setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

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laurie_g

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I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message

"setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your computer is
newer than the version on the cd"

I have changed my boot order to start from CD. I am using the restoration
CDs that came with each pc, (I have even tried a stand alone cd), however,
once prompted to press any key to boot from CD, Windows just starts up again.
I have reformatted many machines in the past and this has NEVER happened
before (oddly I get two in the same day).

HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
partition and do a clean install??

Laurie
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
>partition and do a clean install??


They are Dell restore CDs that will put the machine back into the same
condition that it was when it was first purchased.

Why your machine won't boot to them is definitely strange.

Check the Dell documentation so see how to use those CDs. Make sure
that they are pristinely clean.
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

thanks, haven't found anything on dell site yet, but still looking. did come
across some interesting info about creating a "slipstream" cd.

i thought the cd might have been damaged too, but THREE of them??! The drive
is working fine -- can read from and burn without any problems otherwise.

will keep looking...





"PD43" wrote:

> laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
> >partition and do a clean install??

>
> They are Dell restore CDs that will put the machine back into the same
> condition that it was when it was first purchased.
>
> Why your machine won't boot to them is definitely strange.
>
> Check the Dell documentation so see how to use those CDs. Make sure
> that they are pristinely clean.
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on yourc

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on yourc

laurie_g wrote:
> thanks, haven't found anything on dell site yet, but still looking. did come
> across some interesting info about creating a "slipstream" cd.
>
> i thought the cd might have been damaged too, but THREE of them??! The drive
> is working fine -- can read from and burn without any problems otherwise.
>
> will keep looking...
>
>
>
>
>
> "PD43" wrote:
>
>> laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>>> HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
>>> partition and do a clean install??

>> They are Dell restore CDs that will put the machine back into the same
>> condition that it was when it was first purchased.
>>
>> Why your machine won't boot to them is definitely strange.
>>
>> Check the Dell documentation so see how to use those CDs. Make sure
>> that they are pristinely clean.
>>

There have to be downloads some place to make a dos boot disk floppy.
I see reference to them all the time in ug. If you can boot from A:
floppy with drivers to see the CD, you can do that maybe? 'drawing at
straws'.
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu



"laurie_g" <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:18704422-8E8F-4F57-AA4E-9E772B198E7D@microsoft.com...
>I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message
>
> "setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your computer is
> newer than the version on the cd"


At which step exactly did you see that message?

> I have changed my boot order to start from CD. I am using the restoration
> CDs that came with each pc,


AFAIK Dell doesn't give us restore CDs. Recovery image is stored in a hidden
partition on the HD. They provide (although sometimes we must ask/pay for
it) Restoration CD which is an Windows OEM setup CD.

> (I have even tried a stand alone cd), however,
> once prompted to press any key to boot from CD, Windows just starts up
> again.


Bad/scratched CD?? Bad CD drive??

> I have reformatted many machines in the past and this has NEVER happened
> before (oddly I get two in the same day).


Yep, that is odd.

> HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
> partition and do a clean install??


Perhaps you can try a different Reinstallation CD from Dell.
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>thanks, haven't found anything on dell site yet, but still looking. did come
>across some interesting info about creating a "slipstream" cd.


Can't do that with a Dell Restore CD. It CAN be done with any of a
number of the XP CDs from Microsoft.

>i thought the cd might have been damaged too, but THREE of them??!


Unlikely.

Still, there has to be something obvious that is being overlooked that
is keeping you from booting to them if you've properly set the BIOS to
boot from the CD first.

On my system, I don't have to hit any key to boot from the CD. It
boots automatically if a bootable CD is in the drive.

Are you sure that you're hitting a key quickly enough to start the
boot?
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

"John" <a> wrote:

>
>"laurie_g" <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:18704422-8E8F-4F57-AA4E-9E772B198E7D@microsoft.com...
>>I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message
>>
>> "setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your computer is
>> newer than the version on the cd"

>
>At which step exactly did you see that message?


