Windows 3.1 Cannot Upgrade Windows 2.x

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q83733
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 attempts to upgrade a version of Windows version 2.x, the following error message appears: 

   Setup is unable to upgrade Windows version 2.x. To set up Windows
   version 3.1, you will need to specify a different directory. Setup
   will leave your previous version of Windows on your system.

   Press ENTER to type a new path and continue Setup.
The retail upgrade of Windows 3.1 indicates that upgrading from Windows 2.x is supported; however, it is only supported by installing Windows 3.1 in a separate directory. The retail upgrade of Windows 3.1 is a complete version of Windows 3.1 and therefore does not require that a previous version of Windows be installed on your system.

MORE INFORMATION

The above error message may also display when using Windows 3.1 to upgrade a copy of Windows 3.0 that was previously used to upgrade Windows 2.x. Old 2.x files may also generate the error message below: 

   Setup has detected an old version of Windows on your system, you
   cannot upgrade to Windows 3.1.
Setup looks for the WIN200.BIN and WIN200.OVL files. If either of these files is found in the same directory as WIN.COM, the above message displays.

To correct this problem, use one of the following methods:

  • Remove or rename these two files, and run Setup again.

    -or-

  • Install Windows 3.1 in a different directory. (Microsoft recommends this option.)

KBCategory: kbsetup kbdisplay kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 2.x 286 386 update

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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