Microsoft KB Archive/283069

Knowledge Base

You receive a "Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1: %2" error message after you install a new program or update a program on a computer that is running Windows Millennium Edition

Article ID: 283069

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

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This article was previously published under Q283069

SYMPTOMS

On a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), you install a new program or update a program. When you then restart the computer, the computer may stop responding. You may also receive the following error message:

Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1: %2

In this situation, the contents of the Wininit.err file indicate that the program cannot write to the _RESTORE folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

1. Insert the Windows Millennium Edition startup floppy disk, and then restart the computer.
   
   If you do not have a Windows Millennium Edition startup disk, visit the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   267287 How to create a startup disk in Windows Me

2. At a command prompt, type c:, and then press ENTER.
3. Type attrib -r -s -h _RESTORE, and then press ENTER.
4. Type ren _RESTORE oldrest, and then press ENTER.
5. Type exit, and then press ENTER.
6. Remove the startup disk, and then restart the computer.
7. Click Start, click Run, type explorer in the Open box, and then click OK.
8. Locate and then right-click the C:\Oldrest folder.
9. Click Delete, and then click Yes.
10. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
11. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Performance tab, and then click File System.
12. Click the Troubleshooting tab, and then click to select the Disable System Restore check box.
13. Click Apply, click Close two times, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
14. Repeat steps 10 and 11.
15. Click the Troubleshooting tab, and then click to clear the Disable System Restore check box.
16. Click Apply, click Close, and then click File System.
17. In the Settings area, drag the System Restore disk space use slider to the minimum setting of 200 MB.
18. Click Apply, click OK, click Close, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
19. Reinstall the new program or update the program that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section again.

Method 2

1. Disable the System Restore feature and delete the contents of the _RESTORE folder. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Right-click the My Computer icon on the Windows desktop, and then click Properties.
   2. On the Performance tab, click File System.
   3. On the Troubleshooting tab, click to select Disable System Restore.
   4. Click Apply, click Close two times, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
2. Extract a new copy of the Wininit.exe file. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and then click OK.
   2. Click Extract File.
   3. Type driver:\WINDOWS\wininit.exe in the box, and then click Start.
   4. In the Restore from box, type driver:\WINDOWS\Options\Install or locate the Win9x directory on the Windows Millennium Edition CD-ROM.
   5. Click OK and follow remaining prompts.
3. Verify that the problem that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section has been resolved. If the problem is resolved, re-enable the System Restore feature. To do this, repeat step 1, but click to clear Disable System Restore in step 1c.

MORE INFORMATION

The Wininit.err file is located in the C:\Windows folder, where C is the drive letter of the drive where the system is installed.

When this problem occurs, the _RESTORE folder is larger than the folder should be. The _RESTORE folder is located at the root level of the drive where the system is installed. The _RESTORE folder may be hidden. To view hidden folders and files, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type explorer, and then click OK.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the View tab.
4. In the Advanced settings group box, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

For more information about the System Restore utility in Windows Me, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

267951 Description of the System Restore utility in Windows Millennium Edition

For more information about how to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

279736 How to start the System Restore tool from a command prompt

For more information about how to enable and disable System Restore, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

264887 How to enable and disable System Restore

For more information about the compatibility of Norton System Works 2000 with Windows Me, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290664 Norton System Works 2000 is not compatible with Windows Millennium Edition

Additional query words: wmehemjul upgrade %1 %2 no boot wininit.ini homegame games DirectX End-User runtime components

Keywords: kbtshoot kberrmsg KB283069

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