I installed SP2 on my XP Pro. After the process, the machine was so slow it
was unusable. I could not even access normal commands without waiting for
ages. I decided to uninstall SP2 in safe mode. Something is corrupt because I
can't access Add/Remove programs without getting a beep and nothing. So I run
the spuninst file from it's folder. When it finishes running the preliminary
processes and starts uninstalling files it says:

the system cannot find the file specified

and then aborts the whole uninstall process. It's a generic message and it
does not say what file it can't find.

So I can't seem to uninstall SP2, the system is virtually unusable and I
can't reinstall XP Pro because it won't let me. (because it's an earlier
version).

Any hope before having to reformat?

OS from Hell user

Before you restart pc when installing SP2,set for a CHKDSK C: /F In cmd
prompt,
since its already installed,do the same,back in xp,after,run disk clean
up,then
defrag.Also,if SP2 is ever uninstalled,read kb878454 Thiers a download for
xp.Add/remove can also be accessed by run,type:appwiz.cpl

"ak" wrote:

> I installed SP2 on my XP Pro. After the process, the machine was so slow it
> was unusable. I could not even access normal commands without waiting for
> ages. I decided to uninstall SP2 in safe mode. Something is corrupt because I
> can't access Add/Remove programs without getting a beep and nothing. So I run
> the spuninst file from it's folder. When it finishes running the preliminary
> processes and starts uninstalling files it says:
>
> the system cannot find the file specified
>
> and then aborts the whole uninstall process. It's a generic message and it
> does not say what file it can't find.
>
> So I can't seem to uninstall SP2, the system is virtually unusable and I
> can't reinstall XP Pro because it won't let me. (because it's an earlier
> version).
>
> Any hope before having to reformat?
>
> OS from Hell user

thanks, but I tried all that including defrag and it did no good. The main
problem is I that when I run the uninstall process it ends up with the "can't
find file" message and aborts.

"Andrew E." wrote:

> Before you restart pc when installing SP2,set for a CHKDSK C: /F In cmd
> prompt,
> since its already installed,do the same,back in xp,after,run disk clean
> up,then
> defrag.Also,if SP2 is ever uninstalled,read kb878454 Thiers a download for
> xp.Add/remove can also be accessed by run,type:appwiz.cpl
>
> "ak" wrote:
>
> > I installed SP2 on my XP Pro. After the process, the machine was so slow it
> > was unusable. I could not even access normal commands without waiting for
> > ages. I decided to uninstall SP2 in safe mode. Something is corrupt because I
> > can't access Add/Remove programs without getting a beep and nothing. So I run
> > the spuninst file from it's folder. When it finishes running the preliminary
> > processes and starts uninstalling files it says:
> >
> > the system cannot find the file specified
> >
> > and then aborts the whole uninstall process. It's a generic message and it
> > does not say what file it can't find.
> >
> > So I can't seem to uninstall SP2, the system is virtually unusable and I
> > can't reinstall XP Pro because it won't let me. (because it's an earlier
> > version).
> >
> > Any hope before having to reformat?
> >
> > OS from Hell user

"ak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news13FB54F-9D5A-4311-8C0D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> thanks, but I tried all that including defrag and it did no good. The main
> problem is I that when I run the uninstall process it ends up with the
> "can't
> find file" message and aborts.
>
> "Andrew E." wrote:
>
>> Before you restart pc when installing SP2,set for a CHKDSK C: /F In cmd
>> prompt,
>> since its already installed,do the same,back in xp,after,run disk clean
>> up,then
>> defrag.Also,if SP2 is ever uninstalled,read kb878454 Thiers a download
>> for
>> xp.Add/remove can also be accessed by run,type:appwiz.cpl
>>
>> "ak" wrote:
>>
>> > I installed SP2 on my XP Pro. After the process, the machine was so
>> > slow it
>> > was unusable. I could not even access normal commands without waiting
>> > for
>> > ages. I decided to uninstall SP2 in safe mode. Something is corrupt
>> > because I
>> > can't access Add/Remove programs without getting a beep and nothing. So
>> > I run
>> > the spuninst file from it's folder. When it finishes running the
>> > preliminary
>> > processes and starts uninstalling files it says:
>> >
>> > the system cannot find the file specified
>> >
>> > and then aborts the whole uninstall process. It's a generic message and
>> > it
>> > does not say what file it can't find.
>> >
>> > So I can't seem to uninstall SP2, the system is virtually unusable and
>> > I
>> > can't reinstall XP Pro because it won't let me. (because it's an
>> > earlier
>> > version).
>> >
>> > Any hope before having to reformat?
>> >
>> > OS from Hell user


Did you tell the SP2 to save the previous uninstalled files when you
installed it or did you somehow remove them? If you didn't save them or
they were saved and subsequently removed, then there is no way for the SP2
uninstall to uninstall, as it has nothing to replace the files with. Your
only option now is a clean install, as a repair install with an older
version may abort seeing a newer OS installed.

--
---
Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
"Google is your Friend"
http://www.google.com

"Admiral Q" wrote:

> "ak" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news13FB54F-9D5A-4311-8C0D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > thanks, but I tried all that including defrag and it did no good. The main
> > problem is I that when I run the uninstall process it ends up with the
> > "can't
> > find file" message and aborts.
> >
> > "Andrew E." wrote:
> >
> >> Before you restart pc when installing SP2,set for a CHKDSK C: /F In cmd
> >> prompt,
> >> since its already installed,do the same,back in xp,after,run disk clean
> >> up,then
> >> defrag.Also,if SP2 is ever uninstalled,read kb878454 Thiers a download
> >> for
> >> xp.Add/remove can also be accessed by run,type:appwiz.cpl
> >>
> >> "ak" wrote:
> >>
> >> > I installed SP2 on my XP Pro. After the process, the machine was so
> >> > slow it
> >> > was unusable. I could not even access normal commands without waiting
> >> > for
> >> > ages. I decided to uninstall SP2 in safe mode. Something is corrupt
> >> > because I
> >> > can't access Add/Remove programs without getting a beep and nothing. So
> >> > I run
> >> > the spuninst file from it's folder. When it finishes running the
> >> > preliminary
> >> > processes and starts uninstalling files it says:
> >> >
> >> > the system cannot find the file specified
> >> >
> >> > and then aborts the whole uninstall process. It's a generic message and
> >> > it
> >> > does not say what file it can't find.
> >> >
> >> > So I can't seem to uninstall SP2, the system is virtually unusable and
> >> > I
> >> > can't reinstall XP Pro because it won't let me. (because it's an
> >> > earlier
> >> > version).
> >> >
> >> > Any hope before having to reformat?
> >> >
> >> > OS from Hell user
>
>
> Did you tell the SP2 to save the previous uninstalled files when you
> installed it or did you somehow remove them? If you didn't save them or
> they were saved and subsequently removed, then there is no way for the SP2
> uninstall to uninstall, as it has nothing to replace the files with. Your
> only option now is a clean install, as a repair install with an older
> version may abort seeing a newer OS installed.
>
> --
> ---
> Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
> "Google is your Friend"
> http://www.google.com
>
>
>
I fixed it. I set the computer to boot from the CD. I then inserted the XP
disk and followed prompts. I did the repair option (as opposed to full
install) and it worked. Apparently, if installed from a non boot disk it will
see the existing newer SP2 and stop dead in it's tracks. But from a boot disk
it seems to ignore the update and follow through with the install.