unsuccessful windows vista beta 2 installation

My 3rd attempt: I re-downloaded the ISO file but used a different download manger which I downloaded from Cnet,,com called "Free Download Manager 2.0. The download was successful and using my Nero 7 software I burned it to DVD successfully. I ran the tool that Microsoft provides to see if my machine could run VISTA and it said yes. I attempted the installation again. Before copying files it told me that I would need to get updated versions for my programs: Power DVD, Check For Real Player Update, Real Player, Rhapsody, and my newly purchased "Windows Live One Care", after VISTA installation. It also warned me that my 1394 Net Adapter and 1394 Net Adapter#2 will not work and instructed me to get updated drivers from the manufacturer. My machine has an AMD Athlon cpu that runs at 1.53 Ghz, 768 MB RAM, ATI Radeon 9550 256MB 4/8x AGP Video Card, Creative Audigy 2Z Audio Card running Windows XP2 Home Edition. So, I inserted the newly burned installation DVD and to my surprise it actually copied all windows files 100% with no error messages. It did take a long time to do so, but it did it. It then proceeded to complete the rest of the list of the installation. It finally got to the point where it was finalizing the upgrade and at the very end it said "The upgrade was unsuccessful" and it restored my PC back to XP. So what went wrong this time? I have no clue.
My first attempt was with DVD and 2nd attempt was from files copied to file on my desktop.

Can you install to a separate partition or hard drive? If this is your primary XP installation you should not be upgrading it anyway. There is no rollback if you do. If you only have one drive and only have the XP partition on it then you should not attempt using Vista Beta 2. It is not a suitable replacement for your XP yet.
You have good information here. Be sure to send the feedback to MS.
"Cacique" wrote in message

My 3rd attempt: I re-downloaded the ISO file but used a different download manger which I downloaded from Cnet,,com called "Free Download Manager 2.0. The download was successful and using my Nero 7 software I burned it to DVD successfully. I ran the tool that Microsoft provides to see if my machine could run VISTA and it said yes. I attempted the installation again. Before copying files it told me that I would need to get updated versions for my programs: Power DVD, Check For Real Player Update, Real Player, Rhapsody, and my newly purchased "Windows Live One Care", after VISTA installation. It also warned me that my 1394 Net Adapter and 1394 Net Adapter#2 will not work and instructed me to get updated drivers from the manufacturer. My machine has an AMD Athlon cpu that runs at 1.53 Ghz, 768 MB RAM, ATI Radeon 9550 256MB 4/8x AGP Video Card, Creative Audigy 2Z Audio Card running Windows XP2 Home Edition. So, I inserted the newly burned installation DVD and to my surprise it actually copied all windows files 100% with no error messages. It did take a long time to do so, but it did it. It then proceeded to complete the rest of the list of the installation. It finally got to the point where it was finalizing the upgrade and at the very end it said "The upgrade was unsuccessful" and it restored my PC back to XP. So what went wrong this time? I have no clue.
My first attempt was with DVD and 2nd attempt was from files copied to file on my desktop.

Try disconnecting all external peripherals before the upgrade (i.e. all USB devices other than keyboard/mouse, including printers, card readers, external drives, etc.)
Jeff Warren
"Cacique" wrote in message

My 3rd attempt: I re-downloaded the ISO file but used a different download manger which I downloaded from Cnet,,com called "Free Download Manager 2.0. The download was successful and using my Nero 7 software I burned it to DVD successfully. I ran the tool that Microsoft provides to see if my machine could run VISTA and it said yes. I attempted the installation again. Before copying files it told me that I would need to get updated versions for my programs: Power DVD, Check For Real Player Update, Real Player, Rhapsody, and my newly purchased "Windows Live One Care", after VISTA installation. It also warned me that my 1394 Net Adapter and 1394 Net Adapter#2 will not work and instructed me to get updated drivers from the manufacturer. My machine has an AMD Athlon cpu that runs at 1.53 Ghz, 768 MB RAM, ATI Radeon 9550 256MB 4/8x AGP Video Card, Creative Audigy 2Z Audio Card running Windows XP2 Home Edition. So, I inserted the newly burned installation DVD and to my surprise it actually copied all windows files 100% with no error messages. It did take a long time to do so, but it did it. It then proceeded to complete the rest of the list of the installation. It finally got to the point where it was finalizing the upgrade and at the very end it said "The upgrade was unsuccessful" and it restored my PC back to XP. So what went wrong this time? I have no clue.
My first attempt was with DVD and 2nd attempt was from files copied to file on my desktop.