Upgrade Failed
I attempted to run the upgrade process on a computer that had seen years of use, installing piles of software, uninstalls, hardware added, then removed and upgraded—this was a machine that would give the upgrade process a real workout. One I’m sorry to report that it failed.
To start with the desire was to move to Windows Vista Home Premium, but the computer had Windows SP Professional installed. Not allowed! (link). If I had an upgrade box in my hand I would have been far more disappointed, but I knew better and was working with MSDN for testing purposes anyway, so I just had to burn one of my Ultimate Edition licenses up instead…
Then I found that Vista was not happy about some of the software it found on the computer. The compatibility report that runs prior to upgrade reported that “Roxio Backup MyPC” and “Nero – “Burning Rom” had to be uninstalled prior to upgrade and kicked me back out to take this action.
I removed the Roxio tool no problem, but it really took some effort to get Nero off the machine. There was no listing for it in Add/Remove Programs and no shortcuts. I found the application directory and plenty of files that indicated it was indeed there. I even found an UNNero.cfg file and found some help at AppDeploy.com on how to use this log file in an uninstall command line with UNNero.exe. However, when running the proper command I was told that Nero was not installed! In digging online a little longer I discovered this:
http://www.nero.com/nero6/eng/General_Clean_Tool.html
Apparently I’m not the only one having trouble getting Nero off a computer! This tool is designed to “clean” Nero from a computer (from the vendor). It found multiple products installed and it finally got them off the computer.
Good news for Nero users—a free update in the form of version of Nero 7 Ultra Edition ENHANCED has just been released with Windows Vista support. You can download this by clicking the "Free Update" link on the Nero home page, but I hope you have a good Internet connection—the update is nearly 200mb in size.
Satisfied that I was good to go, I kicked the upgrade off again only to find a new error that did not appear to be documented anywhere: The installation would appear to run along just fine and then it would report: “The upgrade was canceled. Any changes that were made to your computer during the upgrade process will not be saved.” The details provided were: “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.” And restart the installation I did. A couple of times in fact, digging around for others having the issue all the while. Because it has been mostly implemented in a test environment, I think issues like this one are more likely to surface and be addressed over the next few weeks and months. But when I looked there was nothing. I did find a very detailed installation log file (setupact.log) in the %TEMP% directory that explained the problem, but it didn’t help me…
2006-12-31 17:39:08, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Patching Windows boot objects
2006-12-31 17:39:08, Info IBSLIB SetupPatchLocationInformation: NTPath is \Device\HarddiskVolume1
2006-12-31 17:39:09, Info IBSLIB SetupPatchLocationInformation: NTPath is \Device\HarddiskVolume1
2006-12-31 17:39:09, Info IBSLIB SetupPatchBcdObject for \$WINDOWS.~BT\Windows\system32\winload.exe, ec = 0
2006-12-31 17:39:09, Info IBSLIB Path to BCD store is \??\C:\Boot\BCD
2006-12-31 17:39:09, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Created Store \??\C:\Boot\BCD
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Attempting to copy BCD objects of type 30000000
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Attempting to copy BCD objects of type 20000000
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Attempting to copy BCD objects of type 10100002
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Attempting to copy BCD objects of type 10200005
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB ModifyBootEntries:Attempting to copy BCD objects of type 10300006
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB SetupPatchBcdStringElements: retrieving description resource identifier failed, using existing description, ec = c0000225
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x060215] IBS CallBack_MungeBootIni:Successfully modified boot entries
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x06021f] IBS Callback_UpdateBootCode: Current Setup phase 1
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x060222] IBS Callback_UpdateBootCode: Preparing drive 'C:\' to boot Windows (updating disk's MBR, volume's boot sector)
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x060244] IBS PrepareSystemToBootWindows: Entry
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB GetSystemDiskNTPath: Found system disk at [\Device\Harddisk0\DR0].
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB GetSystemDiskNumber: Disk [0] is the system disk.
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x060249] IBS PrepareSystemToBootWindows: Current Boot Drive path: [C:\]. Boot Disk number: [0]
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBSLIB WriteSectors: Requested to write [512] bytes. Succesfully wrote [512] bytes
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info IBS PrepareSystemToBootWindows: Successfully patched MBR
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x06420c] IBSLIB ReadOrWriteSectorsWinNt: Couldn't set file pointer to 0x0[gle=0x00000003]
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x06420b] IBSLIB ReadOrWriteSectors: Failed to read sectors (start sector = 0xI64x, sector count = 0x0, sector size = 0x0)
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x0641ff] IBSLIB CheckSysPartAndReadBootCode: Error reading NTFS boot sectors!
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x06411c] IBSLIB UpdateBootCode: CheckSysPartAndReadBootCode failed!
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x06063d] IBS PrepareSystemToBootWindows: Failed to update boot code for system volume
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x060223] IBS Callback_UpdateBootCode: Unable to prepare drive to boot Windows.
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Error [0x060616] IBS Callback_UpdateBootCode:An error occurred while updating the boot code. GLE = 0.
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x0640ae] IBSLIB PublishMessage: Publishing message [Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.]
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info [0x0a013d] UI Accepting Cancel. Exiting Page Progress.
2006-12-31 17:39:10, Info UI Entering Page Cancel.
This was my Dad’s computer and I can’t blame him but he decided he’d be more comfortable getting Vista on a new computer (at least one without so much importance to him). Upgrade Failed!
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Comments
I got same error message:“Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.” during VISTA installation, have you fixed this problem yet?
Posted by: Charlie Chang | March 14, 2007 4:48 AM
I'm afraid not-- if you have external drives attached, I would recommend you try removing them first. If you do find an answer please come back and let us know! I was early to have encountered this, but would think that there have been enough upgrade attempts out there now to have brought more attention to this situation (unless it is very rare and you and I are very unlucky!)
Posted by: Bob | March 14, 2007 7:21 AM
I am having the same problem:
During and attempt at a VISTA Business upgrade from windows XP Pro, I got same error message: “Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.” I have run the compatibility utility, and removed all software that was offensive. I have spent more time than I will be compensated for trying to get this thing going. Anybody having any luck solving the problem?
Posted by: Jon Castle | March 26, 2007 4:54 PM
I made 3 tries to install vista Buisness if not for the system saving my setting and plus i backed up just incase things went bad . I'd have to install xp pro all frikin over again Vista upgrade Stinks waste Time and cash It stopped at final step 1 st boot black screen appear I thought some thing wrong with monitor unpluged it screen comes on do u want t start normal safe mode safe network you get picture I tryed all of them no better My Computer passed vista Standard to upgrade to Micro Soft You Blew It out Frikin Door Pass on Vista they claim new os in 2 yrs I'll wait till then Good Luck no refund offer from microsoft Crooks . Wish I'd borrowed copy before I bought vista upgrade junk STAY AWAY Junk
Posted by: Norm | July 7, 2007 8:24 AM
Failures of any kind can be frustrating, but Microsoft has a reputation for providing good support. If you buy an upgrade and cannot get it installed, they will help you through the problem. Have you tried giving them a call?
If you have more details on what went wrong in your case, I'd be happy to help if I can-- post any details you have in the message forum here.
Sincerely,
Bob
Posted by: Bob Kelly | July 9, 2007 2:04 PM