Vista Ultimate Upgrade FAILED

[manowar821]

Okay, my problem is probably a bit less simple than "disable something something".

My computer checks out on the upgrade advisor, and the only issues it has are the "no information on these items " (which include: AMD Low Level Device Driver, NVidia nForce Networking controller, Creative X-Fi Audio Processor)

Also, under Programs, it says that the program Messenger by Microsoft Corporation "may have minor compatibility issues after upgrading to Windows Vista." Microsoft has no documentation as to why their own software may not work with their new OS. Is this the Messenger service? Or the IM program?

Everything else checks out. It tells me to go ahead with the install/upgrade, as my computer is good to go.

I go for it. It installs, restarts a couple times, and then it restarts out of nowhere (no restart notification) and then says "this computer was improperly rebooted last time" but then it just continues with the install. After finishing (yes, from what I can tell, it is actually booting into Vista) it sits for a minute with the message "please wait while windows starts for the first time". It then goes to a screen/message that says...

"Your installation was not successful, windows will now revert back to your original installation"

Thanks for not F-ing up my system, Microsoft, but why in the world does your upgrade not work? If I pay 250+ dollars for a product, it should just work. Period.

Has anyone else figured out how to get past this? Why exactly is my computer FINISHING the install, and then telling me that it failed after (seemingly) beginning to boot into the new OS?

Thank you very much, in advance. If this weren't a MS product, I'd return it. But we all know how possible it is to return a product that has a "key-code".

Main Points:

-Installing Windows Vista via Upgrade from XP Pro w/SP2 and all updates
-Only post install software/device issues are reported by the Advisor program
-Install goes fine
-After rebooting, tells me "install was not successful"
-Returns to my untouched XP install

 

[cmdrdredd]

remove anything not essential to run the system, install then. After it's done (if it works) put them back in one by one and install the drivers.

 

[mechBgon]

1) can you give us a rundown of your specs, including the particular motherboard you've got?

2) what security softwares (brands & versions) do you run? Did the upgrade advisor say anything regarding them?

3) are you installing 32-bit or 64-bit Vista?

 

[manowar821]

Alright mechBgon.

Main-board: Abit AN9 32X
CPU: AM2 X2 4200+
ram: 1gig of CAS4 6400 ddr2
Video: NVidia GeForce 7600 GS 256meg
Audio: Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Xtreme gamer

I unplugged my game controller, and now I just have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor connected.

The issues my Advisor program gives me is...

"Cannot find information on these devices"
* AMD Low level Device Driver - There is no compatibility data for this device
* NVIDIA Nforce Networking Controller - There is no compatibility data for this device
* Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WMD) - There is no compatibility data for this device

"review these program issues for Windows Vista"
* Messenger - This program might have minor compatibility issues after upgrading to vista

I'm installing 32-bit upgrade from 32-bit XP pro with all the fixings.

No security software at all.

 

[Xellos2099]

try full install ultimate with no key then try ugrading with key from there

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
try full install ultimate with no key then try ugrading with key from there

I don't want to do that, I have programs to keep.

I'm trying to use the upgrade that I paid for.

Sorry.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: manowar821
Alright mechBgon.

Main-board: Abit AN9 32X
CPU: AM2 X2 4200+
ram: 1gig of CAS4 6400 ddr2
Video: NVidia GeForce 7600 GS 256meg
Audio: Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Xtreme gamer

Well I see the problem already, you have no hard drive! (what hard drive do you have, and if it is Serial ATA, what mode is the SATA controller in?)

I would also disable CnQ in the BIOS as a fact-finding step, remove the CnQ driver and other AMD CPU-related software using the Add/Remove Progams panel in WinXP, set aside the X-Fi for now, back up your stuff as a precaution, and take another run at it.

The issues my Advisor program gives me is...

"Cannot find information on these devices"
* AMD Low level Device Driver - There is no compatibility data for this device
* NVIDIA Nforce Networking Controller - There is no compatibility data for this device
* Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WMD) - There is no compatibility data for this device

The AMD driver might be CnQ-related or the dual-core optomizer if you've installed that. The networking controller, don't worry too much, mine said that too. The X-Fi, I would remove it for the moment and add it back in later.

No security software at all.

You might want to temporarily install something in WinXP and do a scan for malware, then uninstall it. My nominee for this task is a 30-day trialware of full-version Kaspersky Antivirus 6 (link, config & stuff) since it has rootkit-detection features. Yeah yeah, you nevar had a virus, etc but just try it. In the Settings > Scan > Scan My Computer, scoot the slider up to High while you're at it, so it pries into everything.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well I believe that we can all see what really needs to occur here. You should've already backed up your programs even before you attempted to upgrade your os. You really should consider doing a clean install of vista using the well known method with an upgrade disk package. I had to do that to my sons machine because it screwed up during the attempted upgrade. Never place files on the same physical drive that you have your os on. Hd's are cheap so you don't have an excuse for not having at least 2 hd's in your system. You should've also done your homework and already dl'd everything that you would need for your hardware in vista.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: manowar821
Alright mechBgon.

Main-board: Abit AN9 32X
CPU: AM2 X2 4200+
ram: 1gig of CAS4 6400 ddr2
Video: NVidia GeForce 7600 GS 256meg
Audio: Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Xtreme gamer

Well I see the problem already, you have no hard drive! (what hard drive do you have, and if it is Serial ATA, what mode is the SATA controller in?)

I would also disable CnQ in the BIOS as a fact-finding step, remove the CnQ driver and other AMD CPU-related software using the Add/Remove Progams panel in WinXP, set aside the X-Fi for now, back up your stuff as a precaution, and take another run at it.

The issues my Advisor program gives me is...

"Cannot find information on these devices"
* AMD Low level Device Driver - There is no compatibility data for this device
* NVIDIA Nforce Networking Controller - There is no compatibility data for this device
* Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WMD) - There is no compatibility data for this device

The AMD driver might be CnQ-related or the dual-core optomizer if you've installed that. The networking controller, don't worry too much, mine said that too. The X-Fi, I would remove it for the moment and add it back in later.

No security software at all.

You might want to temporarily install something in WinXP and do a scan for malware, then uninstall it. My nominee for this task is a 30-day trialware of full-version Kaspersky Antivirus 6 (link, config & stuff) since it has rootkit-detection features. Yeah yeah, you nevar had a virus, etc but just try it. In the Settings > Scan > Scan My Computer, scoot the slider up to High while you're at it, so it pries into everything.

Haha, alright, I'll try these things..

If this all else fails, I was planning on waiting until tomorrow so I can call Microsoft directly.

You're right about the dual-core optimizer, though, I do have that installed. Is that a problem?

Do you think that I could just uninstall the drivers and software for the sound, and leave the card in? Maybe I could just turn on-board sound back on...?

I'm trying to make this hassle-free as possible, if you couldn't tell.

 

[mechBgon]

One other suggestion: go through Add/Remove Programs and uninstall:

1) stuff you never use

2) all media players, all IM programs, Sun Java (all variants), Adobe Reader, DiVX and anything else that's of a nature to try to run at startup or run an updater task in the background. You can always get the latest versions of them after installing Vista.


Windows Defender can be useful for seeing what stuff starts automatically. download Windows Defender here Look in its Tools > Software Explorer.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Puffnstuff
Well I believe that we can all see what really needs to occur here. You should've already backed up your programs even before you attempted to upgrade your os. You really should consider doing a clean install of vista using the well known method with an upgrade disk package. I had to do that to my sons machine because it screwed up during the attempted upgrade. Never place files on the same physical drive that you have your os on. Hd's are cheap so you don't have an excuse for not having at least 2 hd's in your system. You should've also done your homework and already dl'd everything that you would need for your hardware in vista.

I do have two drives. My 74 gig 10k rpm drive is my OS drive and programs drive, and all my important stuff (music, videos, installs/downloads, games, backup and other stuff) goes on my 250 gig drive.

I back everything up, it's just the saved games and logins that I hate to loose. Also, if this is a problem with the install, perhaps it won't work after trying a clean install, and then I won't have ANY system to fall back on. At least now I have XP to revert back to.

 

[mechBgon]

You're right about the dual-core optimizer, though, I do have that installed. Is that a problem?

I don't know for certain, but I can't think what else would be tagged as an AMD low-level device driver. I could be off on the wrong tangent, since it also says that about nVidia's onboard NIC (both yours and mine) and it works fine in practice for me.

Another thing. Nah, two more things.

1) uncheck the automagic activation checkbox during installation: pic :camera Activate manually after you've got the system going and are satisfied it's stable for a couple days.

2) you might want to unplug your network cable and peripherals (printers, cams, scanners, etc) until the system reaches the desktop screen, so it has less possible stuff to try to figure out, including UPnP items on your network (if any).

 

[cmdrdredd]

People should do what I did. Get a 3rd HDD to test install...make sure it works. Then you have WinXP untouched in case Vista doesn't play well. You never know what can happen.

 

[manowar821]

Okay update, I got my Advisor to drop down to only two issues:

1: the networking driver has no data on compatibility
2: windows messenger

I think I may go for it.

Edit: I also did a windows defender scan, it says I'm cool.

 

[mechBgon]

What about a virus scan? Defender's not an antivirus scanner, and (sorry MS) not even a very good spyware/adware/foistware scanner.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What about a virus scan? Defender's not an antivirus scanner, and (sorry MS) not even a very good spyware/adware/foistware scanner.

I should. Then I'll try the upgrade again.

Thanks a lot mechBgon! :thumbsup:

Even if it doesn't work.

 

[nerp]

Make sure to uninstall all your device driver packages for any NVIDIA, Creative, etc, on there. Strip your XP install down to the bare minimum -- OS and installed apps you want to keep -- and try again.

If you do have the time, the best way really is to do the full install with an upgrade CD trick. Maybe hold off a week and do it when you've got a free afternoon.

 

[Shawn]

Probably an incompatible device driver.

 

[manowar821]

Alright, I'm kind of pissed now.

I tried the upgrade after stripping most everything. It failed, same message twice, then the third time it gave me a bluescreen and then the same message.

I then tried the clean install trick, where is just moves your old install of windows to a backup folder .old or whatever.

It gave me a bluescreen, and then reverted back again.

WTF I'm going to give the Microsoft tech support a call tomorrow. Why the hell do these people release such unfinished products? This is exactly the reason why I almost blew off vista all together...

 

[Tegeril]

I'm not seeing what's unfinished about Vista. Clearly there is an incompatibility...but that's far from "unfinished."

That said, good luck with Microsoft support...

 

[pcgeek11]

Do you have any RAID settings in the BIOS? If so try setting them to autodetect.

pcgeek11

 

[cmdrdredd]

Vista seems fine for me and almost everyone I know who has used it for a bit likes it. It hasn't had any glaring issues. The issues I've all seen come from software that needs reworking and hasn't been done.

 

[Shawn]

What did the blue screen say?

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Shawn
What did the blue screen say?

Well, I'm not at my comp right now, but it was an exception error, and it dumped the physical memory to disk. No device warning or anything, just a blue screen, exception error and mem dump.

Lets see what the next couple days bring... I'll be calling tech support.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I would suggest that you run memtest on the machine and see if you have any bad ram.