KNOW WHAT? I missed that.

That message won't come from a "restore CD". But it WILL come if
someone is trying to do a REPAIR INSTALL using a MS XP CD that doesn't
have SP2 included, and the system being repaired has SP2 installed.

FESS UP "laurie_g"!!
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

I am using the "Reinstallation CD for Microsoft Windows XP Professional" that
came with the PC from Dell. I have a lab FULL of these machines and have used
these CDs several times without ever having this issue.

The two machines in question will not boot from the CD (and yes I am hitting
a key fast enough to trigger a cd boot) :)

Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option from
setup on the CD, -- this is where I got the "setup cannot continue because
the version of windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd"
message. It does not allow me continue even though this is what I want to do.
I have the option to Cancel or Details -- when I click Details it tells me to
change the boot order and boot from the cd ... blah blah blah --- and here we
are again!




"PD43" wrote:

> "John" <a> wrote:
>
> >
> >"laurie_g" <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:18704422-8E8F-4F57-AA4E-9E772B198E7D@microsoft.com...
> >>I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message
> >>
> >> "setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your computer is
> >> newer than the version on the cd"

> >
> >At which step exactly did you see that message?

>
> KNOW WHAT? I missed that.
>
> That message won't come from a "restore CD". But it WILL come if
> someone is trying to do a REPAIR INSTALL using a MS XP CD that doesn't
> have SP2 included, and the system being repaired has SP2 installed.
>
> FESS UP "laurie_g"!!
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option from
>setup on the CD, -- this is where I got the "setup cannot continue because
>the version of windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd"
>message. It does not allow me continue even though this is what I want to do.


WAIT A MINUTE!

It "wouldn't boot", yet you are able to try "install windows"???

IT BOOTED!

I still say you are somehow trying to run a repair install instead of
a clean install. Maybe that Dell disk won't allow a clean install???
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option from
>setup on the CD, -- this is where I got the "setup cannot continue because
>the version of windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd"
>message.


Question: did you do that from WITHIN Windows?

I feel like a kid twirling around in circles to get dizzy... except
that I'm not twirling <g>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c


"laurie_g" <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5FA299C6-645C-4659-A841-7DFAC9AD3729@microsoft.com...
>I am using the "Reinstallation CD for Microsoft Windows XP Professional"
>that
> came with the PC from Dell.


Just as I thought, it's not a recovery disk. By "recovery disk" I meant a
CD/DVD that contains factory shipped image that you can restore onto HD.

> I have a lab FULL of these machines and have used
> these CDs several times without ever having this issue.


I've never seen that problem either. I've always been able to use Dell
reinstallation CD to partition, format and install WinXP regardless what
data is in the HD.

> Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option
> from
> setup on the CD,


Ummm... do you mean you boot to Windows XP (on the HD), pop reinstall CD in
the drive, autorun kicks in and you try to install Windows??
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

laurie_g wrote:
> I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message
>
> "setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your
> computer is newer than the version on the cd"
>
> I have changed my boot order to start from CD. I am using the
> restoration CDs


<snip>

We've established elsewhere in this thread that these are
(re-)installation CDs, not recovery CDs (a different animal). :-)

> that came with each pc, (I have even tried a stand alone cd),


I'm not really sure what you mean by a "stand alone cd."

> however, once prompted to press any key to boot from CD,
> Windows just starts up again.


It sounds like you didn't press the key! Or perhaps there's something
wrong with your keyboard.

> I have reformatted many machines in the
> past and this has NEVER happened before (oddly I get two in the same
> day).
>
> HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete
> the partition and do a clean install??


