Windows 7 Rolls Back to Vista During Upgrade... Blues!!!

b1gt1m · 14 Mar 2012

Allo! Right straight down to it then. I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit and want to Upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit. Now, before I get into this, please don't Advise or Recommend me to do a 'Clean/Custom Installation because this is Out Of The Question! Now, I've tried about 30 attempts to upg to W7 and every single time the installation completes itself to 100% then reboots for the first time, the system restarts itself and then reboots again into roll back to vista mode!!! THIS IS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!! Theres no reason why it shouldn't work. So after careful pondering, I've sussed out that my system is taking 3-4 MINUTES to boot!!!! I turn on and load up to the logon page, type in my password then the desktop appears, shortcuts appear, taskbar appears then freeze! 2-3mins go by then booting resumes and 3-5 seconds later I'm in. There's clearly a serious problem here! I think it's driver related, I think theres an answer in the event viewer. The thing is, I dont know how to read and translate the results in the event viewer which will tell me where and why boot up is soooooo time consuming. Its a driver, which one and where elude me. SO, I cure this problem, Windows 7 will upgrade and run perfectly. As you can read, the psyciatric treatment for my W7 roll back blues is helping so far....

can you help me please?

Thanx in advance

gregrocker · 14 Mar 2012

Since you insist on getting the inferior in-place Upgrade as your introduction to Win7, you hopefully did your homework by running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to be clued to incompatibilities, and uninstalled anything which might conflict?

You can access the install logs to see what the failures were by finding these files:
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\miglog.xml
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupapi\setupapi.dev.log
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupapi\setupapi.app.log
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log
C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PostGatherPnPList.log

You can also enter Device Manager during install to see what driver might be hanging boot, likely display, then uninstall it so install completes so you can update it from desktop: Device Manager - Access During Windows 7 Installation.

Also before starting upgrade establish a clean boot by unchecking everything in msconfig>Startup, and msconfig>Services after Hiding All MS Services. Reboot and check back that nothing has returned or turn off in Program Preferences or uninstall it.

b1gt1m · 29 Mar 2012

Allo gregrocker! Did you read me post? I've done all that is asked, trust me I have! Which is why I'm convinced it's a driver problem, I'm convinced it's in the log files somewhere. I've got most but not all of the log files listed, this is curious but alas - the installation routine runs thru to 100% and reboots to start W7 as normal then instantly freezes - reboots and rolls back to vista. As I've said before, I can't translate em. What am I looking for in the log files?

Ta

Tim

gregrocker · 29 Mar 2012

Where in your original post does it say you ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor?
Do not insult me by asking if I even read your post because none of my suggestions were referenced in it at all.

You are looking for the last entry in the log files to tell you what it is hanging upon.

I also told you how to enter the Device Manager during install to uninstall any driver which shows in error. This solves installation hang in the later stages in many cases. But instead of asking back specific questions about how to get these specific steps done you chose to insult me which will get you no further help if you don't change your tone pronto.

b1gt1m · 31 Mar 2012

Allo Gregrocker, I'm sorry I've offended you, it's not a question of 'if' cos I can clearly see that I have. Please don't be insulted as I'm honestly not trying to insult anyone - I'm the one goin bald with insanity with the problems here - I'm the one asking for help from you, an individual with a much a better vocabulary and more knowledge than I and I can see you've clearly been reading my replys too. I ran the upgrade advisor before attempted an upgrade, the report stated the following :

The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task, and then restart the upgrade to continue.

Windows needs to be restarted so necessary changes to system files can be made before continuing.

Upgrading Windows will affect the following features:

Windows Vista Ultimate Extras have been discontinued and will no longer be available after upgrading to Windows 7.

Upgrading Windows will affect the following devices and/or programs:

These programs might not work properly after the upgrade. We recommend uninstalling these programs before upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, open Control Panel, and search for "uninstall a program". (Note: Programs marked as * can be safely reinstalled after the upgrade.)

- ATI CATALYST Install Manager *
- ATI Catalyst Control Center *

So I did. Exactly as I was asked, and it still rolled back. :-( Still, I'll try an do it again, but I'll run Device Manager as you said, I'll keep you posted on the outcome. ;-)

Thanx in advance.

gregrocker · 31 Mar 2012

If you uninstalled Catalyst it may still be your DIsplay device or driver which is hanging install. Do you have a video card? Can you disable it to default to onboard graphics chip if you have one (but only if you have one?).

I would look at what Devices are in error by accessing Device Manager during install using the tutorial given. If none are apparent, uninstall the Display driver given if it is not Standard VGA driver to see if Upgrade will complete.

b1gt1m · 01 May 2012

Allo GregRocker! It has been a while hasn't it... well, I've had a lot on so y'know how it goes. Well, anyway I've bit the bullet and installed a full NOT the upg version of Windows 7 and guess what? It worked 1st time and boot's up like a bolt of lightning!!! Now, I've installed my video/sound/monitor drivers and they all work great flawlessly. The thing thats bugging me now is moving over the entire user account from what was Vista C:\User and into Windows 7 C:\Library or User or what have you. How do I go about this, I've done the basics like Music, Video, Pictures but the rest?

Thanx in advance

Tim

b1gt1m · 01 May 2012

By the way, I DIDN'T do anything to the HDD, just ran W7 Setup and installed it on the HDD, the Vista Dir is now 'Windows.old' - just thought i should tell you. ;-)

gregrocker · 01 May 2012

You don't need a full version to Clean Install Win7. You qualify for Upgrade version with Vista and can clean install with it to save all of the extra money for full version. If you have already bought full version you can always move it to a machine where you don't have a qualifying Vista or XP for Upgrade version.

Easiest method is to open your backed up User folders, on Organize tab Select All, then drag the group to the corresponding User folder in the Explorer bar at left - Libraries are fine and just a shortcut way to get to User folders . Don't release the left click until Explorer unfolds and you have hypertext confirming where it's being copied.

If you have loose data I'd sort it into User folders for easiest access. If you have a storage partition you can rightclick on folders/files there to link to Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums

b1gt1m · 13 May 2012

Hiya! Great news, I've successfully installed Windows 7, transferred all me Vista stuff I wanted to keep and completely wiped Vista from my HDD! All done, very happy!
Thanx for the support!

Tim