Vista Beta 2 Install Error...

I'm in your boat Alastair...
Have a 32bit trying to go 64.....All I get is error....no windows image file
twice on two burns with two different iso's....

"Alastair Porter" wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm also seeing this problem with the x64 version of Beta2.
> I'm running the install off a DVD+R, this computer only has windows XP 32bit
> installed, so I can't run setup from there.
> The ISO appears to have the correct MD5 (E43502D0A15EADD551119D5639859E04)
> and I have tried burning the disc on two seperate PCs, at slow burn speeds.
> Has anyone yet found a fix to this issue when doing a clean install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alastair Porter
>
> "Bryan Ahola" wrote:
>
> > I am attempting to install this version from my MSDN account...
> >
> > Windows Vista Beta 2 (x86) - DVD (English)
> >
> > Date/Time Posted
> > 2006-05-23 17:34:24 (UTC)
> > File
> > en_windows_vista_beta2_x86_dvd.iso ISO-9660 DVD Image
> > File Size
> > 3200 MB
> >
> >
> > The machine I am installing is currently running build 5308 with no
> > problems. I am trying to install directly off of the DVD. I get to the
> > point of entering my cd key. After I press next, there is a 30 sec pause
> > and then an error pops up...
> >
> > "Setup failed to open the windows image file"
> >
> > And after that the install just hangs and I have to reboot to do anything
> > with it again. I am at a loss for what is causing this. I have googled the
> > error and come up with nothing. I still have to try and use a different DVD
> > drive to see if that is the issue, but I do not believe it is because the
> > install gets that far. Any help would be great. Thanks - Bryan
> >
> >
> >

I am in the same boat. I am installing vista from virtual PC and whenever i
put in the Cd key and hit Next it says "setup failed to open the Windows
image file". This is on Virtual PC installing from a 6.0.5384.4 version DVD.

My idea is to install Windows XP Pro through virtual PC and then upgrade to
vista through that same virtual PC. Any ideas if this would work?

I don't want to install vista overwriting my main OS because I have many
important files on it.

Please tell me if my idea would theoretically work or if I should try
something else.

Thanks.

UPDATE: After many hours of work, I installed Windows XP Pro SP2 on the
Virtual Machine and then after a few more hours of work I got the Vista
Installation to work. One problem. I'm still getting the stupid error!
It's still giving me "setup failed to open the image file." Does that mean
that I'm typing in my CD key wrong? I am really mad right now because I
don't know what to do from here. Any ideas?

I'm not putting in the CD Key wrong. I put it in wrong on purpose and it
gave me an error that the key was wrong. Remember, I'm running inside of
Virtual PC. I have Windows XP Pro SP2 installed and am trying to upgrade to
vista. It gives me the "setup failed to open the image file" error whenever
I put the CD key in correctly. It's as if it doesn't know what to do after
the CD Key is entered. Someone please help me.

After having this same error, I seemed to have found a solution - thanks to
another post by "Bugslayer".

I simply used the Nero 6.0 'ImageDrive' feature and it worked great. This
allows you to open and view the iso image as a virtual drive in windows
explorer. You'll have the option to either run Vista setup from the virtual
drive or mount the image at startup. I believe that the difference here is
that the startup option will do a clean install rather than retain your
original 'Documents and Settings' profiles.

Nevertheless, it worked without a hitch.

"Bryan Ahola" wrote:

> I am attempting to install this version from my MSDN account...
>
> Windows Vista Beta 2 (x86) - DVD (English)
>
> Date/Time Posted
> 2006-05-23 17:34:24 (UTC)
> File
> en_windows_vista_beta2_x86_dvd.iso ISO-9660 DVD Image
> File Size
> 3200 MB
>
>
> The machine I am installing is currently running build 5308 with no
> problems. I am trying to install directly off of the DVD. I get to the
> point of entering my cd key. After I press next, there is a 30 sec pause
> and then an error pops up...
>
> "Setup failed to open the windows image file"
>
> And after that the install just hangs and I have to reboot to do anything
> with it again. I am at a loss for what is causing this. I have googled the
> error and come up with nothing. I still have to try and use a different DVD
> drive to see if that is the issue, but I do not believe it is because the
> install gets that far. Any help would be great. Thanks - Bryan
>
>
>