ERROR MESSAGE SU0168

ERROR SUO168

"Your Computer Already Has an Operating System..."

OEMs are Original Equipment Manufacturers like Gateway, Dell, and many others - they assemble/market new computers containing parts made by other manufacturers.

OEM upgrades are actually full version CDs. They're adjusted to artificially prevent them from installing another copy, or upgrading an existing Windows 9x. OEM CDs usually have words on the label similar to 'For Distribution Only with a New PC'.

Retail versions are always full versions and will install wherever you want.

Another reason for a failed installation is described in this Microsoft article: Error Message: Your Computer Already Has an Operating System... [Q225252] which refers to a dirty/damaged installation CD, or a corrupt Setupx.dll in Windows\System)

OSR2 Caution:

Please think carefully if you are upgrading from Windows 95 or 95A to Windows 95B (OSR2). The OSR2 never had an upgrade version and was designed to be sold only with new computers.

The Upgrade #1 fix below could work with OSR2 but it's quite risky! Try with OSR2 entirely at your own risk.

FIX FOR SUO168

Upgrade, or install, from an OEM Win9x installationCD

You can often fool the OEM installation CD into

(A) upgrading the current Windows 9x, or
(B) adding another full Windows 9x (a Dual-Boot, to a different logical drive).

The second usage (B, dual-boot) is not discussed here. It is successfully used with AddAWins and DualWins

Two methods of upgrading are discussed here.

The first method (Upgrade #1) has been used extensively and successfully by THPC.
The two Windows files, Win.com & Winver.exe, are renamed.

The second method (Upgrade #2) is from a Microsoft page.
Here the file, SetupX.dll, is extracted from the installation CD.

Read below for details on both methods of upgrading with an OEM installation CD.

UPGRADE #1

#1 Upgrading Windows 9x/Me when you get an Error Message SUO168.

Caution: It's possible some OEM upgrade versions may be specific to them. Using a different OEM full version to upgrade a non-matching Windows could possibly damage the existing Windows. That would force you to reinstall the current Windows with subsequent loss of data. It's a possibility, so please be aware of it!

It has never failed to work for THPC.

How to install if Error Message SUO168 occurs:

Use your bootdisk to boot to true MS-DOS
Do not use Windows Explorer, or a DOS Prompt or 'DOS Box'.
Press Enter after typing in each of these in true DOS
   C:
   CD\
   CD WINDOWS (or the name of the existing Windows directory)
   ren win.com win.ada
   ren winver.exe winver.ada
Now install the OEM version to the existing Win 9x/Me directory (usually C:\Windows).

If your current installation directory is called Windows then Setup will attempt to install the CD Windows to Windows.000. Change this to the existing Win 9x/Me directory (usually C:\Windows).

You can also rename in this matter if attempting to setup a dual-boot (but read Dual-Boot Win9x + 9x first.

UPGRADE #2

#2 Upgrading Windows 9x/Me when you get an Error Message SUO168.

This second method, from Microsoft, has not been tested by THPC.

Microsoft explains how to manage this in Setup.txt (on the CD). Microsoft says:

Message SU0168
" Your computer already has an operating system installed, which cannot be upgraded by this version of Setup. Please obtain the Windows 98 (or Windows Millennium) Upgrade."

This error can occur when you are attempting to install an OEM version of Windows 98 over a previous version of Windows.
-or-
An application has installed an OEM version of SetupX.dll that makes it appear that your current version of Windows is the OEM version.

If you suspect this, replace SetupX.dll with the correct version from your current install media.
1. Place your Windows 98 or Windows Millennium CD in your CD-ROM drive.
2. From a command prompt, change to your CD-ROM drive letter.
3. Type Extract /a base4.cab SetupX.dll /l C:\
4. Copy the SetupX.dll from your C: to your Windows\System directory.
5. Run Windows Setup again. "