Considerable SP2 dwnld/install problems

[W.G.D.]

Recently I had to reinstall XP Hm. As a result only SP1 came along.

Went to MS's dwnld site (Icon continues to say current version of XP is not
updated).

I executed a dwnld and install. Dwnld was fine (75mB). Install hung up
(after a few hours, no movement of the execution bars). I aborted the
process believing I could do all again.

Going back to MS' dwnld site, MS's screen says "... your machine has already
been upgraded to XP SP2". Clicking on machine system info says SP1.

Attempted another dwnld last night. Install screen would not let me get
beyond the "I Accept" screen.

Doing a Search for SP2, I found a number of folders "sp2gdr" + sp2.cab in
Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\(string of alpha-numerics).

Yesterday I ordered the CD (for SP2) but that will take, they say, 4-6
weeks.

Pls what is the next step?

Is the presence of sp2 folders (maybe incomplete) telling MS's site
something that really is not true?

Meanwhile machine is slow. Boots (warm and cold) take a long time (like,
maybe the reinstall left much to be desired).

Thank You and Best Regards,
Wayne

BTW, I also have XP Professional (a bit old - few years - though). I
cannot boot from it. Bad disk or is Professional installed after Home is
running??

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Wayne

You can use any CD copy of the SP2 update. Borrow a CD from a friend?

Does SP2 appear in Add / Remove Programs -Start, Control Panel, Add /
Remove Programs?

When downoading from Windows Update you do have an option to Save. You
can then end your internet connection before installing. Before
installing turn off continuous scanning by anti-virus and antispyware
programmes and the firewall. Restore when installation complete.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323166

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/russel_installsp2.mspx

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[W.G.D.]

Gerry:

Is SP2 also called MS .NET Framework 2.0 ??

This item most closely - date-wise - relates to when I last dwnld'd SP2.

Wayne

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Wayne

SP2 is an update for the Windows XP operating system. NET Framework is
something totally different!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

Select, Start, Help and Support, Keep your Windows up- to-date with
Windows Update, Review your Update History and click on the Failed
Icon in the Status Column. What does it say?

You need to have installed earlier versions of Net Framework before
installing Net Framework 2.0. The earlier versions of Net Framework
are an optional extra.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[W.G.D.]

Gerry:

Yep! I realized after I wrote that msg that it was dumb WRONG.

As instructed, nothing comes up as failed. HOWEVER, when I attempt to dwnld
SP2, a previous attempt is noted followed by "Failed". Here is the one that
I stopped due to a possible hang-up (last msg). Meanwhile a number of
security updates were dwnld'd that day.

So as it is right now, MS's SP2 server will not again execute a dwnld.
Recall, too, there are SP2 folders in the Windows directory. And SP2 is
not noted in the Programs ADD/Remove feature.

BTW, Outlook Exp 6 has become, forgive me, a pig.

That reinstall of XP Home - old version apparently, has caused a number of
unwanted problems. Applications are slow to open. This whole thing has me
looking at a new machine which is a cowardly way of solving the problem!

Here is one for you. Home-based, two-machine wireless network. #1 has XP
(now the bad one), #2 has Media Center. #1 (w/XP) can SEE #2, but #2
(w/Media) canNOT see #1. Two techs at two different local box houses said
that this is because the OSs are different. In networking, XP and MEDIA
Center are not compatible. True??

Best,
Wayne
Sarasota, Florida

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Wayne

Do you have a system restore point for before the SP2 install?
http://bertk.mvps.org/

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[W.G.D.]

Gerry:

Yes, back to when I first reinstalled (fixed) XP (last weekend). That seems
to have helped considerably, particularly with speed, opening of
applications & a less-piggy OE. I am still at SP1. I plan to let XP do its
Auto Updates thing and see what happens next. Make sense to you?

Sorry tale here is that I should have used Restore when I first "thought" I
had an XP crash problem. Lesson learned a bit late. Impatience was costly.

Wayne

BTW ~ ever have experience with BLUE screens, you know, the ones we used to
face in the OLD days? Occassionaly I get them - reason: List Corrupt, and
something about LessThan-Equal. Core gets dumped to the disk and machine
reboots. These screens appear after an Account has been clicked and Windows
loads Personal Settings. A techy at a local box house suggested that bad
segments were being seen during the load process. Make any sense to you?

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Wayne

You have have had one unhappy experience. It would be best to try
another approach.

Right click on the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select
Properties, Automatic Updates. Uncheck the box before Automatic
(Recommended) and check the box before Notify me but do not
automatically download or install. Click on Apply and OK and close all
windows. Restart your computer.

In future to update the procedure becomes select Start, Help and
Support, Keep your computer up to date with Windows Update and double
click Custom. The system then checks on you and then your system to
see what you need. At the end of this stage under Select by Type will
be the number of Updates available by category. Click on Critical and
it will list the details of those available. Check the option for each
and every one and then click on Install. You will then be offered the
option to Save to Disk or to Run. Select Run. The process is then
fully automated until it says hopefully Successful or Finished. You
then restart the machine if asked to do so.

With regard to SP2 borrow an SP2 CD from a friend. The SP2 CD was
freely distributed in 2004 and can be used on any Windows XP machine.
Downloading such a large update is a prolonged experience thereby
increasing the chance that things can go wrong. Using a CD enables you
to break the internet connection, and turn off your anti-virus,
anti-spyware and firewall, which can interfere with the updating
process.

Alternatively try the Installing from the Internet by using Windows
Update option in the link, which follows:

Detailed installation walkthrough for Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875364

We do not know why the first attempt at installation failed! How much
free disk space is available?

The hard disk space requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837783/

It can also be advisable to update third party drivers before
reinstalling SP2.

What is the motherboard make and model?

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information about
your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is
fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup messages
longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

Before you reinstall make sure you select Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to Empty your Recycle Bin and
Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also select Start, All Programs,
accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp, More Options, System Restore
and remove all but the latest System Restore point. Run Disk
Defragmenter.

Finally immediately before updating to SP2 create a System Restore
point.
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/createrp.html


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[W.G.D.]

Gerry:

Vey much appreciated! Printed out what you say below ~ will follow through
and advise later.

Be Well!

 

[Wayne]

Gerry:

I bit the 'buy a new one' apple. Blue screens and other problems, the last
of which was defragging "C" during which the machine QUIT. Dead. Red pwr
light. No fans. Machine too old to spend $s to find out what happended,
what quit (the PS was only 6 mths old). Now have one of those AMD Dual Core
units, plenty of RAM and HD. OS= XP's Media Center. Machine a bit on the
old side - was built with IDE (vs SATA). Good news here was that I was able
to move ALL data files, etc - actually added another HD to the already
enough HD. Buy was this past weekend.

Today . . . . the SP2 disk arrived!

Appreciate your patience and suggestions.

Wayne Dengel
Sarasota, FL

BTW, next job will be to wireless network the two machines & share printers.