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Installation error - SU0173



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 8th 07, 11:07 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
calum
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 6
Default Installation error - SU0173

I'm trying to re-install Win Me onto an old laptop and keep getting the error
code SU0173 and a message telling me that I need a different version of the
OS. Is there any way to fix this? The error doesn't appear in the list of
SU codes available on Microsoft's site.

thanks,
calum
  #2  
Old June 8th 07, 11:37 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
Mike M
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,047
Default Installation error - SU0173

calum wrote:

I'm trying to re-install Win Me onto an old laptop and keep getting
the error code SU0173 and a message telling me that I need a
different version of the OS. Is there any way to fix this? The
error doesn't appear in the list of SU codes available on Microsoft's
site.


What is the Full Text of the error message please? Does the laptop have
an operating system currently installed , in other words are you trying to
upgrade from say Win 98SE or is it "clean"? What media are you using to
install Win Me and what was its source? For example is it a full
Microsoft copy of Win Me or an OEM copy? If the latter it could be bios
locked to the make and model PC with which it was first sold.

You may also get more information by looking at the last few lines of the
file setuplog.txt in the root of C:\ that will have been created as part
of the installation.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows



  #3  
Old June 8th 07, 12:13 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
calum
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 6
Default Installation error - SU0173



"Mike M" wrote:

What is the Full Text of the error message please?


Sorry, I can't remember the exact wording but I'll verify it when I get home.

Does the laptop have an operating system currently installed , in other words are you trying to upgrade from say Win 98SE or is it "clean"?


Yes, it curently has Win Me and was already on the machine when I recieved
it. Its performance has degraded to level that I felt a fresh installation
was required. I'm using a genuine Microsoft Win Me CD which was supplied
with my old (and now dead) PC.

I choose the option to boot from CD and the installation begins. After
achieving around 10% installation, it halts with the given error code.

What media are you using to install Win Me and what was its source?


CD, from PC vendor.

thanks,
calum
  #4  
Old June 8th 07, 01:05 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
Mike M
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,047
Default Installation error - SU0173

I'm using a genuine Microsoft Win
Me CD which was supplied with my old (and now dead) PC.


Are you sure about that? Most if not all Win Me CDs supplied with new PCs
are what are known as OEM copies and in many cases can only be used to
install the operating system on PCs from the same manufacturer, possibly
even tighter than that, such as PCs having the same identical motherboard
and/or bios.

Reinstalling Win Me over itself. This is an area fraught with potential
problems. I hope you have taken the necessary steps before attempting
this such as removing, if installed, WMP9 (Win Me comes with WMP7) and IE6
(Win Me comes with IE5.5). If you don't do this then the system is going
to possibly be far worse after the reinstall than it ever was before due
to many of the files being incompatible with each other. You can remove
IE6, if installed, via Add/Remove Programs but no such luck with WMP9 and
the trick here is to rename the file wmploc.dll (found in the
windows\system folder) to wmploc.old which in most cases will then allow
the original WMP7 to install without problem. Of course, once Win Me is
reinstalled you can then upgrade WMP7 to WMP9 and IE5.5 to IE6 SP1.

So how to proceed? Well one way is to forget about the CD you have and to
reinstall Win Me using files that are already on the laptop and placed
there as part of the original Win Me installation. So having noted my
previous paragraph, using Windows Explorer look for the file BASE2.CAB
which by default should hopefully be located in either
C:\Windows\Options\Cabs (if originally installed from OEM media) or
C:\Windows\Options\Install (if originally installed from Microsoft media)
although some OEMs for reasons known only to themselves locate the cab
files elsewhere, sometimes even on a different partition. Once you have
located BASE2.CAB you should be able to locate a file setup.exe in the
same folder. Now boot to DOS using a floppy and at the DOS A:\ prompt
enter:
C:
then either
CD Windows\Options\Cabs
or
CD Windows\Options\Install
which depending on the location of setup.exe and then
SETUP.EXE
This should then start the reinstallation of Win Me.

Note that having reinstalled Win Me over itself you will need to reinstall
many of the various hotfixes and patches from the Windows Update site
although they may not appear as being required when you visit the Windows
Update site due to the various flags in the registry used to indicate that
the patches have been installed are still present following the reinstall
despite many of the original versions of the files having been restored.
I would therefore strongly urge you to download and run Belarc's Adviser
(http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html) as this will help you to
identify any updates that are broken and might need to be reinstalled.
Belarc uses a different mechanism to check than the Windows Update site.
One patch that you really need to ensure is installed is the 290700 patch
for system restore as without this system restore is dead in the water and
therefore unavailable to help you get out of any holes you might dig
yourself in to. Required patches not offered by the Windows Update site
can usually be obtained from the Windows Catalogue
(http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...n/default.asp).
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows



calum wrote:

"Mike M" wrote:

What is the Full Text of the error message please?


