Microsoft KB Archive Search

Notice: This website is an unofficial Microsoft Knowledge Base (hereinafter KB) archive and is intended to provide a reliable access to deleted content from Microsoft KB. All KB articles are owned by Microsoft Corporation. Read full disclaimer for more details.

  1. Home
  2. You cannot select the Upgrade option when you try to install Windows Vista, and you receive the following message: "You must rename or remove <FolderName> before upgrade can continue"

You cannot select the Upgrade option when you try to install Windows Vista, and you receive the following message: "You must rename or remove <FolderName> before upgrade can continue"

View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

When you try to install Windows Vista, you cannot select the Upgrade option that is located in the Install Windows dialog box. Additionally, you receive the following error message in the dialog box:

Upgrade has been disabled

- You must rename or remove <FolderName> before upgrade can continue.
Note In the error message, <FolderName> represents one of the following folders:
  • Windows
  • Users
  • ProgramData

↑ Back to the top

Cause

This problem may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
  • You are trying to upgrade a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer.
  • Your current Windows directory is not named Windows. Also, another folder that is named Windows exists on the computer.
  • A Users folder exists on the same drive as the Windows directory.
  • A ProgramData folder exists on the same drive as the Windows directory.

↑ Back to the top

Resolution

To resolve this problem, check for one of the folders that are mentioned in the "Symptoms" section. Then, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Rename the folder. To rename the folder, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click <FolderName>, and then click Rename.
  2. Type <FolderName>_old, and then press ENTER.
  3. Restart the Windows Vista setup from your current version of Windows.
Method 2

Delete the folder. To delete the folder, follow these steps:
  1. Use a backup program, such as the Backup utility for Windows that is included with Windows XP, to back up the folder. For more information about how to use the Backup utility for Window XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    308422 How to use Backup to back up files and folders on your computer in Windows XP
  2. Right-click <FolderName>, and then click Delete.
  3. Click Yes on the Confirm Folder Delete dialog box.
  4. Restart the Windows Vista setup from your current version of Windows.

↑ Back to the top

Keywords: kbexpertisebeginner, kbtshoot, kbbug, kbprb, KB927297

↑ Back to the top

Article Info
Article ID : 927297
Revision : 9
Created on : 3/15/2007
Published on : 3/15/2007
Exists online : False
Views : 525