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Upgrade from 2k to XP gone wrong

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Abrilet

Technical User
Oct 21, 2005
29
GB
Hi all,

This is my first time here and I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out. I wanted to upgrade my partner's desktop from 2k to XP Pro and I did an upgrade install instead of a clean one. It presented problems as 3/4 of the way through it requested a file "wiaide" with a path into a temp directory from 2k. I asked a couple of IT mates, both said I should do a clean install over the top and that this should sort it out - which I did. It's ended up that when the PC boots up, there's an option to choose from 2 versions of XP but the default version is the fully working one. However all the programmes and data are not where they should be, i.e. they're under C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents or Program Files depending on whether they're programmes or documents. In the usual places, i.e. My Documents or the normal Program Files folders, there is nothing there. Also in the list of users there is something strange, Administrator is listed, All Users and then All Users.WINDOWS. I am unware of having created a partition but obviously something has separated out during the install. I am resisting formatting because there is so much to get off the PC in the way of recordings etc plus some programmes he no longer has the disks for. (I thought he'd done a backup before this but discovered too late that he hadn't). I hope all this makes sense because it's a bit complicated to explain really.
If anyone can shine any light on this, I'd really grateful.
Many thanks
 
Abrilet,

Well it appears that you did not actually do a "Clean Install" as recommended by your friends. It looks as if you actually installed a second OS, being XP. Your boot options should not be 2 versions of XP but instead either Win2K or WinXP.

As you have installed a separate second OS it is normal for there to be no documents nor peograms unless you install them.

You should see
thread779-1140557

I hope this helps sort this out

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all
 
If im reading this right , this is what i think happened. He first upgraded then ran into some problems so he tried installing a new copy of it. However when he did I dont think he deleted the partition so it just created another one. Which I believe is how he got the double xps on load up. There is a way of removing them but its risky. You can modify the boot.ini file and remove the line of the one you dont want or the one that isnt working. Just be sure you know which one is working before you do that. I would definitly reccomend backing important things up before attempting this. For if you modify it wrong your left with an endless cycle of reboots.
 
electronicsfreak,

I read it as he tried first to do an upgrade as you read. The he was recommended to do a clean install, but I read that when presented with the choices he did not want to re-format as he later talks about not wanting to lose the data. So he made one of the other choices???

linney's response in the thread links to how to remove a copy of XP.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all
 
With your working operating system save and backup every thing of value you can.

The non-working operating system sounds like it is a mixture of 2000 upgraded to a failed XP? Possibly the only salvation for that might be to try a repair install of XP? Of course you might run into the "wiaide" message again (is that a correct name)?. This however may be the only chance you have of saving any installed programs.

You will lose all your windows updates but your files and programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)


See the link from "rvnguy" if the above was in the unlikely outcome, successful.

Perhaps the best solution is a proper clean install after backing up and then formatting the drive. Chances are you may be able to get copies of any CD's of programs/software you installed from CD, or find downloads on the Web to replace them?

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.


See if you can make use of anything here before you go formatting?

811151 - How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile

User Profile Storage in Windows 2000

Odd Docs and Settings profiles
thread779-840042

What causes an Administrator.000 login to appear on it's own?
thread779-742316

FILE & SETTINGS TRANSFER

Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
 
Many thanks for the help everyone. I will let you know the outcome.

 
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