I have an OEM Windows 2000 Professional version installed on the C: drive of
a desktop computer that I bought on the internet. There are no partitions on
the hard drive. I didn't get any installation disks. I am trying to upgrade
the system to XP Professional and when it does the re-boot, a DOS-looking
screen comes up that says "Setup cannot locate the Windows Installation you
want to upgrade. Contact your System Administrator. F3 to Quit". I turned
off the Virus software and can't think of anything else that might be
interfering. Would appreciate any advise you could give me.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28

GodCan wrote:
> I have an OEM Windows 2000 Professional version installed on the C:
> drive of a desktop computer that I bought on the internet. There
> are no partitions on the hard drive. I didn't get any installation
> disks. I am trying to upgrade the system to XP Professional and
> when it does the re-boot, a DOS-looking screen comes up that says
> "Setup cannot locate the Windows Installation you want to upgrade.
> Contact your System Administrator. F3 to Quit". I turned off the
> Virus software and can't think of anything else that might be
> interfering. Would appreciate any advise you could give me.

What TYPE of Windows XP did you purchase/obtain?
(OEM, Retail, Other?)

Also - when you put the Windows XP CD into the drive while in windows and
open the drive up (in case your autorun is turned off) - what happened?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I bought the XP Professional yesterday at Staples so I assume it is a Retail
version althought I don't see that it says Retail or OEM anywhere on the box.
The CD Autoboots just fine when I put it in the CD Drive.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> What TYPE of Windows XP did you purchase/obtain?
> (OEM, Retail, Other?)
>
> Also - when you put the Windows XP CD into the drive while in windows and
> open the drive up (in case your autorun is turned off) - what happened?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

GodCan wrote:
> I bought the XP Professional yesterday at Staples so I assume it is
> a Retail version althought I don't see that it says Retail or OEM
> anywhere on the box. The CD Autoboots just fine when I put it in
> the CD Drive.

And if you press UPGRADE from there?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I get a menu that give several choices and I select "Install XP"
A Windows Setup Window opens and I select "Upgrade" and hit the "Next" button
Then I accept the Software Agreement
Then I input the Product Key
Then it does a Dynamic Update
Then it goes to "Preparing Installation"
A window pops up saying that Visioneer Scanner and Mouse Suite are
incompatible with XP. I hit the "Next" button without doing anything else
Then it "Copies Installation Files"
Then it says "Restarting Computer" and it does
A DOS screen comes up during the reboot and I can select Windows 2000 OS or
XP Professional Setup. XP Professional Setup runs.
Then I see what appears to be a Windows XP startup screen, (it is different
that the 2000 Startup screen)
The XP Professional Setup Screen is shown briefly and then it quicly changes
to a DOS-looking screen with the message: "Setup cannot locate the Windows
Installation you want to upgrade. Contact your System Administrator. F3 to
Quit".
At that point, all I can do is hit F3 and it reboots. From there I can
either select the Windows 2000 OS and it boots normally or I can select the
XP Professional Setup and all the same stuff happens again.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> GodCan wrote:
> > I bought the XP Professional yesterday at Staples so I assume it is
> > a Retail version althought I don't see that it says Retail or OEM
> > anywhere on the box. The CD Autoboots just fine when I put it in
> > the CD Drive.
>
> And if you press UPGRADE from there?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

Try starting the upgrade from within Win2K.
After Win2K is running insert your XP CD and follow the prompts to
upgrade.

Try starting the upgrade from within Win2K.
After Win2K is running insert your XP CD and follow the prompts to
upgrade.

Try installing the upgrade from within Win2K.
After your Win2K O/S is running, insert your XP-CD and follow the
Upgrade Prompts.

Go to killdisk.com and download their bootable floppy maker. Run it to make
a floppy. Insert the floppy when the computer is off. It will load. Erase
your hard drive by scrolling to the HARD DRIVE words with the arrow keys. Do
not erase the floppy!!! It will take over an hour to erase the drive
depending on the size. After it is erased, exit the floppy program and
manually shut down your computer. Insert the XP disk when the computer turns
on. Shut it down immediately after. Turn it on and load XP.

