errors - How do I detect hardware problems?

[mahalie]

I'm trying to upgrade from Windows Home Edition to Windows XP Pro on a
new (refurbished) Fujitsu N6010 notebook computer with 512Mb RAM,
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz processor, 60 GB Toshiba MK602GAS hard
drive drive, DVD/CD-RW w generic driver.

During install I got a "cannot copy the file xxx.xx_". Cleaning the
disk did not work, reinserted it a few times, manually clicked on file
to no avail and copy and pasting the file on my hard drive did not work
either. Clicked cancel (as opposed to skip), got the error again for
another file and setup kept right on going. (I thought it would stop
since I chose not to skip file).


It reboots and then hangs on OS boot-up. Manually restarting computer,
boots up fine, as XP pro!

I know something didn't work, so I look into the issue via google
search and reviewing posts on this list.

Decided to explore the setup options, inserted XP disk again and:

The Upgrade Advisor returned "Widnows XP ugrade check found no
incompatibilities or problems."

I clicked 'Learn more about the setup process' and 'cannot copy file'
was one of the first topics covered.
MS doc suggested first, clean CD, check to see if cd drive is
vibrating, check to see if there are multiple cd drives confusing
install and disable one. Finally, it suggests you have a virus.
But at the end it mentions it may be hardware related and gives a link
to Windows Memory Diagnostic.
I ran it (from boot disk) and all 6 diagnostic tests passed.

I tried reinstalling but still had the same errors (different files).
I'd made a copy of the I386 folder on my hard drive but that wasn't
working either.
This is making it sound more like a hardware issue - right?

I'm not sure what to do next. I don't know how to dianose hardware
problems. Can someone here point me in the right direction?

Any help greatly appreciated!!!!

~mahalie



Related threads:

Suggests swapping RAM (which I don't have on hand, but could purchase)
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...11838?q="cannot+copy"&rnum=5#65b98cba92911838

Suggests copying I386 folder to harddrive and rerunning install from
Safemode.
XP pro seems to be runnin, is this still necessary?
My other concern is that it does not address, remedy the problem, which
I need to diagnose.
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...7193a?q="cannot+copy"&rnum=4#61e405a4bf17193a

Here's a thread that suggests repairing the XP install, still doesn't
help diagnosis but does seem easiest.
http://groups.google.com/group/micr..."cannot+copy"+home+xp&rnum=1#0103e0b4c591fd40

 

[Guest]

Thier is no "upgrade" from home to pro.Microsoft specifically says that a
"clean
installation" of pro is warranted if switching from home to pro.The upgrade
is
for upgrading from 95,98,or ME.

 

[mahalie]

Really?! I've done it before (on a different laptop) and it worked
fine, and when you put the CD in it says: Upgrade recommended.
I will try a clean install though, but I do get nervous because I don't
know much about hardware.

I just read about not upgrading at Eldergeek and it does sound like a
good idea. Thanks, that's the first I've heard this advice!!
http://www.theeldergeek.com/upgrading_to_windows_xp.htm

 

[Kamal]

Don't believe a word Andrew E says.

Windows XP Home can be upgraded to PRO.

Have you tried booting from the CD-ROM and running a repair install of
Windows?

If you still have warranty then take it back to where you got it from and
get them to take a look at it.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Thier is no "upgrade" from home to pro.Microsoft specifically says
that a "clean
installation" of pro is warranted if switching from home to pro.The
upgrade is
for upgrading from 95,98,or ME.

Hogwash from the king of hogwash. Put up or shut up Andy, where does
Microsoft say you can't upgrade from Home to Pro?
The link below confirms that you CAN upgrade from Home to Pro.
Never take any advice from Andrew E.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/matrix.asp

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[mahalie]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I tried so many things including
repairing the installation and installing it from an external drive and
using a different xp pro cd. Nothing worked.

I called Fujitsu (they have tech support avail 24/7 - amazing!) and
they said they recommend people with my model have had problems
upgrading and the solution is to fdisk, format, clean install. Which I
did, which worked.

Go figure.

Thanks again - oh and you definately CAN upgrade from Home to Pro
usually, as others posted. Just not in my particular weird case.