Vista - Cannolt install Windows Vista

My system passes the Vista Upgrade Advisor. Yet I cannot install Windows
Vista. When I try to install it, it tells me to click the "Repair your
computer button". And when I do, it either tells me "Setup cannot fix this
problem ... Contact your Adinistrator" message, Or the program goes into
an enless loop and never stops.

This is particularly bad because it appears that the installation program
has completely inactivated or even removed the "Boot.ini" file. The only
way to get back to my previous instrallation of Windows is to reinstall it.
I hope that when I finally get "Vista" installed there will be a graceful
way of re-entering Window XP. Similarly there has to be a way of quickly
re-entering Vista from Windows XP. I am anticipating a period of time when
some of my programs do not work on Vista, and I have to bounce back and
forth from one operating system to another, to work on programs that will
only work on my old operating system.

Don J

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You can not enter Vista from within Windows XP.

You can not enter Windows XP from within Vista.

It is possible to set a computer up for dual booting so that you can select
which operating system you wish to run when you start the computer.

As far as your install problems, you do not give near enough information on
how you are trying to install, what type of install you are attempting, your
hard drive setup etc.

We need scads more information than "I can not install Vista".

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)


"Don J" <dej8801@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2vWdnU9qD8BF137bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@xxxxxx

Really Don, Richard is right we need MORE INFO. I will most likely be able to
help with more info, so...post more info. :-)

--
- It's always Microsoft's fault no matter what your problem is.

and if you are using an upgrade version, your XP license will not be valid
for dual booting anyway.

"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uKcPQLo8HHA.396@xxxxxx

If this is an upgrade, you should disconnect any accessories not necessary
for the install, and uninstall any kernel level program like firewalls and
A/V programs. Sometimes you also need to uninstall certain driver,
particularly video drivers. Did you have any cautions. Always uninstall
any items cautioned, even though they seem innocuous.
You should provide the information requested by other posters, but also be
advised that many upgrades just don't work and you need to do a custom
install.
"Don J" <dej8801@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2vWdnU9qD8BF137bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@xxxxxx

Nope. In Vista you will have to restart to get into XP. In XP you will have
to restart to get into Vista.

There might be a way to jump from one to the other using virtualization. But
I think the setup for that will be a little complicated.

I've tried two installs, One was an uprade install; It told me to press
the "Repair your computer" button. I did and the machine went into a 15
minute long endless loop. The other was a complete install. When I did
this the system strated searching for the problem. When it was done it told
me "Setup cannot fix this problem automatically" and suggested that I contct
the system administrator. Well so much for that - I am the system
administrator!

Have disconnected all external hardware except two printers.

I am not interested in calling one operating system from the other. I am
only interested in entering either from a cold reboot. My concern is that
after both failed installations the only way I could enter Windows XP was to
reinstall it.

Think I will again try both installs, one an upgrade install, the other a
full install, again. This time with both printers disconnected.

Don J

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"Don J" <dej8801@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2vWdnU9qD8BF137bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@xxxxxx

If Im understanding you correctly your trying to repair windows vista when
you haven't even installed it yet and thats why it cant repair it! Is that
the case??? If so just install it don't repair it. If not a little more
details might be helpful. Like: have you tried to install it b4 or have you
just tried to repair it, If you have tried to install it b4 how far did you
get, stuff like that.

--
- It's always Microsoft's fault no matter what your problem is.

Have never tried to repair Vista without first trying to install it.

I just want to enter either Vista or XP at bootup. I didn't see how to do
it so concluded that the only way I could do so was to reinstall Win'XP.
Now I see how to do it. Pretty neat!

I spent the day trying to install Windows Vista and havn't been able to do
so. Can somebody please help me? I tried to do both (1) an "upgrade
install" and (2) a "full install". In both cases I had all external
hardware devices disconnected from my computer including printers, scanners,
and external hard drives. The way it failed today was different than the
way it failed yesterday. (Please see my original post for the way it failed
yesterday.) Today both failures started by telling me to press the "Repair
your computer" button. But when I did it took me through an endless loop in
which it repeatedly asked me to insert my disk into the computer and reboot
the computer. I think the failure test has failed!

Anybody got some suggestions?

Don
J

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"Don J" <dej8801@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2vWdnU9qD8BF137bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@xxxxxx

If you want help, you will need to be more descriptive of your situation.
Are you booting from the DVD or from within XP. How far into the install do
you get the message. Write down the steps that you had done and which steps
the computer had done. What is your equipment make and model, IDE or SATA
drives, what video card etc. What version of Vista are you trying to
install upgrade or full 32 or 64-bit, Home Premium, etc.


"Don J" <dej8801@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:xOGdnUdjFov7CnnbnZ2dnUVZ_j2dnZ2d@xxxxxx