Microsoft KB Archive/933164

Knowledge Base

The upgrade option is not available when you try to upgrade a computer to Windows Vista, and you receive the following message: "You must rename or remove <FolderName> before upgrade can continue"

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 FolderName before upgrade can continue.

Note In this error message, one of the following folders appears instead of FolderName:

• 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:
   • Search system folders
   • Search hidden files and folders
   • Search system folders
5. 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.)
6. 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 "_old" 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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