It sounds like you were trying to perform a repair install (not a clean
install). The message you mentioned will come up if the version of
Windows on your PC is newer than the version on the CD. For example, the
PC has XP with Service Pack 2, but the disk is only for SP 1. For those
who want to perform a repair install in this type of situation, there
are two choices:

1. Uninstall SP2. Run the repair install, Reinstall SP2.

2. Make a *new* installation disk, slipstreaming SP2 along with the
files from your original disk. Since Dell disks are a little different
than regular installation disks, sometimes the slipstream won't go as
expected. Many times people give up and just opt for method 1. If you
ever do want to try the slipstream method, here is some information:

http://vbdotnet.home.comcast.net/~vbdotnet/XP_SP2.htm

If you want to perform a clean install, this is a very good guide:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Good luck.
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

No, it will not "boot to the cd" in order to do a clean install (delete
partition, create partition, install)... instead it bypasses that part and
boots to windows where I can "run" the cd and select "install windows" (this
is where i get the error that setup cannot continue because the version of
windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd".

I NEED to completely reformat and start fresh, but i am unable to do that
because it won't boot to the CD.



"PD43" wrote:

> laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option from
> >setup on the CD, -- this is where I got the "setup cannot continue because
> >the version of windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd"
> >message. It does not allow me continue even though this is what I want to do.

>
> WAIT A MINUTE!
>
> It "wouldn't boot", yet you are able to try "install windows"???
>
> IT BOOTED!
>
> I still say you are somehow trying to run a repair install instead of
> a clean install. Maybe that Dell disk won't allow a clean install???
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Yes, that's all the cd would let me do. I can install a new copy of windows
but I cannot reformat the drive - which is what i want to do.


YOU feel dizzy!! My head is spinning!! :)



"PD43" wrote:

> laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option from
> >setup on the CD, -- this is where I got the "setup cannot continue because
> >the version of windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd"
> >message.

>
> Question: did you do that from WITHIN Windows?
>
> I feel like a kid twirling around in circles to get dizzy... except
> that I'm not twirling <g>
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>No, it will not "boot to the cd" in order to do a clean install (delete
>partition, create partition, install)... instead it bypasses that part and
>boots to windows where I can "run" the cd and select "install windows" (this
>is where i get the error that setup cannot continue because the version of
>windows on your pc is newer than the version on the cd".


Apparently that option is setup to run a "repair installation" because
such a message NORMALLY comes when one tries same from a MS CD.

>I NEED to completely reformat and start fresh, but i am unable to do that
>because it won't boot to the CD.


It sure sounds as if your CD is "proprietary"... it certainly doesn't
seem to conform to what most everyone here is used to.

Have you given Dell a call??? <hint>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c


"John" wrote:

>
> "laurie_g" <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5FA299C6-645C-4659-A841-7DFAC9AD3729@microsoft.com...
> >I am using the "Reinstallation CD for Microsoft Windows XP Professional"
> >that
> > came with the PC from Dell.

>
> Just as I thought, it's not a recovery disk. By "recovery disk" I meant a
> CD/DVD that contains factory shipped image that you can restore onto HD.


No it is the "Reinstallation CD" - I've never had trouble before this.
>
> > I have a lab FULL of these machines and have used
> > these CDs several times without ever having this issue.

>
> I've never seen that problem either. I've always been able to use Dell
> reinstallation CD to partition, format and install WinXP regardless what
> data is in the HD.


Exactly, me either.
>
> > Since the cd wouldn't boot, I tried using the "install Windows" option
> > from
> > setup on the CD,

>
> Ummm... do you mean you boot to Windows XP (on the HD), pop reinstall CD in
> the drive, autorun kicks in and you try to install Windows??


I put the "Reinstallation CD" in the drive.
My boot sequence is set to the cd drive (I've even disabled the hard drive
in setup and windows still boots bypassing the cd)
When the screen says "press any key to boot to cd"... i press Enter (or
spacebar or any other key)
and still Windows boots...

I have tried uninstalling XP SP2 and trying the sequence all over to no avail.

I thought it was just a fluke on one pc but now i have two that are giving
me this grief!