"GodCan" wrote:

> I get a menu that give several choices and I select "Install XP"
> A Windows Setup Window opens and I select "Upgrade" and hit the "Next" button
> Then I accept the Software Agreement
> Then I input the Product Key
> Then it does a Dynamic Update
> Then it goes to "Preparing Installation"
> A window pops up saying that Visioneer Scanner and Mouse Suite are
> incompatible with XP. I hit the "Next" button without doing anything else
> Then it "Copies Installation Files"
> Then it says "Restarting Computer" and it does
> A DOS screen comes up during the reboot and I can select Windows 2000 OS or
> XP Professional Setup. XP Professional Setup runs.
> Then I see what appears to be a Windows XP startup screen, (it is different
> that the 2000 Startup screen)
> The XP Professional Setup Screen is shown briefly and then it quicly changes
> to a DOS-looking screen with the message: "Setup cannot locate the Windows
> Installation you want to upgrade. Contact your System Administrator. F3 to
> Quit".
> At that point, all I can do is hit F3 and it reboots. From there I can
> either select the Windows 2000 OS and it boots normally or I can select the
> XP Professional Setup and all the same stuff happens again.
>
> David M. Wilson
> Romans 8:28
>
> "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>
> > GodCan wrote:
> > > I bought the XP Professional yesterday at Staples so I assume it is
> > > a Retail version althought I don't see that it says Retail or OEM
> > > anywhere on the box. The CD Autoboots just fine when I put it in
> > > the CD Drive.
> >
> > And if you press UPGRADE from there?
> >
> > --
> > Shenan Stanley
> > MS-MVP
> > --
> > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >
> >
> >

That sounds rather drastic. I guess I can forget keeping any of my default
settings. Also, I have a XP Professional Upgrade package, not the full
install. Do you still recommend I do what you are suggesting?

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28

"EvDawg13" wrote:

> Go to killdisk.com and download their bootable floppy maker. Run it to make
> a floppy. Insert the floppy when the computer is off. It will load. Erase
> your hard drive by scrolling to the HARD DRIVE words with the arrow keys. Do
> not erase the floppy!!! It will take over an hour to erase the drive
> depending on the size. After it is erased, exit the floppy program and
> manually shut down your computer. Insert the XP disk when the computer turns
> on. Shut it down immediately after. Turn it on and load XP.
>

I am sorry if my 1st and 3rd postings were not clear, but I DID run the
upgrade installation withnin Windows 2000 and those posting speak to the
problems that I experienced doing the upgrade that way. I still need help
and I do appreciate your suggestions.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28

"compsalvage_cscs@hotmail.com" wrote:

> Try starting the upgrade from within Win2K.
> After Win2K is running insert your XP CD and follow the prompts to
> upgrade.
>
>

Sorry,
Sounds like your HD was installed with a HD Overlay.
Even though XP finds your partitions with the HD Overlay on, it cannot
read the Partitions properly when the machine boots to the HD.
Place your HD Supplied Configuration Software Disk in Drive a, or CD if
that's the case and remove the HD Overlay.
Place your XP -Upgrade CD in and run the Upgrade from boot.

OK, now that makes sense to me, but I have a few questions:

1. What is the "HD Supplied Configuration Software Disk" that you referred
to? I didn't get any disks with the computer when I bought it used. How can
I get one?

