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'Fix It' Released for Windows 7 Upgrade Problem

Microsoft issued a "Fix it"-style patch on Tuesday for a Windows 7 upgrade problem that results in a system hang.

The problem, for Vista users upgrading to Windows 7, is that the installer program never completes the upgrade. Instead, some users get a system hang after 62 percent of the upgrade has been completed.

Microsoft is pointing to a Windows Vista plug-in, "IphlpsvcMigPlugin.ddd," as the culprit, according to the Fix it blog. The company had published a workaround with complex steps to follow. Now, users with the problem can use Microsoft's Fix it solution to carry out those same steps and complete their Windows 7 upgrades. Fix its are an attempt by Microsoft to simplify patching tasks spelled out in support bulletins.


The Fix it solution can be applied after the 62 percent upgrade failure happens. At that point, the PC will roll back to Windows Vista. Users can then visit this support page, scroll down and click the "Fix this problem" link. The link will run a wizard with steps to complete to apply the patch. After the patch is applied, users can try the Windows 7 upgrade process again.

Microsoft cautions that this Fix it solution should not be used for Windows 7 upgrades that halt at some other percentage than "62 percent."

Windows 7 was released to the general public last month, but some individuals have reported various problems upgrading from Vista, including an endless reboot problem still under investigation by Microsoft. The main forum for getting help on Windows 7 upgrade issues can be found here, but Microsoft also offers other help resources.

Upgrades are only supported when moving from Vista to Windows 7. For those migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7, a clean install needs to be performed, which is described in this article.


About the Author

Kurt Mackie is online news editor, Enterprise Group, at 1105 Media Inc.

Reader Comments:

Tue, Jan 5, 2010 Luis

I am worried, I need to use that PC soon its been almost 24 hours. -I dont think you need to be an IT pro to install an OS. I got my W7 out of the shelf and paid plenty for it. I was starting to like MS, just to be remembered. My PC hanged at 78% and when tried a reboot it says "your computer could become useless". Took out the DVD and re-insterted it, nothing happens, there is hard drive activity... I will wait another 12 hours tonight.

Thu, Dec 10, 2009 Joseph Doelker Kissimmee, FL

This fix is only for 62% failure, is there a fix for a 61% failure? Will the same fix work for it too? I'm running an Acer with Vista Home Premium.

Sun, Nov 29, 2009

if we are to use these os systems ms would have us to then why are we so scared to try . maybe u remember win95 i do and it was catastrophic . please keep in mind some of us use these for business everyday . i need no interruption of my day to day use. i need to stay on top of my business not my computer !!!

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 Jay Wales, UK

No problems at all. From Vista Home Premium to Win 7 Home Premium - Read lots about it hanging at 62% so was worried it may stall. I took off iTunes and Quicktime, left McAfee AV on (and running), backed up personal files, inserted the upgrade DVD and off it went. Took just over 2 hours in total (including removing the above software). Didn't hang at all. Very relieved! I'm no 'professional' and it worked for me. Still prefer OSX though.

Wed, Nov 11, 2009 Dayton Ohio

Installing an operating system should be done by a professional. We understand how to prep a system for the process. I have completed dozens of upgrades from Vista to 7 with ZERO major issues. I have also completed several clean installs and transfer of data from XP to 7 with seamless results. Just because you know how to plug in a usb device does not mean you are qualified to install an operating system. And Macs aren't the answer either. I just set up a pc for a fellow who's mac died two weeks out of warranty and they wanted more to fix it than he could buy a brand new pc for. He loves 7.

Fri, Nov 6, 2009 David Huntington Beach, CA

Upgrade Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate fails. The checker says I am ok but after 2 hours on the last restart the message says the upgrade has failed. This reminds me of the Vista Service Pack 2 upgrade. Can't Microsoft ever get it right?

Thu, Nov 5, 2009 Max

I am afraid to turn my employees lose on a Windows 7 upgrade. I'll wait a year or so until they get a few of the bugs out.......which will still probably be many. I keep thinking that one of these days I've got to switch to MAC. I just hate making the break and paying way too much for a MAC over a PC knowing we'll have to change in a year or two.

Thu, Nov 5, 2009 Walter R Alexandria, VA

Microsoft seems hell-bent on causing as much confusion as possible. I've used Vista Home Premium since shortly after it came out. Zero installment problems, but frequently get error messages about certain .dll files not being found & a re-install of Vista might alleviate the matter. Annoying! UAC reminders caused me to disable it but that comes with its own set of reminders. I'd like to upgrade to 7 merely for driver compatibilities...but am holding my wallet tightly. I wonder why Microsoft can't simply make an OS that makes a clean install but also pulls other programs & files, stores them in an untouchable place until which time the new OS is installed and then the new OS can access those programs/files and fit them into the new OS? Why all this fuss, fudgery, and folderoll about Upgrades, Clean Installs, RCs to RTMs, etc??? Seems consumers would be more beholding to Microsoft IF the software giant actually made it easier for the end-users. And this Fix-It for installs/upgrades that hang at exactly 62% - surely MS had to have known this was going to happen. It's enough to make a grown man cry!!!

Wed, Nov 4, 2009 Tom St Louis, MO

The "clean install" from Windows XP can have similar problems. Don't remember the % when the hang occurred, but holding the power button to shut down the computer and restarting resulted in the rollback. To "upgrade", I had to format the hard drive, install a clean XP then do the Win7 "clean install". Now I am delaying the XP upgrade to my main business computer - I don't need the problems!

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