Windows could not retrieve information about the disks.

[Umbrella420]

Hey guys im running a completley fine version of Vista 64 but i want to upgrade to Windows 7 64 since i tried it out on my laptop and i preferred it to Vista.
Anyway I have 1 Hard Drive split into 2 partitions, one been 70gb - 10gb free space (Windows Vista) and the other is 300gb - 60gb free space (Windows XP) so if needed i can move around some files to create some extra space.

I want to upgrade to Windows 7, because i have alot of important software which would take too long to re-install, but whenever i run the setup.exe and select upgrade it runs for a few seconds and the i get the error message:
"Windows could not retrieve information about the disks on this computer"
and the setup ends, is there a way round this?

I checked the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and everything was normal in there, however i'll upload the report, to see if you can find any faults.

P.S. I've tried 3 different releases now and all of them get the same error. Also tried burning at different speeds, different DVDs and tried installing from a virtual drive, and i still receive the same error. I also tried upgrading from booting the CD, it told me to restart the PC, let it boot into Vista and run setup.exe, which brings me back to my original problem =[

Any suggestions would be great!

 

[TGSoldier]

>_>

 

[Kari]

Hello, Umbrella and welcome to SevenForums.

The report you uploaded tells about only one clear thing preventing you upgrading:

• You don't have ehough HD space. Accordind to this report, your available space is only about 11 gigs.
  • You need a minimum of 16 gigs to install a 32-bit Windows 7, or minimum of 20 gigs for 64-bit version

Report mentions also that by upgrading you lose your Ultimate Extras (DreamScene wallpapers, Tinker etc...) when upgrading. You also need to get new drivers for your Netgear wireless adapter. This you can do also after the upgrade.

Are you sure you want to do an upgrade installation? It would maybe be easier to do a clean install and use Windows Easy Transfer Tool to backup all your personal stuff. Of course doing a clean install you lose all your software and have to reinstall it later.

Kari

 

[Umbrella420]

Hello, Umbrella and welcome to SevenForums.

The report you uploaded tells about only one clear thing preventing you upgrading:

• You don't have ehough HD space. Accordind to this report, your available space is only about 11 gigs.
  • You need a minimum of 16 gigs to install a 32-bit Windows 7, or minimum of 20 gigs for 64-bit version

Report mentions also that by upgrading you lose your Ultimate Extras (DreamScene wallpapers, Tinker etc...) when upgrading. You also need to get new drivers for your Netgear wireless adapter. This you can do also after the upgrade.

Are you sure you want to do an upgrade installation? It would maybe be easier to do a clean install and use Windows Easy Transfer Tool to backup all your personal stuff. Of course doing a clean install you lose all your software and have to reinstall it later.

Kari

Thank you very much, i have a question though. I have 1 Hard Drive split into 2 partitions, one been around 70gb - 10gb free space (Windows Vista) and the other is 300gb - 60gb free space (Windows XP) so i can move around some files to create some extra space.

If i use the Windows transfer tool will it transfer my programs too so that i don't have to reinstall them?
I only want upgrade due to how much data is on my hard drive and i don't have any backup devices except a 80gb portable HDD which is ok but i really don't wanna have to re install all my programs again or spend at least a day backing everything up because of how much data i have =\

 

[Kari]

If i use the Windows transfer tool will it transfer my programs too so that i don't have to reinstall them?

Sorry but no. Easy Transfer can move all your personal files and folders, but the not so nice thing in clean install is you lose all your installed software.

If you want to upgrade your Vista, move all personal stuff* from that partition over to XP partition. I see you have enough space there.

Come back when you have more questions. Good luck with upgrade.

Kari

*Pictures, videos, music, documents etc.

 

[Umbrella420]

Ok if i just copy & paste my Vista Documents folder to XP partition and then upgrade will i keep all my programs?

 

[Kari]

Ok if i just copy & paste my Vista Documents folder to XP partition and then upgrade will i keep all my programs?

Yes. But if you copy & paste, the originals are still there taking up space. You have to delete originals after copying them to XP partition.

Kari

 

[Umbrella420]

Ok i have burned the ISO to disc and booted from the DVD. When i select install and then upgrade it tells me to restart the computer, let it boot into Vista and then insert the disc and run setup.exe
However when i do this it brings me back to my original problem, it just says

"Windows could not retrieve information about the disks on this computer"

Do you guys have any more suggestions?
I need a way to upgrade cause i can't afford to lose my programs.

 

[Umbrella420]

Is there another way to upgrade at all please?