Sorry, I can't remember the exact wording but I'll verify it when I
get home.

Does the laptop have an operating system currently installed , in
other words are you trying to upgrade from say Win 98SE or is it
"clean"?


Yes, it curently has Win Me and was already on the machine when I
recieved it. Its performance has degraded to level that I felt a
fresh installation was required. I'm using a genuine Microsoft Win
Me CD which was supplied with my old (and now dead) PC.

I choose the option to boot from CD and the installation begins.
After achieving around 10% installation, it halts with the given
error code.

What media are you using to install Win Me and what was its source?


CD, from PC vendor.


  #5  
Old June 8th 07, 01:59 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
calum
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 6
Default Installation error - SU0173



"Mike M" wrote:

I'm using a genuine Microsoft Win
Me CD which was supplied with my old (and now dead) PC.


Are you sure about that?


It's designated as such and has the usual proclamation about not making
illegal copies.

Thank you, Mike, for such a quick and comprehensive answer. I can see how
my Friday evening is now going to be filled!

Calum


  #6  
Old June 8th 07, 02:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
Mike M
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,047
Default Installation error - SU0173

Calum,

It's designated as such and has the usual proclamation about not
making illegal copies.


Nevertheless I suspect that this is what is called an OEM copy, all the
more so given the SU error you report which is an OEM error and not one
generated by the basic retail setup. What is the part number of the CD
please? Forget it, I've just realised that my copy of Win Me is a
complimentary copy received for being a beta tester so its part number
differs from the retail version even though its contents is identical.

I can see how my Friday evening is now going to be filled!


I hope that all goes well. If not I'll keep an eye open for any posts you
might make to this newsgroup.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows



calum wrote:

I'm using a genuine Microsoft Win
Me CD which was supplied with my old (and now dead) PC.


Are you sure about that?


It's designated as such and has the usual proclamation about not
making illegal copies.

Thank you, Mike, for such a quick and comprehensive answer. I can
see how my Friday evening is now going to be filled!


  #7  
Old June 9th 07, 12:15 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
calum
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 6
Default Installation error - SU0173



"Mike M" wrote:

Nevertheless I suspect that this is what is called an OEM copy, all the
more so given the SU error you report which is an OEM error and not one
generated by the basic retail setup.


Mike,
I think you're right.

I tried your solution of reinstalling from base2.cab and, while the process
completed successfully, it did not change the situation. Perhaps foolishly,
I decided to format the drive and try a clean install. However, I got the
same error message: "This version of Windows ME cannot be installed on your
computer. Please obtain the correct verysion from your computer manufacturer."

After a lot of digging around I found this comment on a tech support site:
"SU0173 is a copy protection feature built in to many vendors OEM versions
of Windows ME. It blocks installation when it can't validate code from your
vendors bios. This makes it almost impossible to install it on other
machines. We have established that this protection lie in the precopy1.cab
file. Taking this into consideration I discovered the workaround. All you
need to do is copy the contents of the Windows ME disk to your hard drive.
Then replace the precopy1.cab file in the windows9x folder with a non-vendor
specific precopy1.cab. Then you can burn yourself a fixed copy or run setup
from your hard drive."

I've searched for this non-vendor specific precopy1.cab file but any link I
find is long since dead.

Do you know where I could get this file from?

thanks,
Calum
  #8  
Old June 10th 07, 01:39 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
Mike M
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,047
Default Installation error - SU0173

Calum,

I think you're right.


I hate to say it but in this case I knew I was right. :-( I did mention
the likelihood of the version of Win Me you were attempting to use as
being a bios locked version in my original post.

I tried your solution of reinstalling from base2.cab and, while the
process completed successfully, it did not change the situation.


What was the situation you were trying to fix? Not that it matters now if
you've blown away the system and are stuck once again with the OEM copy.
It's a shame you didn't make a copy of the Windows\Options\Cabs or
Windows\Options\Install folder before you formatted the disk as you could
have clean installed using these files but sadly it's too late now.

Do you know where I could get this file from?


Not legally I'm sorry to say. Microsoft couldn't help even if they wanted
to as all copies of their operating systems that included the MS JavaVM
(which includes Win Me) have been removed from MSDN and are no longer
permitted to be distributed as part of the agreement between Sun and
Microsoft.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows



calum wrote:

I think you're right.

