Install problems with sp2 and 2p3

[Daave]

I fight it odd that the clean install worked with one disk but not the
other. Perhaps your XP Home w/ SP2 CD is faulty.

At what point did you receive the message that the hard drive might be
corrupt? Using this page as a guide, did you perform all the steps to a
clean install properly?:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Note that in Step 15 when the PC reboots, it needs to boot off the hard
drive!

You should also determine the health of your hard drive. Go to the Web
site of the manufacturer and download their diagnostic. Oops, scratch
that; it looks like you already did that! Was this a CD that you
created? What is the make and model of the PC and the hard drive?

When you describe upgrading to SP2, you didn't describe how you did it.
I will refer you to Malke said earlier in this thread:

<quote>

Here are some links to information about troubleshooting SP2. Hopefully
they
are still active after all this time. Another thing you might try is to
install SP2 in Safe Mode and go immediately into Safe Mode after your
first
reboot.

Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist -
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
SP2 links to OEMs - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx
http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16 - Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs &
Best
Practices
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2 - Windows SP2 Information,
Guidelines and Troubleshooting
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General
Troubleshooting SP2 for Windows XP - http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm

</quote>

Upgrading to SP2 (or SP3 for that matter) is a big undertaking, and you
need to make sure you are doing it correctly. This includes making sure
your PC is free of malware (is it?) and disabling programs that may
interfere (such as antivirus programs). I prefer to configure a clean
boot before I apply a new Service Pack:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

My recommendations:

1. Perform a clean install, using the guide referenced above. Make sure
you disconnect all peripherals first. When the installation is complete,
install all the necessary drivers!

2. Upgrade to SP2, using Malke's references.

3. Upgrade to SP3, using the references I previously cited:

http://www.iaps.com/windows-xp-sp3-installation-guidelines.html

http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

 

[walkerwj55]

Hi. See below:

I fight it odd that the clean install worked with one disk but not the
other. Perhaps your XP Home w/ SP2 CD is faulty.

Brand new, never used.

At what point did you receive the message that the hard drive might be
corrupt? Using this page as a guide, did you perform all the steps to a
clean install properly?:

Screen pic #5 (or #11 from the instruction text) from the webpage below,
after chosing to format the partition for NTFS. It then shows a progress bar
that goes to 20, hangs, then shoots to 100% and displays the error message.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Note that in Step 15 when the PC reboots, it needs to boot off the hard
drive!

It reboots and if I don't remove the CD I just do NOT hit any key during the
"boot from CD" message, and it continues on to boot from the HD.

You should also determine the health of your hard drive. Go to the Web
site of the manufacturer and download their diagnostic. Oops, scratch
that; it looks like you already did that! Was this a CD that you
created? What is the make and model of the PC and the hard drive?

I have both the original Hitachi CD and also downloaded and burned the
latest diagnostic image from the Hitachi support site. I ran both with no
problems found. My computer is home grown using an Intel D815EFV motherboard
with Intel onboard graphics chipset, Intel 1GHz PIII processor and updated
BIOS and graphics drivers.

When you describe upgrading to SP2, you didn't describe how you did it.
I will refer you to Malke said earlier in this thread:

<quote>

Here are some links to information about troubleshooting SP2. Hopefully
they
are still active after all this time. Another thing you might try is to
install SP2 in Safe Mode and go immediately into Safe Mode after your
first
reboot.

Follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist -
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm
SP2 links to OEMs - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx
http://aumha.net/index.php?c=16 - Windows XP - Service Pack 2 - FAQs &
Best
Practices
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#sp2 - Windows SP2 Information,
Guidelines and Troubleshooting
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#General
Troubleshooting SP2 for Windows XP - http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm

</quote>

Upgrading to SP2 (or SP3 for that matter) is a big undertaking, and you
need to make sure you are doing it correctly. This includes making sure
your PC is free of malware (is it?) and disabling programs that may
interfere (such as antivirus programs). I prefer to configure a clean
boot before I apply a new Service Pack:

Again , after reformatting nothing is on the HD to interfere with the upgrade.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

My recommendations:

1. Perform a clean install, using the guide referenced above. Make sure
you disconnect all peripherals first. When the installation is complete,
install all the necessary drivers!

See my 1. below: I removed my sound card and disconnected all but the C:
drive.

2. Upgrade to SP2, using Malke's references.

3. Upgrade to SP3, using the references I previously cited:

http://www.iaps.com/windows-xp-sp3-installation-guidelines.html

http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

I will try this one move time. Thanks.

 

[Daave]

Hi. See below:



Brand new, never used.

Although that may be the case, it' still possible the CD is faulty,
especially if your other CD works.

Screen pic #5 (or #11 from the instruction text) from the webpage
below,
after chosing to format the partition for NTFS. It then shows a
progress bar
that goes to 20, hangs, then shoots to 100% and displays the error
message.

Was that a quick format, by any chance? What is the exact error message?

It reboots and if I don't remove the CD I just do NOT hit any key
during the
"boot from CD" message, and it continues on to boot from the HD.

That's good.

I have both the original Hitachi CD and also downloaded and burned the
latest diagnostic image from the Hitachi support site. I ran both with
no
problems found. My computer is home grown using an Intel D815EFV
motherboard
with Intel onboard graphics chipset, Intel 1GHz PIII processor and
updated
BIOS and graphics drivers.

The drive is probably healthy, but I guess the possibility exists that
the diagnostic isn't currently catching an intermittent problem. But
still, my hunch is that the installation CD is faulty (since the other
one installs with no problems).

 

[walkerwj55]

OK. I think I've made progress.

I finally got back in Safe Mode. I looked at the boot log and it stopped
loading at Mup.sys. After reviewing reasons for hang at Mup.sys and you final
comment on drive health I decided to try something different.

