Microsoft KB Archive/933164

= The upgrade option is not available when you try to upgrade a computer to Windows Vista, and you receive the following message: &quot;You must rename or remove  before upgrade can continue&quot; =

Article ID: 933164

Article Last Modified on 3/20/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition

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This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.



Symptoms of the problem
When you try to upgrade a computer to Windows Vista, the upgrade option is not available. You receive the following message:

Upgrade has been disabled.

You must rename or remove  before upgrade can continue.

Note In this error message, one of the following folders appears instead of :
 * Windows
 * Users
 * ProgramData



Steps to resolve the problem
To resolve this problem, rename the folder that is mentioned in the error message. To do this, follow these steps.

Step 1: Locate the folder
 * 1) Click Start, and then click Search on the Start menu.
 * 2) In the Search Companion area of the Search Results window, click All files and folders.
 * 3) In the Search Companion area of the Search Results window, click More advanced options.
 * 4) Under More advanced options, click to select the following check boxes:
 * 5) * Search system folders
 * 6) * Search hidden files and folders
 * 7) * Search system folders
 * 8) In All or part of the file name type the folder name. (All or part of the file name is near the top of the Search Companion area.)
 * 9) Click Search.

Step 2: Rename the folder
 * 1) In the search results, right-click the folder that appeared in the message, and then click Rename.
 * 2) Type a new name for the folder, and then press ENTER.

Note A good way to rename the folder is to add &quot;_old&quot; to the end of the folder name.

Step 3: Try to upgrade the computer to Windows Vista again
 * 1) Make sure that the Windows Vista DVD is not in the computer, and then restart the computer.
 * 2) Insert the Windows Vista DVD in the computer's disc drive.
 * 3) If the Windows Vista installation program does not start automatically, right-click My Computer, click Open, double-click the disc drive in the My Computer window, and then double-click Startup.exe in the list of files.
 * 4) In the Windows Vista installation program window, click Upgrade.

Keywords: kbceip kbnomt kbexpertisebeginner kbtshoot KB933164

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