Can't reboot after SP2 download

[stephanie]

After installing SP2, I was prompte to restart. I did so, and have not
been able to succesfully reboot since. Here is what I have tried:

1. Starting in safe mode. Hangs on agp440.sys.
2. Starting to last good config. Hangs on splash screen (with windows
logo and blue bars moving across bottom of page)
3. I spoke with an MS technician, who had me make floppies (6x 3.5")
from which to boot. Tried this. Got through all 6, hangs on "please
wait."
4. Starting from the Dell Reinstall Windows XP CD. Hangs on "starting
windows." Note that I do not have a full Windows CD.

I've read that one work around is to disable the L1/L2 cache, but
unfortuatnely, my BIOS (Dell Dimension 8100) doesn't give me that
option.

The only other solution tha I've been able to find is this:
http://tinyurl.com/65lso, which involves booting to DOS and renaming
the windows directory. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm
actually not ever sure how to boot to DOS.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated. I REALLY do not want to have to
spend $250 (new HD+windows disk) of my own money to get this fixed.
BTW, I've been forwarded tothe next level up of MS technicians/service
people and am waiting for them to call me back in 48+ hours.

 

[Kevin]

This article may help you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324764

 

[User1]

ROTFLMAS Not at you though. I empathize with you!

My post sp2 install wouldn't boot past the BIOS splash screen. Luckily I ALWAYS keep a backup AND a direct copy in storage of all my documents and email .dbx files. I don't like the time wasted retweaking my computer after a clean install but it's a LOT better than having a system that's wired together!


After installing SP2, I was prompte to restart. I did so, and have not
been able to succesfully reboot since. Here is what I have tried:

1. Starting in safe mode. Hangs on agp440.sys.
2. Starting to last good config. Hangs on splash screen (with windows
logo and blue bars moving across bottom of page)
3. I spoke with an MS technician, who had me make floppies (6x 3.5")
from which to boot. Tried this. Got through all 6, hangs on "please
wait."
4. Starting from the Dell Reinstall Windows XP CD. Hangs on "starting
windows." Note that I do not have a full Windows CD.

I've read that one work around is to disable the L1/L2 cache, but
unfortuatnely, my BIOS (Dell Dimension 8100) doesn't give me that
option.

The only other solution tha I've been able to find is this:
http://tinyurl.com/65lso, which involves booting to DOS and renaming
the windows directory. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm
actually not ever sure how to boot to DOS.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated. I REALLY do not want to have to
spend $250 (new HD+windows disk) of my own money to get this fixed.
BTW, I've been forwarded tothe next level up of MS technicians/service
people and am waiting for them to call me back in 48+ hours.

 

[Plato]

http://www.bootdisk.com/html.htm

 

[Frank]

http://www.compusa.com/sales/sale82904/ms_sp2.asp?pfp=fod#

 

[Guest]

I have had the exact same problem. After much aggravation and a few more gray
hairs, I finaly got it right. In order for sp2 to work, you MUST have sp1
installed and all known security updates installed before installing sp2. You
cannot install sp2 onto the original xp release, home or pro.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I have had the exact same problem. After much aggravation and a few more gray
hairs, I finaly got it right. In order for sp2 to work, you MUST have sp1
installed and all known security updates installed before installing sp2.

My experience (and many others as well) is that there is absolutely
no need to install all known security updates before installing SP2.

You cannot install sp2 onto the original xp release, home or pro.

Incorrect. SP2 should install fine on computers that does not have
SP1 installed (SP2 includes all what SP1 has). I have done a couple
of this type of upgrades, and SP2 installed without any problems.

You must have had some not so normal problem on your computer...