Installing Vista on top of XP HOme, it hung up and says it encountered an
internal error and will return me to my orginal Windwos (XP) desktop. It
doesn't: it keeps going in an endless loop and gets back to the same
"internal error" message. Any suggestions how to save my original Windows
desktop & data?
Thank you!

Hi,

Boot the system without the CD and hit F8 as soon as the initial POST ends
and just as Windows begins to load. If you can get to the boot menu, try
safe mode with command prompt. From there, run rstrui.exe from the
C:\Windows\System32\Repair folder to open the System Restore GUI and try a
date before the upgrade attempt.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"JohnnyPerko" <JohnnyPerko@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:93DDE1B7-392A-497F-BEF8-27BAD075C1F7@microsoft.com...
> Installing Vista on top of XP HOme, it hung up and says it encountered an
> internal error and will return me to my orginal Windwos (XP) desktop. It
> doesn't: it keeps going in an endless loop and gets back to the same
> "internal error" message. Any suggestions how to save my original Windows
> desktop & data?
> Thank you!

The way to save your Windows desktop and data is to follow Microsoft's
instructios on the the GetReady page and not install Vista on a production
or primary home computer. If Rick's excellent advice gets everything back
then leave it that way. If you feel you still want to install Vista beta on
the same computer at least use an empty partition or second hard drive.
Even then you risk data loss.

"JohnnyPerko" <JohnnyPerko@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:93DDE1B7-392A-497F-BEF8-27BAD075C1F7@microsoft.com...
> Installing Vista on top of XP HOme, it hung up and says it encountered an
> internal error and will return me to my orginal Windwos (XP) desktop. It
> doesn't: it keeps going in an endless loop and gets back to the same
> "internal error" message. Any suggestions how to save my original Windows
> desktop & data?
> Thank you!