XP Upgrade install problem

[Bill Watt]

Trying to install XP Pro Upgrade over Win98 SE on my PC.
The install goes to the end. However, the desktop is in two
sections, the top 1/3 is at the bottom and can't be accessed.
I removed some icons then rebooted using ctrl-alt-del. Could not get
to the start Menu.
When it came up it checked drive C:. It fixed a few errors, like a
couple of file sizes. Then it re-booted and checked again and
re-booted.
It checks then reboots without getting into Windows every time.
The XP CD is not recognized. Tried booting with a Win98SE floppy
with CD support and run Setup from the CD, bur the message says it
can't run in Dos mode.

Without being able to access the CD I can't do a repair or much
else.

I have the Win98 SE system backed up on drive 2 in the machine, also
Setup said I could Uninstall from Add/Remove Programs and restore my
Win98 SE system but I can't get into Windows. I have too much
important data to do a clean install. I suppose I could fdisk C:
then copy the Win98 SE backup over.

I checked all the groups and this one seemed the most appropriate,
if not please advise.

I'm using my XP PRO Notebook for this but all my data and hundreds
of programs are on the PC.

I would like to get XP on the PC.

Would appreciate any ideas.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Win98 Computer Help & Other Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

 

[John John (MVP)]

Is the BIOS boot order set to boot to the CD before the hard disk?

John

 

[Bill Watt]

Hi John.

Yes, CD-Floppy-HD. The boot accesses the CD but then goes into the
disk check then reboots and keeps repeating it. I ran Scandisk on
both drives, no problems plus the machine has been working great. I
found Chkdsk but it wouldn't run in DOS. The XP logo comes up at
boot then starts the disk check.

I don't understand why Setup won't run in DOS. I have proof of
previous versions. Suppose the drive was new? I backed up the
Windows folder before I ran Setup so I could rename it from DOS if
needed but setup deleted it. I printed the Upgrade Report during
Setup but I don't see anything there that could cause the problem.
Just some programs that may not run.

I have work to do on the machine so I may have to try to restore my
98 SE backup from DOS and forget XP.

Thanks for your response.

Regards,

Bill Watt
______________________________________________________--

 

[John John (MVP)]

It goes into a chkdsk when? When you boot to the Windows XP CD you will
not get a chkdsk unless you request one, you will go either to the
Repair option via the Recovery Console, where you can then request a
chkdsk, or to the install the operating system option. Are you making
it that far when you boot with the XP cd? You say that the XP logo
comes up, it sounds to me like you are not booting to the cd at all.

To start the installation from DOS launch the winnt command from its
i386 folder location on the CD-ROM.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848 If you cannot boot from the CD
you can also use the 6 floppy diskette setup boot disk set, the set can
be downloaded from the Microsoft site:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

Upgrades from Windows 98 can be problematic. To better your chances of
a successful upgrade you should do a bit of house keeping on the Windows
98 installation before you upgrade it. Get rid of all your temp files,
empty your Recycle Bin, turn off or uninstall all software that is set
to start automatically when the computer starts, this is especially
important for software that uses file system drivers, AntiVirus software
is an example of software that uses file system drivers. Also
disconnect all unnecessary external hardware before you begin the
installation, the only external hardware that you should have connected
is the monitor keyboard and mouse.

John

 

[Bill Watt]

Hi John,

I have not been able to boot to Windows since the first reboot
after the screwed up Install. The CD won't run in DOS. Your tip was
good, I ran the Winnt file from DOS and the install went ok.
However, during the install I was asked to choose between a repair
or go ahead with the install. I made the mistake of choosing to
continue the install. This wiped out the Windows folder and created
a new XP Windows folder. So I ended up with a new XP install and
many of my programs wouldn't work. Lost the desktop shortcuts,
Re-installing all my programs that depend on the Registry would take
a week. I was led to believe I could restore my old system from
Add/Remove in Control Panel but it wasn't there.

Sooo, I renamed Windows to WinXP and my backup folder from Winsav to
Windows from DOS. I re-booted and I'm back to Win98 SE. Everything
seems to be working including programs on my D: and E: partitions..
I'm glad I copied Windows into a new Winsav folder before I started
the Upgrade. I can rename them back and boot to XP if there is a
need. Or I can run the Upgrade again now that I'm back to 98SE.

I may try the upgrade again but I'll do more preparations.
Still don't understand why the CD won't boot in DOS and Setup.exe
won't run either but the Winnt file runs Setup, although it looks a
little different.

Thanks your help John, I really appreciate it.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Win98 Computer Help & Other Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

________________________________________________________________

 

[John John (MVP)]

To start the Windows XP installation boot the computer *with* the XP
CD-ROM, stick the cd in the drive and restart the computer. When you
boot the computer with the CD the Setup routine will load and boot to a
"Mini-NT" environment. If you keep an eye on the bottom of the screen
you will see a list of files being loaded, when all the necessary files
are loaded you will see a message stating something like: "Windows XP
is now starting...", you will then be brought to a screen where you can
select to install Windows or use the Recovery Console to repair an
existing installation.

