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Installing SP2 on Windows XP Home SP1

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5 replies

by stanley_shaldon

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Every time I install SP2 my PC crashes and I have to use system restore to use my PC with the older setup. Microsoft aid suggest complete reformat of hard disk and then try installing SP2. I do not want to do that. any ideas welcome as all my office 2003 updates will not install without SP2

5 replies

by bfilmfan

Have you scanned the PC for malware?

Have you scanned for viruses?

Rather than using System Restore, have you ran an in-place repair of XP?

by blackcurrant

Hi

I had a similar problem earlier this week. One of the XP Pro machines would not take SP2 without completely locking up. I rebooted in Safe Mode, defragged it, ran sfc /scannow, ran a registry checker and also scheduled chkdsk to run at the next boot.

I then started the SP2 installation and left it overnight. The next morning SP2 had installed and was prompting for a reboot. I rebooted, and 1 hour and 45 mins later, it was still on the Please wait... boot screen. I forced a reboot and everything was OK. Weird.

Maybe you just need to leave it. I initially thought the machine was locked up, but it was just taking a long time...

Good luck

by douglasb

I would also check to be sure you have the latest drivers for your hardware before doing the SP2 update, I have had that cause problems.

by jamesrl

I too had the same problem.

I resolved it by doing the following:

a) a really thorough bug hunt - disable system restore, boot into safe mode(without network), run anti virus and anti spyware tools(after getting the latest definitions)

b) using a registry cleaner to delete invalid registry settings.

c) a defrag of the disk

Once I did all of that, I was able to successfully install sp2.

James

by wlbowers

Most of the problems that have been reported seem to reflect on the computer having problems prior to the install of the Service Pack.

1. Check your computer vendors site to see if there are any patches for SP2. Some computers have an issue with sp2 and must be patched.

2. Turn OFF System Restore. Right Click on My Computer and get Properties. Click on the System Restore Tab and check the box to turn it off.

3. Update your antivirus and do a full system scan.

4. Go to Start/Run. Now type sfc /scannow and press enter. This will scan and verify all system files. If something is wrong it will replace the corrupted files. It might prompt you for your system cd.

5. Download, Update and run Ad-Aware. http://tinyurl.com/tek5

6. Download, Update and run Spybot. http://tinyurl.com/ziar

7. Download, and Run Stinger. http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger

8. Download and Run CWShredder. http://tinyurl.com/2bzef

9. Install all updates from Microsoft that are available Except Service Pack 2. This includes software and hardware.

10. Download HijackThis. http://mjc.com/mirror/hjt/ This program will scan your computer and provide you with a list of the programs and dll?s that load on startup. Go over this list and anything that is not easy to identify do a google search for the executable or dll. You can remove a questionable line entry by checking the box and clicking on fix.

11. Run the system defragmenter. Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter.

12. Turn on System Restore. See #1.

13. Create a Restore Point. Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore

14. Disable your AntiVirus

15. Install Service Pack 2.

16. Reinable your Antivirus.

By doing the above you will at least have a decent chance of success.

Good Luck

Lee

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