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General discussion

Upgrading from XP Pro To vista

by bddan Jan 4, 2008 3:48AM PST

I tried to search around and see if I could find an answer to my question, but I couldn't find anything, if I overlooked it I apologize.

I am running Windows XP Pro, and I have gotten a NTLDR Error. I know its a simple fix, just booting up to Recovery console in XP and copying over the NTLDR file, my issue is that I have missed place my Windows XP CD in a recent move, I have purchased Windows Vista recently, but have been reluctant to upgrade, my question is, can I upgrade windows XP to Vista if XP is having the NTLDR error, or am I going to have to format the drive and install Vista fresh? There is some information I would hate to lose, so I hope that a full format wont be needed.

Discussion is locked

2 Posts

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Why not find another PC with Windows XP and copy the file?

by Kees Bakker Jan 4, 2008 3:54AM PST

There are some 100.000.000 of it around, or more.

Kees

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Problematic...

by John.Wilkinson Jan 4, 2008 5:13AM PST

An upgrade installation of Vista can only be done from within the existing OS, not by booting to the DVD, so that's not an option for you as a result of the NTLDR problem.

Now, you could choose the clean installation option while booting from DVD, do not reformat, and the files from your current installation are usually, but not always, backed up into a Windows.OLD folder on your hard drive.

Personally, I'd connect the hard drive to another computer, internally or in an external enclosure, and copy those important files off. (Take ownership as needed.) Then run a clean install, checking afterward to see what, if anything, was saved.

John

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