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windows cannot upgrade %1 to %2

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James B

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Jul 29, 2004, 10:18:09 AM7/29/04
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I have just finished installing something on my
computer but when i restarted the computer it says windows
cannot upgrade %1 to %2. It had happened before but
usually took at least 15 mins. before it started working
again. Now it doesn't even start. All it says is windows
could upgrade %1 to %2. I don't even know hows it caused.
I used to think it was the ram but, I installed new ram
but its still the same! I tried to restart and everything
else but doesnt even let me get to the start menu. Its
like I'm stuck with a computer that doesn't start. Please
help because I dont want to lose all my files.
-Help
James


Mike M

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Jul 29, 2004, 1:51:35 PM7/29/04
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James,

Your "Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2" error:

First boot to DOS using a floppy and check whether you have a WININIT.INI
file in your C:\WINDOWS folder. If present rename it to something like
wininit.old and try booting again. It is also probable that you will have to
repeat the last software install or update that you made. See MS KB283069 -
"Error Message: Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2
(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=283069).

If you can't find a wininit.ini file then I suspect your problem is due to the
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder having around 64K files in it which is the limit
(2**16) for the number of files that can be located in a folder using the
FAT32 filing system. This then results in the "Cannot upgrade file %1 from
%2.." message when booting. I suggest you try deleting the _RESTORE folder
with the loss of any system restore checkpoints you might have (not that I
think they are now usable) and see if that solves the problem. Delete the
folder as follows:
a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or without)
CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be available.
b) At the DOS A:\> prompt, type:

ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
and then
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC

Another problem is that the update you were doing was never completed so your
system may still be unusable and the update repeated.

e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more than adequate
for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be available
although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during periods of
large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcma...@hotmail.com

rook

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Aug 5, 2004, 4:11:27 AM8/5/04
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go to microsft.com articles q283069 and see if this helps
>.
>

Mike M

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Aug 5, 2004, 7:30:24 AM8/5/04
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Which is what I posted in the first paragraph of my reply.

However for the majority of users of Win Me the "Windows Could Not Upgrade the
File %1 from %2 %1: % 2" error is more often the result of system restore
being broken and the _RESTORE\TEMP folder being full.
--
Mike Maltby
mcma...@hotmail.com

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