Error Message:“Setup has disabled the upgrade option, could not load the file D:\ i386\Win9xupg\W95upg.dll. Setup cannot continue, because this version can only install as an upgrade.”

Error Message: When upgrading from Win98/Me to WinXP, you get the following message during setup: “Setup has disabled the upgrade option, could not load the file D:\i386\Win9xupg\W95upg.dll. Setup cannot continue, because this version can only install as an upgrade.” During the installation, Windows XP’s Setup program prompts you to check Microsoft’s Web site for updated installation files. This is a good option to choose and ensures a trouble-free installation. To perform a clean boot, choose Selective Startup in the System Configuration Utility’s General tab and uncheck all the checkboxes to minimize the number of files processed and loaded by Windows at boot time. Translation: As the message implies, this issue occurs because the Setup program mistakenly assumes the upgrade option is not valid for your software. This occurs in spite of the fact that you are eligible for an upgrade because you are obviously installing on top of an existing Windows installation. Solution: There are two solutions to this problem that Microsoft suggests. First, clean boot your computer and try to run Setup after the boot process completes. The other solution is to copy the i386 folder from the WinXP installation CD to a folder on your hard drive. If you’re already in Windows, simply use Windows Explorer to browse to the i386 folder in your WinXP installation CD,right-click the folder, and click Copy. Browse to a location on your hard drive, right-click,and click Paste. The copy process might take a few minutes because you are transferring a large amount of data when you do this.