Can't upgrade to SP2

[Guest]

I have an XP Pro machine that has no service pack whatsoever installed.
Whenever I attempt to install SP1 or SP2, I get an error "an internal error
has occurred" and the install fails. I have removed some spyware/adware, and
I wonder if maybe that damaged the system somehow.

I have a generic Windows XP Pro SP2 install CD, and I wonder if I can use
the existing registration code to perform an "upgrade" install to resolve the
issue and get the machine closer to ready to use by another user?

 

[Guest]

What to Know Before You Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD - its FRE
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350

cleanup after SP2 instal
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7265&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight

 

[Guest]

What to Know Before You Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD - its FREE
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350

cleanup after SP2 install
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7265&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight

Byte, I appreciate the help, however, I'm an IT professional and have
installed many copies of Windows of various sorts. I've just cleaned spyware
off the machine and as best I can tell (according to the experts at
SpywareInfo's support fora) I'm clean of malware. I'm afraid that your links
didn't really help any. I appreciate your attempt.

 

[Michael O]

Have you tried installing the Service Pack in safe mode?

 

[Guest]

Hmm... Nope, not yet. That's an interesting idea. I'll give it a shot. Would
it help to post the svcpack.log file here?

 

[Guest]

Michael:
I attempted what you suggested and got the same problem -- install failed
for some reason. I also tried SP1a as someone on whatthetech.com suggested.

Will Windows / Microsoft let me perform an "upgrade" install from a CD
that's got SP2 built-in if I use the same reg code as is on this machine
already or will it fail or think I'm trying to pirate, since it's a reg code
that's already in use?

 

[Daave]

I have an XP Pro machine that has no service pack whatsoever installed.
Whenever I attempt to install SP1 or SP2, I get an error "an internal
error
has occurred" and the install fails. I have removed some
spyware/adware, and
I wonder if maybe that damaged the system somehow.

I have a generic Windows XP Pro SP2 install CD, and I wonder if I can
use
the existing registration code to perform an "upgrade" install to
resolve the
issue and get the machine closer to ready to use by another user?

What kind of XP Pro is currently on the PC? OEM or retail?

Is your generic XP Pro w/ SP2 installation disk retail or generic OEM?

Since SP2 also includes SP1, there is no need to install SP1 first.

How are you trying to install the service pack? Do you have the disk?
Are you using the Web site?

 

[Guest]

I'm not positive, but I think it's OEM on the PC, and the CD I have is also
OEM. Also, the service pack is the version for distribution on multiple PCs
that I downloaded from Microsoft.

A fellow geek suggested I try updating the Windows installer. I'm going to
try that on Monday.

 

[Guest]

PC has OEM key and my CD is an OEM CD.

What kind of XP Pro is currently on the PC? OEM or retail?

Is your generic XP Pro w/ SP2 installation disk retail or generic OEM?

Since SP2 also includes SP1, there is no need to install SP1 first.

How are you trying to install the service pack? Do you have the disk?
Are you using the Web site?

 

[Daave]

PC has OEM key and my CD is an OEM CD.

Since you have a generic OEM CD of XP Pro, you should be fine if you
want to perform a *clean* install. Just make sure you use the Product
Key from your COA.

I'm not sure whether or not a repair install would work. If no one else
chimes in and you're anxious to try, you could always create an image of
your hard drive for safety and give the repair install a try.

Another thing to pursue is why the SP2 fails in the first place. Other
than "an internal error has occurred," what is the complete error
message? Have you run Event Viewer?

 

[Guest]

Pretty much the entire error message is "an internal error has occurred"
followed by another error window stating "Service pack 2 setup failed." Now,
I upgraded Windows Installer yesterday morning, and paid a bit more attention
as I tried to install SP2 again. This time, I noticed it got as far as
checking the registration code, which leads me to wonder if maybe it's not
getting the registration code or something. That being said, I've used that
PC to download other things that check for pirated versions of Windows and
those work, so I just don't know. Unfortunately, I'm not going to have a
chance to try anything else for a few days, as I had to give it to a user as
an emergency loaner...