HUGE problem ahile upgrading to Service Pack

  • Thread starter Thread starter stef
  • Start date Start date
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stef

Win XP HE

Follow-up to: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

Hi, I did not have the full SP1--only some of the hotfixes.
A program that I want to install absolutely needs at least SP1 so I decided
to take the plunge and upgrade to SP1a
I 1st went onto microsoft's website and used the update web service.It
wanted me to 1st download the Validation Aplet before doing anything else.
So, I told it to download it and it did, went through the check and told me
could not validate Windows--of course to my great surprise at I am using a
Sony Vaio laptop boutgh from Best Buy and I sure don't think Sony puts
iilegal copies of Windows as OEM versions on its line of laptop.
I decided to uninstall this patch since it wasn't doing anything for
me--using Restore to earllier point. BUT, Restore does uninstall it--that
is by design from MS--so I Undid Restoration--what was the point....
I downloaded SP1a full version to my hard drive (so I COULD uninstall it in
case of conflicts--I had checked before with SONY for any potentila drive
problems, etc. and they had told me no problems.)
I installed SP1a, and during reboot process clicked on "No" to
restart--meant to click on "yes' but made a mistake. Nut no matter, I
re-booted myself right after that.
Here comes the HUGE problem:
Windows won't boot.
It gets stcuk loading my settings and gives the following error message:
Windows Product Activation (Title in the Title Bar.)
A problem is preventing Windos from accurately checking the license for this
computer. Error Code: 0x800700f.
I click on OK, but then Windowsa wants to log off; goes through screen
"saving your settings", then wants to reboot so goes through "loading your
settings" and--of course, gives the error message again, on and on and on,
in an endless loop, no matter what I do.
I tried booting in Safe Mode, but it gets stuck after a waile.
I tried to boot in DOS, no go.
I tried booting with "last successful configuration", no go.
All of my personal and business info is on that laptop and this is a HUGE
problem for me.

Can anyone help, please?
 
sorry if this posted twice--my email client told me couldn't sent 1st
message/post; so I re-posted--but it looks like it had gotten thru on the
1st try anyway.
Tx for ur advice on the problem described below.
----- Original Message -----
 
stef said:
Win XP HE

Follow-up to: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

Hi, I did not have the full SP1--only some of the hotfixes.
A program that I want to install absolutely needs at least SP1 so I decided
to take the plunge and upgrade to SP1a
I 1st went onto microsoft's website and used the update web service.It
wanted me to 1st download the Validation Aplet before doing anything else.
So, I told it to download it and it did, went through the check and told me
could not validate Windows--of course to my great surprise at I am using a
Sony Vaio laptop boutgh from Best Buy and I sure don't think Sony puts
iilegal copies of Windows as OEM versions on its line of laptop.
I decided to uninstall this patch since it wasn't doing anything for
me--using Restore to earllier point. BUT, Restore does uninstall it--that
is by design from MS--so I Undid Restoration--what was the point....
I downloaded SP1a full version to my hard drive (so I COULD uninstall it in
case of conflicts--I had checked before with SONY for any potentila drive
problems, etc. and they had told me no problems.)
I installed SP1a, and during reboot process clicked on "No" to
restart--meant to click on "yes' but made a mistake. Nut no matter, I
re-booted myself right after that.
Here comes the HUGE problem:
Windows won't boot.
It gets stcuk loading my settings and gives the following error message:
Windows Product Activation (Title in the Title Bar.)
A problem is preventing Windos from accurately checking the license for this
computer. Error Code: 0x800700f.
I click on OK, but then Windowsa wants to log off; goes through screen
"saving your settings", then wants to reboot so goes through "loading your
settings" and--of course, gives the error message again, on and on and on,
in an endless loop, no matter what I do.
I tried booting in Safe Mode, but it gets stuck after a waile.
I tried to boot in DOS, no go.
I tried booting with "last successful configuration", no go.
All of my personal and business info is on that laptop and this is a HUGE
problem for me.

Can anyone help, please?
Click to expand...

At this stage, probably no. Best course of action is to return
to the SONY dealer and get the recovery cdrom for VAIO laptop.
Alternate option would be to download the ISO copy of the image
file for the recovery cdrom for the VAIO from SONY's website.
Worst option is to buy either a "generic" OEM version of or the
retail version of Windows XP and use it to re-install, that is
to repair, the original installation and preserve all of your
important stuff, which should have been backed up in the first
place.

Next time, know what one is shopping for. Buying any computer
without the full installation cdrom is a folly. And updating
without knowing how to do it properly is further folly. The
only people who can get away with such dumbed-down methodologies
are those with the years of experience behind them. Live and
learn.
 
GHalleck said:
At this stage, probably no. Best course of action is to return
to the SONY dealer and get the recovery cdrom for VAIO laptop.
Alternate option would be to download the ISO copy of the image
file for the recovery cdrom for the VAIO from SONY's website.
Worst option is to buy either a "generic" OEM version of or the
retail version of Windows XP and use it to re-install, that is
to repair, the original installation and preserve all of your
important stuff, which should have been backed up in the first
place.

Next time, know what one is shopping for. Buying any computer
without the full installation cdrom is a folly. And updating
without knowing how to do it properly is further folly. The
only people who can get away with such dumbed-down methodologies
are those with the years of experience behind them. Live and
learn.
Click to expand...

Live and learn? Not the response I am looking for.
I am looking for help here; not blame.

I am obviously not going to use the recovery CD which would completely erase
all of the work I've got on this computer since a long time including my
programs, etc., that are paid for, etc. Not an option.

I'd appreciate other replies that could provide possible solutions please as
I am really in dire straits. Thanks.
 
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