2. When I get the disk from #1 above, how do I "remove the HD Overlay"?

The rest I think I can do. Thanks for your help, in advance.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28


"compsalvage_cscs@hotmail.com" wrote:

> Sorry,
> Sounds like your HD was installed with a HD Overlay.
> Even though XP finds your partitions with the HD Overlay on, it cannot
> read the Partitions properly when the machine boots to the HD.
> Place your HD Supplied Configuration Software Disk in Drive a, or CD if
> that's the case and remove the HD Overlay.
> Place your XP -Upgrade CD in and run the Upgrade from boot.
>
>

Sorry I haven't been responding.
Yes, it is drastic but I have done it about ten times now on my and my
family's computers. It works quite well. It does take a while. This is
because it does one-pass zeros. This means that in every hex, regkey/values
are zeroed ou to nothing. So, all you have left is your bios. Plus, WinXP
does not need a boot/setup floppy disk. Yes, I still recommend this
strategy. If nothing else works, of course.

"GodCan" wrote:

> OK, now that makes sense to me, but I have a few questions:
>
> 1. What is the "HD Supplied Configuration Software Disk" that you referred
> to? I didn't get any disks with the computer when I bought it used. How can
> I get one?
>
> 2. When I get the disk from #1 above, how do I "remove the HD Overlay"?
>
> The rest I think I can do. Thanks for your help, in advance.
>
> David M. Wilson
> Romans 8:28
>
>
> "compsalvage_cscs@hotmail.com" wrote:
>
> > Sorry,
> > Sounds like your HD was installed with a HD Overlay.
> > Even though XP finds your partitions with the HD Overlay on, it cannot
> > read the Partitions properly when the machine boots to the HD.
> > Place your HD Supplied Configuration Software Disk in Drive a, or CD if
> > that's the case and remove the HD Overlay.
> > Place your XP -Upgrade CD in and run the Upgrade from boot.
> >
> >

I still don't think that you addressed the other part of my concern. I have
an UPGRADE version of XP Professional not a full version. I don't think that
an upgrade version will install on a freshly erased hard drive. Please
correct me if I am wrong and explain to me how it will work. We are talking
about me having to spend another $300 if you are not correct. I just want to
be SURE that it will work first.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28


"EvDawg13" wrote:

> Sorry I haven't been responding.
> Yes, it is drastic but I have done it about ten times now on my and my
> family's computers. It works quite well. It does take a while. This is
> because it does one-pass zeros. This means that in every hex, regkey/values
> are zeroed ou to nothing. So, all you have left is your bios. Plus, WinXP
> does not need a boot/setup floppy disk. Yes, I still recommend this
> strategy. If nothing else works, of course.
>
> "GodCan" wrote:
>
That sounds rather drastic. I guess I can forget keeping any of my default
settings. Also, I have a XP Professional Upgrade package, not the full
install. Do you still recommend I do what you are suggesting?

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28

"EvDawg13" wrote:

> Go to killdisk.com and download their bootable floppy maker. Run it to make
> a floppy. Insert the floppy when the computer is off. It will load. Erase
> your hard drive by scrolling to the HARD DRIVE words with the arrow keys. Do
> not erase the floppy!!! It will take over an hour to erase the drive
> depending on the size. After it is erased, exit the floppy program and
> manually shut down your computer. Insert the XP disk when the computer turns
> on. Shut it down immediately after. Turn it on and load XP.
>

GodCan wrote:
> I still don't think that you addressed the other part of my
> concern. I have an UPGRADE version of XP Professional not a full
> version. I don't think that an upgrade version will install on a
> freshly erased hard drive. Please correct me if I am wrong and
> explain to me how it will work. We are talking about me having to
> spend another $300 if you are not correct. I just want to be SURE
> that it will work first.

*If* you have qualifying media (Windows 9x/ME/2000) (media=installation CD
for the product) - then you can use the Upgrade version of Windows XP to
perform a clean install of Windows XP.

If you do not have a Windows 9x/ME/2000 installation CD around - then you
cannot use the Upgrade verison of Windows XP to do a clean installation.