I have even created a "slipstream" cd which integrates the version of XP
that is on my reinstallation cd with XP SP 2... it is a bootable cd but still
won't boot to it.

very very frustrating!!




>
>
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

For the nth time, you don't normally need a CD to restore the Dell to the
factory condition. When you boot up and press Ctrl-F11, it will execute
that program. Just keep in mind if/when you do this, you'll lose
everything added since that time, so it's pretty much a last resort.

PD43 wrote:
> laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete the
>> partition and do a clean install??

>
> They are Dell restore CDs that will put the machine back into the same
> condition that it was when it was first purchased.
>
> Why your machine won't boot to them is definitely strange.
>
> Check the Dell documentation so see how to use those CDs. Make sure
> that they are pristinely clean.
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

laurie_g <laurieg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Yes, that's all the cd would let me do. I can install a new copy of windows
>but I cannot reformat the drive - which is what i want to do.


Installing a "new copy of windows" means WHAT? That you can install a
SECOND copy?

NORMALLY installing a "new copy" will wipe the drive and install it...
i.e., there is no need to format first.


>YOU feel dizzy!! My head is spinning!! :)


Mine is now about to explode!! ;->
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c

Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your c



"Daave" wrote:

> laurie_g wrote:
> > I have two dell GX280's and BOTH of them are giving me this message
> >
> > "setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your
> > computer is newer than the version on the cd"
> >
> > I have changed my boot order to start from CD. I am using the
> > restoration CDs

>
> <snip>
>
> We've established elsewhere in this thread that these are
> (re-)installation CDs, not recovery CDs (a different animal). :-)
>
> > that came with each pc, (I have even tried a stand alone cd),

>
> I'm not really sure what you mean by a "stand alone cd."


Just a fresh copy of Windows XP purchased directly from Microsoft - it did
not come with any PC.



>
> > however, once prompted to press any key to boot from CD,
> > Windows just starts up again.

>
> It sounds like you didn't press the key! Or perhaps there's something
> wrong with your keyboard.


Nope, i PRESSED... nothing wrong with the keyboard. Remember it is happening
on 2 different PCs (albeit both of them are the same GX260 animal)


>
> > I have reformatted many machines in the
> > past and this has NEVER happened before (oddly I get two in the same
> > day).
> >
> > HOW can I get these machines to boot from the CD in order to delete
> > the partition and do a clean install??

>
> It sounds like you were trying to perform a repair install (not a clean
> install).


NO I am trying to do a clean install - but was running out of options and
willing to try anything to get this stupid thing to reformat. that's where
the error message appeared when trying to run from windows.

The message you mentioned will come up if the version of
> Windows on your PC is newer than the version on the CD. For example, the
> PC has XP with Service Pack 2, but the disk is only for SP 1. For those
> who want to perform a repair install in this type of situation, there
> are two choices:
>
> 1. Uninstall SP2. Run the repair install, Reinstall SP2.


Tried that... didn't work. Still won't boot to CD.


>
> 2. Make a *new* installation disk, slipstreaming SP2 along with the
> files from your original disk. Since Dell disks are a little different
> than regular installation disks, sometimes the slipstream won't go as
> expected. Many times people give up and just opt for method 1. If you
> ever do want to try the slipstream method, here is some information:


tried that too... still no luck.


>
> http://vbdotnet.home.comcast.net/~vbdotnet/XP_SP2.htm
>
> If you want to perform a clean install, this is a very good guide:
>
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>
> Good luck.
>



Thanks, will check out last link and see if there is anything i have yet to
try.


>
>
 
Re: setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>For the nth time, you don't normally need a CD to restore the Dell to the
>factory condition. When you boot up and press Ctrl-F11, it will execute
>that program. Just keep in mind if/when you do this, you'll lose
>everything added since that time, so it's pretty much a last resort.


Let's HOPE this ends the discussion and helps our damsel in distress
(who has used a CD umpteen times in the past).

I build my own computers - have done that since '93 - so I have no
expertise with Dell.
 
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