I tried your solution of reinstalling from base2.cab and, while the
process completed successfully, it did not change the situation.
Perhaps foolishly, I decided to format the drive and try a clean
install. However, I got the same error message: "This version of
Windows ME cannot be installed on your computer. Please obtain the
correct verysion from your computer manufacturer."

After a lot of digging around I found this comment on a tech support
site: "SU0173 is a copy protection feature built in to many vendors
OEM versions
of Windows ME. It blocks installation when it can't validate code
from your vendors bios. This makes it almost impossible to install it
on other machines. We have established that this protection lie in
the precopy1.cab file. Taking this into consideration I discovered
the workaround. All you need to do is copy the contents of the
Windows ME disk to your hard drive. Then replace the precopy1.cab
file in the windows9x folder with a non-vendor specific precopy1.cab.
Then you can burn yourself a fixed copy or run setup from your hard
drive."

I've searched for this non-vendor specific precopy1.cab file but any
link I find is long since dead.

Do you know where I could get this file from?


  #9  
Old June 10th 07, 04:55 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
calum
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 6
Default Installation error - SU0173



"Mike M" wrote:

Calum,
I did mention the likelihood of the version of Win Me you were attempting to use as being a bios locked version in my original post.


I should pay more attention!

What was the situation you were trying to fix?


The machine was very sluggish when I got it. Then when I installed CA
Security suite it became unbearably slow with frequent freezing. Efforts to
uninstall the suite proved fruitless and since there was nothing on it I
neeed to keep, I went for a clean install.

Do you know where I could get this file from?


Not legally I'm sorry to say.


Sorry Mike, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I thought that since my
Win Me CD was legitimate and it was no longer installed on another machine I
could use it for this laptop. In any event, I have since traced a non
vendor-specific copy of precopy1.cab which has allowed a successful
installation.

CA Internet Security Suite just won't run on this laptop so I'm looking for
another solution for a firewall (preferably free) and I'm currently using AVG
free anti-virus.

Many thanks for your help anyway, I appreciated your assistance.

regards,
Calum
  #10  
Old June 10th 07, 05:29 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
Mike M
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,047
Default Installation error - SU0173

Calum,

I suspect the problem here might be the firewall component I'd Look for a
much lighter weight set of apps.

AV - Nothing wrong with installing just the AV component of the CA suite
but admit I haven't tried the more recent versions so some you might want
to consider include free and paid for versions including Avast (from
Atwil), AVG (from Grisoft), Panda, Trend, Computer Associates, NOD32 and
Kaspersky. I wouldn't recommend McAfee although this has improved and
strongly recommend that you avoid any product with the Symantec of Norton
label as most cause major problems with Win Me.

I note you have chosen to go with AVG.

Firewall. How is the PC connecting to the net? I prefer to let my router
take most of the strain here but suitable firewalls commonly used are
early versions of Kerio, formerly Tiny, (v2.1.5 works well with Win Me)
and Zone Alarm (versions up to and including 6.1.744.001).

AntiSpyware - Lots of possibilities here but here again personally I tend
not to have anything actually running but do use AdAware SE and Spybot
Search & Destroy with Win Me.

I'm pleased to read that you've got your system back up running. Let's
hope it stays OK however it is essential that at the very least you
install the 290700 patch for system restore (available from the Windows
Update site) otherwise SR is dead in the water and IE6 SP1 (even if you
use an alternative browser).
--
Mike Maltby



calum wrote:

"Mike M" wrote:

Calum,
I did mention the likelihood of the version of Win Me you were
attempting to use as being a bios locked version in my original
post.


I should pay more attention!

What was the situation you were trying to fix?


The machine was very sluggish when I got it. Then when I installed CA
Security suite it became unbearably slow with frequent freezing.
Efforts to uninstall the suite proved fruitless and since there was
nothing on it I neeed to keep, I went for a clean install.

Do you know where I could get this file from?


Not legally I'm sorry to say.


Sorry Mike, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I thought that
since my Win Me CD was legitimate and it was no longer installed on
another machine I could use it for this laptop. In any event, I have
since traced a non vendor-specific copy of precopy1.cab which has
allowed a successful installation.

CA Internet Security Suite just won't run on this laptop so I'm
looking for another solution for a firewall (preferably free) and I'm
currently using AVG free anti-virus.

Many thanks for your help anyway, I appreciated your assistance.

regards,
Calum


 




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