Note that a Windows 9x/ME/2000 Installation CD is not the same as many
"Recovery" or "Restoration" CDs that some computer manufacturers may give
you with your system.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

If what you say is true, (and I don't doubt what you say), then there is
still one thing that puzzles me. In the last post that I made on January 7th
where I described the various screens that I saw during the upgrade
installation, in none of those screens was I prompted to provide the 2000
installation CD. I re-ran the installation and it still never gives me an
opportunity to supply the installation CD. I seems as if it looks for
evidence of the installation on the hard drive and whatever file it is
looking for it isn't able to find and it just aborts without giving me any
indication of what the problem might be.

Could there be anything to the "HD Overlay" suggestion that
compsalvage_cscs@hotmail.com made in his last 01/09 posting?

I do appreciate your insight.

David M. Wilson
Romans 8:28


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

>
> *If* you have qualifying media (Windows 9x/ME/2000) (media=installation CD
> for the product) - then you can use the Upgrade version of Windows XP to
> perform a clean install of Windows XP.
>
> If you do not have a Windows 9x/ME/2000 installation CD around - then you
> cannot use the Upgrade verison of Windows XP to do a clean installation.
>
> Note that a Windows 9x/ME/2000 Installation CD is not the same as many
> "Recovery" or "Restoration" CDs that some computer manufacturers may give
> you with your system.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

GodCan wrote:
> If what you say is true, (and I don't doubt what you say), then
> there is still one thing that puzzles me. In the last post that I
> made on January 7th where I described the various screens that I
> saw during the upgrade installation, in none of those screens was I
> prompted to provide the 2000 installation CD. I re-ran the
> installation and it still never gives me an opportunity to supply
> the installation CD. I seems as if it looks for evidence of the
> installation on the hard drive and whatever file it is looking for
> it isn't able to find and it just aborts without giving me any
> indication of what the problem might be.

If it is finding what it needs and you indeed have an Upgrade edition of
Windows XP - then you are NOT performing a CLEAN installation.

When you boot with the Windows XP CD and get to the part where it asks you
where you wish to install - you must DELETE the partition(s) you find and
create new ones to perform a clean install - otherwise you are just choosing
a partition that already has things on it - some of which may be the files
it needs to verify this upgrade can be used.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Oh, an UPGRADE? Well, DO NOT erase the hdd. Try booting the upgrade CD.
Turn on your computer, insert the CD, and turn off the computer with the disk
still in it. Turn on your computer, and try booting with it.

"GodCan" wrote:

> I still don't think that you addressed the other part of my concern. I have
> an UPGRADE version of XP Professional not a full version. I don't think that
> an upgrade version will install on a freshly erased hard drive. Please
> correct me if I am wrong and explain to me how it will work. We are talking
> about me having to spend another $300 if you are not correct. I just want to
> be SURE that it will work first.
>
> David M. Wilson
> Romans 8:28
>
>
> "EvDawg13" wrote:
>
> > Sorry I haven't been responding.
> > Yes, it is drastic but I have done it about ten times now on my and my
> > family's computers. It works quite well. It does take a while. This is
> > because it does one-pass zeros. This means that in every hex, regkey/values
> > are zeroed ou to nothing. So, all you have left is your bios. Plus, WinXP
> > does not need a boot/setup floppy disk. Yes, I still recommend this
> > strategy. If nothing else works, of course.
> >
> > "GodCan" wrote:
> >
> That sounds rather drastic. I guess I can forget keeping any of my default
> settings. Also, I have a XP Professional Upgrade package, not the full
> install. Do you still recommend I do what you are suggesting?
>
> David M. Wilson
> Romans 8:28
>
> "EvDawg13" wrote:
>
> > Go to killdisk.com and download their bootable floppy maker. Run it to make
> > a floppy. Insert the floppy when the computer is off. It will load. Erase
> > your hard drive by scrolling to the HARD DRIVE words with the arrow keys. Do
> > not erase the floppy!!! It will take over an hour to erase the drive
> > depending on the size. After it is erased, exit the floppy program and
> > manually shut down your computer. Insert the XP disk when the computer turns
> > on. Shut it down immediately after. Turn it on and load XP.
> >
>
>