Your Upgrade Partition has Multiple Operating Systems

Finding a Solution for Vista Upgrade Problems

This article lists one of the 11 known Vista upgrade problems that you can use to help troubleshoot issues that you may experience when you try to upgrade your current version of Windows (for example Windows XP) to Windows Vista.

Note: Before you upgrade your current operating system and PC to Windows Vista, I recommend that you use FIRST use the Windows Upgrade Advisor tool to help determine whether the computer can run Windows Vista successfully.

For more information about how to obtain the Windows Upgrade Advisor, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx  

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor scans the computer and creates a report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues that may exist. The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor also lists recommendations about how to resolve any compatibility issues that may exist. Additionally, you can use the report that the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor generates to help select the edition of Windows Vista that best suits the way that you want to use the computer.

This Vista Upgrade Problems - The Error:

When you try to install Windows Vista, you cannot select the Upgrade option. Also, you receive the following error message in the Install Windows dialog box:

Upgrade has been disabled

- Your upgrade partition has multiple operating systems


This problem occurs if the Boot.ini file contains incorrect entries. Specifically, this problem occurs if there are references to multiples operating systems.

Resolution:

Steps to let you install Windows Vista

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer, and then edit the Boot.ini file to remove any references to another operating system.
2. Remove any folders that contain files for other operating systems.


Edit the Boot.ini File

Warning If you edit the Boot.ini file incorrectly, you may be unable to start the computer.

Step A: Save a backup copy of the Boot.ini file

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. In the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings.
4. In the System Startup area, click Edit.

The Boot.ini file opens in Notepad.

5. In Notepad, click the File menu, and then click Save As.
6. In the File name box, type Boot.bak, and then click Save.

A backup copy of the Boot.ini file is saved to the top folder of drive C.

Step B: Determine your version of Windows

1. Click Start, click Run, type Winver.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. Note the version of Windows that appears at the top of the About Windows dialog box. For example, "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" may appear.

3. Click OK.

Step C: Edit the Boot.ini File

1. If the Boot.ini file is not open in Notepad, follow steps 1 through 4 in Step A.

2. In the Boot.ini file, remove the lines that refer to operating systems other than the operating system that the computer is now running.

Note: After you remove these lines, you cannot start the computer by using these operating systems.

For example, the Boot.ini file may include the following lines:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINXP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINXP="Windows XP <Version>" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 2000 <Version>" /fastdetect

Note: In an actual Boot.ini file, a version number appears instead of "<Version>."

Remove any line that does not refer to the operating system that you noted in step 2c. For example, if the computer is running Windows XP Professional Edition, remove the following line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 2000<Version>" /fastdetect

3. In the File menu, click Save to save the new version of the Boot.ini file, and then exit Notepad.

4. Click OK two times to close the System Properties dialog box.

(For more information about how to edit the Boot.ini file, read the following article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022/  How to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows XP )

Back up and remove folders that contain files for other operating systems

To successfully install Windows Vista, you must also remove any folders that contain files of other operating systems. If any important files are stored in these folders, back up the folders first. For example, back up the folders to a CD or to an external drive. Or, move the folders to another partition on the same physical drive. For example, move the folders from drive C to drive D.

The folder that contains an operating system's files appears in the Boot.ini file. For example, in step 3, the folder that contains the files for Microsoft Windows 2000 is the WINDOWS folder.

The above articles apply to ALL versions: Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition, Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition, Windows Vista Starter

...and that should have now resolved the Vista upgrade problem for you!

The following material may be of further assistance... 

Additional Support Resources: 

SupportSpace.com is a unique online service dedicated to providing "a new standard of tech support".

Giving consumers and small businesses access to the Web's most robust community of independent, certified tech experts capable of solving virtually any tech-related need, SupportSpace puts people in charge of their digital world-enabling them to find their own "personal" expert by sorting across level of expertise, price, availability and user ratings/reviews.

Want to play DVD's in Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11?

Then grab the Windows XP COREL DVD Plug-in TODAY!

OR - Got Windows Vista and need the DVD Plugin? 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>> More Than Just A Newsletter!

Claim YOUR FREE 37 Page Special Report that reveals 17 of the
Microsoft Windows Live Services that you can start using TODAY!!!

Visit the free newsletter website for more information! Click Here...

 I hope you got something useful out of visiting this website today?

Make sure you sign up for the FREE Newsletter and checkout the Main Index for a growing list of articles you are going to find informative!

Kind Regards

Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP
http://www.marcliron.com and http://www.instantvista.com