Repair/Reinstall XP SP-2

[Guest]

My PC has a 3.06 GHz P4 with 1 GB of RAM running Win XP Pro 2002 SP2 on my
main 200 GB hard drive.

For a long time (until last week), I had so many video files on my main hard
drive that the free space averaged only about 7 GB, and sometimes my
downloads stopped because my main 200 GB hard drive was completely full.

My PC shipped with SP1, and I installed SP2 from the CD at the beginning of
2006.

After installing SP2, I tried to upgrade my Creative Audigy 2 software,
which repeatedly caused my PC to hang with a blue screen. Sometimes I had to
use System Restore, and my sound card hasn't worked properly since then.

I used to run Windows Error-checking and Windows Defragmentation
periodically, but after the problem with the Audigy 2 software, my PC would
hang with a blue screen at the end of Error-checking. I haven't run
Error-checking and Defragmentation since then.

For the past several months, my PC has been very sluggish.

I am running Zone Alarm 6.5.737 firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spam. I was
running Webroot Spy Sweeper, but I disabled it out of concern that it might
be a problem (as Spy Doctor was).

Last week, I moved my video files to DVD+R disks, so I now have 140 GB of
free space on my hard drive. This week, my PC has been significantly faster,
although it still seems sluggish.

I think I may have damaged XP SP2 with my Audigy 2 troubles, and I would
like to repair or reinstall XP SP2.

I would prefer to repair XP SP2, because I assume that reinstalling XP SP2
would require me to reinstall all my other software.

After repairing or reinstalling XP SP2, I would like to try to install
Audigy 2 again.

In case this affects what you recommend, I have the SP2 CD, and my PC has a
second 200 GB hard drive that is identical to the main one.

What is the best thing to do?

Thanks.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you look in the add/remove programs section of control panel there should
be an option to uninstall SP2. Once uninstalled you can then re-install it
from your SP2 CD. You shouldn't need to re-install all your other software
just because you are re-installing SP2. SP2 only updates the operating
system it doesn't alter the software applications that you have installed
yourself.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
http://vistasupport.mvps.org

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[Guest]

Thank you for your help.

My PC was shipped with XP Pro + SP1 pre-installed.

I assumed that the SP2 CD had the base code for XP Pro plus the
additional/changed code for both SP1 and SP2.

So, if I had a problem in XP Pro + SP1, then installing SP2 would fix the
problem.

I thought this must be the case. Otherwise, if there was problem somewhere
in XP Pro + SP1 which was incompatible with SP2, then there would be a risk
that installing SP2 could render the system inoperable.

So, I assumed that I could use the SP2 CD to repair or reinstall XP Pro +
SP1 +SP2.

If I can uninstall SP2 and still have my computer work with XP Pro + SP1,
this seems to imply that the SP2 CD contains only the additional/changed code
for SP2.

So, what do I do if there is a problem somewhere in XP + SP1? Will
uninstalling and reinstalling SP2 fix the problem?

How much risk is there in uninstalling and reinstalling SP2?

I have the Dell Reinstallation CD of XP Pro + SP1. I know I will have to
ask Dell, but is it reasonable to assume that I might be able to use this to
repair or reinstall XP Pro + SP1?

What procedures will be involved if I have to install XP Pro + SP1 from
scratch?

 

[Ted Zieglar]

"So, if I had a problem in XP Pro + SP1, then installing SP2 would fix
the problem."

No, that's a mistake and a popular misconception. Upgrading an operating
system does not fix problems with an operating system.

The first rule of upgrading an operating system is "Don't upgrade over a
problem." Fix whatever problems you may have first, prepare for the
upgrade (Microsoft has instructions on its web site), then upgrade.
That's the 3-step road to success. And I know about that road because
I've taken every wrong exit.

 

[Jim]

Thank you for your help.

My PC was shipped with XP Pro + SP1 pre-installed.

I assumed that the SP2 CD had the base code for XP Pro plus the
additional/changed code for both SP1 and SP2.

No, the SP2 CD has all of SP1 plus the changes made by SP2.

So, if I had a problem in XP Pro + SP1, then installing SP2 would fix the
problem. No it won't.

I thought this must be the case. Otherwise, if there was problem
somewhere
in XP Pro + SP1 which was incompatible with SP2, then there would be a
risk
that installing SP2 could render the system inoperable.

If XP SP1 has a problem, installing SP2 may make the problem worse.

So, I assumed that I could use the SP2 CD to repair or reinstall XP Pro +
SP1 +SP2.

No. You must slipstream XP and SP2 to use the repair facility.

If I can uninstall SP2 and still have my computer work with XP Pro + SP1,
this seems to imply that the SP2 CD contains only the additional/changed
code
for SP2.

The SP2 CD contains both SP1 and SP2.

So, what do I do if there is a problem somewhere in XP + SP1? Will
uninstalling and reinstalling SP2 fix the problem? Highly unlikely.

How much risk is there in uninstalling and reinstalling SP2?

Lots. Besides, it is a lot of work. So, you should not do that "incase
that fixes the problem".

I have the Dell Reinstallation CD of XP Pro + SP1. I know I will have to
ask Dell, but is it reasonable to assume that I might be able to use this
to
repair or reinstall XP Pro + SP1?

It will repair XP + SP1, and it will reinstall XP +SP1. It will not repair
XP + SP2.

What procedures will be involved if I have to install XP Pro + SP1 from
scratch?

Put the CD in your drive, and select a clean installation. A couple of
hours later, you will be done.

Jim

 

[Guest]

You said:
"The first rule of upgrading an operating system is don't upgrade over a
problem. Fix whatever problems you may have first, prepare for the
upgrade (Microsoft has instructions on its web site), then upgrade."

Given my issue, could you tell me where to look on Microsoft's website?

Thanks.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

I said that instructions for preparing for the upgrade can be found on
Microsoft's website:

"Get Your PC Ready for Windows XP SP2"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx