Let me start by saying that I know Vista will run on my Dell Dimension 2400 desktop
I've had Vista installed before but I did a clean installation. Now I want to upgrade
from a new clean XP SP2 installation that I've added some software to that wouldn't
install on Vista.

I get zero compatibility issues but the installation quits after gathering files.
I get the error:



I searched online and found the following info from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930984#appliesto

It appears that maybe the problem is with my MSI combo drive (X52). I got the firmware for the drive and flashed it.
The drive is secondary slave and I had it installed by a computer shop. The original CD-RW drive is set up as secondary master.

I tried to upgrade again but still got the same error at the same point in the installation

Checking compatibility (ok no problems)
Copying Windows files (ok)
Gathering files (ok)
Expanding files(No way Jose)

Microsoft says to use a flat installation as a workaround. I don't have an extra hard drive so I tried using the
other partition on my hard drive without success. I also tried using my iPod like an external hard drive but I
couldn't run the Setup.exe from either of these.

I tried to upgrade from the DVD again and now I get a new error code:



I deleted some the Uprgade folder created by the Vista Upgrade disk and tried to install again from the DVD
This time I got the first error again.

What should I do now?

It looks like I really need some other installation method. I can't figure out why though.
I could try installing over a network from my laptop that has Vista running on it already.
I could try switching the problematic combo drive to Secondary Master and flashing the drive again with firmware.
Any other suggestions?

I've used eventvwr.exe
I found one event that seems to come up around the time of the installation
Source: MSDTC
Category: TM
Type: information
basically it just says that MSDTC started and the settings it started with. No real help.




PS
Windows Upgrade Advisor doesn't work for some reason even though I have the latest version.

burn ur vista image on a higher quality DVD, the same error happend to me and thats how i fixed!

What do you mean you couldn't make a flat with another partition? What part failed?

-gosh

When I tried the flat installation from the other partition the error happened immediately.
I can't remember the exact error.
I had an eye exam that day and the doctor asked why I looked so tired and out of it.
I told him I'ld spent hours on the computer trying to install Vista various ways.
He pointed out that Vista may look prettier but it runs slower and it has all kinds of annoying questions.
i.e. Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you're sure? etc.
After that I decided I'ld rather not waste my vision on something that takes twice as long to start-up.
I installed VistaStartMenu (free), copied a wallpaper from Vista, and changed my desktop appearance
to the silver setting. Now it looks and feels almost as cool as Vista but without all the annoying pop-ups

Youre right that vista sucks, but microsoft is still a monopoly and whether you like it or not eventually everyone will have to use vista.

-gosh

Look dont do a upgrade thats crap.
Start from scratch it's the best way to go.