The drive I put in the kids' computer as a new boot drive (Hitachi) was a
slave in mine. So, I now I swapped drives 1 and 3 (3, a Western Digital, was
the original boot drive in their computer). I first moved all essential files
(docs, pics, music) to drive 2. I had already deleted all windows boot files
and folders and cleaned it. I then deleted the partition on the WD and
reformated it using Control Panel computer management. I then disconnected
drives 1&2 and booted with only 3 (master on IDE2).

To cut down on time I again booted with my XP HE SP2 CD and, WALA!, it
recognized the drive and that the partition was already formatted. So, on we
went and everything went fine...

Until the final reboot. It started OK with the Splash screen and their
names. I hit Crtl-Alt-Del and brought up the admin login. Guess what? I don't
remember it asking me to input an admin password and now I can't get in.
Blank doesn't work. Would you have any idea on THIS issue? If I can solve
this I'm good as gold.

Thanks.

 

[Daave]

Comments inline.

OK. I think I've made progress.

I finally got back in Safe Mode. I looked at the boot log and it
stopped
loading at Mup.sys. After reviewing reasons for hang at Mup.sys and
you final
comment on drive health I decided to try something different.

The drive I put in the kids' computer as a new boot drive (Hitachi)
was a
slave in mine. So, I now I swapped drives 1 and 3 (3, a Western
Digital, was
the original boot drive in their computer). I first moved all
essential files
(docs, pics, music) to drive 2. I had already deleted all windows boot
files
and folders and cleaned it. I then deleted the partition on the WD and
reformated it using Control Panel computer management. I then
disconnected
drives 1&2 and booted with only 3 (master on IDE2).

This thread is quite long and that above paragraph is a doozy. It's like
I'm watching a game of Three Card Monte! There are two computers and
three drives, and after that it's hard to keep track of what's going on.
Tell me if I got this right: The problem is with your kids' PC. And your
PC is fine. (Or is it? In another post, you said that your PC is "home
grown" and you were clearly having problems with it.) You once had a
Hitachi slave drive in your PC, which you placed in your kids' PC as a
new boot drive. The old boot drive in your kids' PC (the WD) is now the
slave in your PC. Then we have drive 2. I have no idea what that is. I
suppose that is the boot drive in your PC. Is it? Instead of performing
a clean boot (which is what I would do if I were in your shoes), you
deleted all the files and formatted it. If that's the case, it must not
be the boot drive. I guess your PC has three drives. Do you see why I'm
confused? Seriously, I can't follow this anymore.

To cut down on time I again booted with my XP HE SP2 CD and, WALA!, it
recognized the drive and that the partition was already formatted. So,
on we
went and everything went fine...

I'm not clear as to what you did once you booted off the CD.

Until the final reboot. It started OK with the Splash screen and their
names. I hit Crtl-Alt-Del and brought up the admin login. Guess what?
I don't
remember it asking me to input an admin password and now I can't get
in.
Blank doesn't work. Would you have any idea on THIS issue? If I can
solve
this I'm good as gold.

Okay, so the problem is with your kids' PC then (I think...).

I still can't follow and I've reread your post several times. If your
only problem is resetting the admin password, this program should help:

"Offline NT Password & Registry Editor"

Otherwise, just perform a clean install and be done with it! You already
backed up the data. Make sure you have all the drivers and installation
media/files for your applications.

 

[walkerwj55]

You, know, you make a great detective. I'm really not trying to make you go
nuts.
Let me try to simplify.

Yes, kids computer is the issue.

original 1st Try Now
Drive 1 WD Hitachi WD (reformatted)
Drive 2 Maxtor Maxtor Maxtor
Drive 3 N/A WD Hitachi

Got it? Good.

With the setup Now, XP HE SP2 had no problem using the WD drive to setup.
However, unlike XP Pro (which asks you to supply and confirm an Admin
password) Home Edition didn't ask for it. Now, at the Home Ed. login screen,
when I Crtl-Alt-Del to the Admin login it won't take a blank password.

I hope this eases your tortured mind.

Your reference to "Offline NT Password & Registry Editor" had no link.
Guess I'll just try a web search. Otherwise, install again. I'm an expert at
it now!

Thanks very much.

Bill

 

[Daave]

Your reference to "Offline NT Password & Registry Editor" had no
link.

Oops! You probably already found it. If not, here it is:

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

 

[Daave]

OK. I think I've made progress.

I finally got back in Safe Mode. I looked at the boot log and it
stopped
loading at Mup.sys. After reviewing reasons for hang at Mup.sys and
you final
comment on drive health I decided to try something different.

From your other post:

original 1st Try Now
Drive 1 WD Hitachi WD (reformatted)
Drive 2 Maxtor Maxtor Maxtor
Drive 3 N/A WD Hitachi

The drive I put in the kids' computer as a new boot drive (Hitachi)
was a
slave in mine. So, I now I swapped drives 1 and 3 (3, a Western
Digital, was
the original boot drive in their computer). I first moved all
essential files
(docs, pics, music) to drive 2. I had already deleted all windows boot
files
and folders and cleaned it. I then deleted the partition on the WD and
reformated it using Control Panel computer management. I then
disconnected
drives 1&2 and booted with only 3 (master on IDE2).

To cut down on time I again booted with my XP HE SP2 CD and, WALA!, it
recognized the drive and that the partition was already formatted. So,

With the setup Now, XP HE SP2 had no problem using the WD
drive to setup.

How could it have used the WD drive? In the "Now" column, the WD and the
Maxtor were disconnected. Something is still missing!

I still think you should just perform a clean boot. Again, here are
instructions:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html