As you probably already know, Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista are pure 32-bit
operating systems, there is no 16-bit DOS in those operating systems,
any 16-bit applications running on these pure 32-bit operating systems
must be run inside a 16-bit Virtual Machine. When you boot with the XP
CD the Setup.exe program loads a 32-bit mini-NT operating system, it
loads the pure 32-bit NT Kernel into memory, this simply cannot be done
while booted to a 16-bit DOS environment. Winnt.exe can be run from DOS
because it is a 16-bit application that is supplied for special
deployment scenarios, in essence all that this 16-bit application does
is copy setup and boot files to the hard disk and it writes an NT boot
sector to the active partition and then reboots the computer to complete
the setup, when the computer is rebooted it is booted to the pure 32-bit
Kernel.

In essence, what I am trying to tell you here is that when working with
or when installing NT type operating systems you should forget about
DOS, there is none of it in NT systems and the occasions where you will
ever need to resort to it will few and far in between!

John

 

[Bill Watt]

John,

Reply inline.

To start the Windows XP installation boot the computer *with* the XP
CD-ROM, stick the cd in the drive and restart the computer. When you
boot the computer with the CD the Setup routine will load and boot to a
"Mini-NT" environment. If you keep an eye on the bottom of the screen
you will see a list of files being loaded, when all the necessary files
are loaded you will see a message stating something like: "Windows XP
is now starting...", you will then be brought to a screen where you can
select to install Windows or use the Recovery Console to repair an
existing installation.

The mistake I made was to select to continue the install instead of
a repair after running Setup from DOS using the Winnt file. That
wiped out my Windows folder and I ended up with a new install. The
install worked ok but most of my programs didn't work and I lost my
data. I was led to believe my system was backed up and it could be
restored by removing XP in the Add/Remove in Control Panel but it
was not there.

As you probably already know, Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista are pure 32-bit
operating systems, there is no 16-bit DOS in those operating systems,
any 16-bit applications running on these pure 32-bit operating systems
must be run inside a 16-bit Virtual Machine. When you boot with the XP
CD the Setup.exe program loads a 32-bit mini-NT operating system, it
loads the pure 32-bit NT Kernel into memory, this simply cannot be done
while booted to a 16-bit DOS environment. Winnt.exe can be run from DOS
because it is a 16-bit application that is supplied for special
deployment scenarios, in essence all that this 16-bit application does
is copy setup and boot files to the hard disk and it writes an NT boot
sector to the active partition and then reboots the computer to complete
the setup, when the computer is rebooted it is booted to the pure 32-bit
Kernel.

Good info for a possible attempt to Upgrade to XP again now that my
old system is back.

In essence, what I am trying to tell you here is that when working with
or when installing NT type operating systems you should forget about
DOS, there is none of it in NT systems and the occasions where you will
ever need to resort to it will few and far in between!

Here's a case where I needed to use DOS. The machine would not boot
to Windows and the XP Pro CD would not boot. Using DOS I was able to
restore my Win98 SE system.

We need DOS to repair Windows when it won't boot and some other
problems. I used a Win98 Startup diskette.

BTW Do you know how to get rid of the boot options at startup? It
still thinks XP is installed. Or at least have the older system the
default. I renamed the Boot.ini file but then Windows wouldn't boot
without it. Renamed it back.

Thanks again for your help.

SNIP

Regards,

Bill Watt
Win98 Computer Help & Other Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

SNIP

 

[John John (MVP)]

Snippage...

Here's a case where I needed to use DOS. The machine would not boot
to Windows and the XP Pro CD would not boot. Using DOS I was able to
restore my Win98 SE system.

We need DOS to repair Windows when it won't boot and some other
problems. I used a Win98 Startup diskette.

Correction, you need DOS to fix Windows 9x when it won't boot, for NT
type operating systems DOS is selom needed.

BTW Do you know how to get rid of the boot options at startup? It
still thinks XP is installed. Or at least have the older system the
default. I renamed the Boot.ini file but then Windows wouldn't boot
without it. Renamed it back.

The active partition has an NT boot sector so XP's ntldr is in control
of the boot process. To return the boot process to Windows 98's IO.SYS
you need to write a DOS/W9x boot sectot to the partition, to do so boot
the computer with your Windows 98 startup diskette and at the command
prompt issue the SYS command against the active partition:

sys c:

John

 

[Bill Watt]

Correction, you need DOS to fix Windows 9x when it won't boot, for NT
type operating systems DOS is selom needed.



The active partition has an NT boot sector so XP's ntldr is in control
of the boot process. To return the boot process to Windows 98's IO.SYS
you need to write a DOS/W9x boot sectot to the partition, to do so boot
the computer with your Windows 98 startup diskette and at the command
prompt issue the SYS command against the active partition:

sys c:

John

Sys C: got rid of it. From DOS ---

Some rainy day when I have the courage I'll try the Upgrade again.
I would try it again now but the Dos Partition Copy Utility, Maxtor,
I usually use doesn't see drive 2, my backup drive, for some reason
now. I'm working on it. It checks ok with Partition Magic 5.01 and
8.0, Fdisk, Windows Explorer and DIR from Command Prompt. It thinks
it's blank and wants to install it. That would wipe my backup.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Win98 Computer Help & Other Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

 

[John John (MVP)]

Sys C: got rid of it. From DOS ---

Some rainy day when I have the courage I'll try the Upgrade again.
I would try it again now but the Dos Partition Copy Utility, Maxtor,
I usually use doesn't see drive 2, my backup drive, for some reason
now. I'm working on it. It checks ok with Partition Magic 5.01 and
8.0, Fdisk, Windows Explorer and DIR from Command Prompt. It thinks
it's blank and wants to install it. That would wipe my backup.

Thanks again.

You're welcome.

John