Service pack 2 killed my laptop

[Henry Timm]

Hi,
Since I can't seem to email microsoft my problem (love
how their network for email is always down), i'll try
posting my letter to them on this newsgroup... it is as
follows...

Hello,
I am writing about my laptop which is a HP Pavilion
ze5300. After Service pack 2 was installed, i went
through and restarted the computer. On reboot, the
computer has a limited time before it locks up. During
the system check process, it says that the mouse driver
has an error... Further details i've been able to get is
that the touch pad for the laptop is causing a fatal
error and the computer appears to be locking itself down
because of the error or for protection. I tried using a
window's installation disk to reformat the computer in
hopes of wiping the computer clean and having a clean
slate to load things back from. This proved to be a
mistake as the laptop locked up during the
reinstallation. So now i have a laptop that when powers
on, either locks up imediately before anything is even
displayed or it allows me some time to look at things
before it locks. I've discovered that if i let the
laptop sit for an hour or so before turning it on that it
gives me limited time before it freezes. I've already
tried booting from the cd, running recovery, booting over
a network i have set up in my home, and i've disconnected
any and all extra peripherials to the laptop in hopes of
isolating the problem. Please help. I assume i've
already lost or will loose all the data on the computer
as of right now regretably (school and buisness work and
music of around 60 giga bytes), but i just want the thing
to at least work and give me a basis to start loading
things back on. I have quite a distaste after this
incident, when I followed every step that microsoft had
instructed me to do. The laptop recieved the service
pack 2 from the auto update and i had checked to make
sure i had all the updates needed before that and i
regularly scan my computer for viruses and spyware as
well as use ad-aware se. I am essentially without a
laptop now that had lots of information on it very very
valuable to me. I am now with a thin box with buttons
and has flashing lights for all the time and effort i've
put forth into it because of the download of this service
pack. Please tell me there is hope and that there is
something that can be done to fix this problem and at
least return my laptop to operational status again. I do
know my way around computers fairly well but the solution
for this escapes me. Please Help. Thank you.

Henry L. Timm
Email: (e-mail address removed)


HP Pavilion ze5300 (cto?)
80 GB Hard Drive
512 DDR Ram
Dvd - CD re writable drive
windows home edition

 

[Edward W. Thompson]

Hi,
Since I can't seem to email microsoft my problem (love
how their network for email is always down), i'll try
posting my letter to them on this newsgroup... it is as
follows...

Hello,
I am writing about my laptop which is a HP Pavilion
ze5300. After Service pack 2 was installed, i went
through and restarted the computer. On reboot, the
computer has a limited time before it locks up. During
the system check process, it says that the mouse driver
has an error... Further details i've been able to get is
that the touch pad for the laptop is causing a fatal
error and the computer appears to be locking itself down
because of the error or for protection. I tried using a
window's installation disk to reformat the computer in
hopes of wiping the computer clean and having a clean
slate to load things back from. This proved to be a
mistake as the laptop locked up during the
reinstallation. So now i have a laptop that when powers
on, either locks up imediately before anything is even
displayed or it allows me some time to look at things
before it locks. I've discovered that if i let the
laptop sit for an hour or so before turning it on that it
gives me limited time before it freezes. I've already
tried booting from the cd, running recovery, booting over
a network i have set up in my home, and i've disconnected
any and all extra peripherials to the laptop in hopes of
isolating the problem. Please help. I assume i've
already lost or will loose all the data on the computer
as of right now regretably (school and buisness work and
music of around 60 giga bytes), but i just want the thing
to at least work and give me a basis to start loading
things back on. I have quite a distaste after this
incident, when I followed every step that microsoft had
instructed me to do. The laptop recieved the service
pack 2 from the auto update and i had checked to make
sure i had all the updates needed before that and i
regularly scan my computer for viruses and spyware as
well as use ad-aware se. I am essentially without a
laptop now that had lots of information on it very very
valuable to me. I am now with a thin box with buttons
and has flashing lights for all the time and effort i've
put forth into it because of the download of this service
pack. Please tell me there is hope and that there is
something that can be done to fix this problem and at
least return my laptop to operational status again. I do
know my way around computers fairly well but the solution
for this escapes me. Please Help. Thank you.

Henry L. Timm
Email: (e-mail address removed)


HP Pavilion ze5300 (cto?)
80 GB Hard Drive
512 DDR Ram
Dvd - CD re writable drive
windows home edition

The way you describe your problems does suggest an overheating problem with
your laptop. Are you quite sure that the fan is running? If the fan on the
laptop doesn't run then you will likely get the problems as you describe.

If you are not particular about saving the data on your machine, simply boot
from a floppy disk, format and reinstall. If you slipstream SP2 onto your
original WINXP you can install WINXP SP2 directly onto your machine.

If the data is important and your disks are formatted FAT then boot with a
floppy (WIN98SE preferred), and copy the data files to a CD, then format.

If your drives are formatted NTFS you can download NTFSDOS, load that onto
a floppy and access the drives to transfer the data to a CD. Note NTFSDOS
will allow you to read the NTFS volumes but not to write to them.

 

[Jeff]

Hi,

I can`t give you any solutions, but I can tell you past
posts I have read about HP. It seems you need to go to
the HP website to read up on what they have to say on what
to do prior to installing SP2 on any HP system. I beleive
they have some patches for some and also list of system
not to install SP2 on. So, your best bet is to visit HP
site and read up on what they say about installing SP2 on
their products.

Jeff

 

[luminos]

I tried using a
window's installation disk to reformat the computer in
hopes of wiping the computer clean and having a clean
slate to load things back from. This proved to be a
mistake as the laptop locked up during the
reinstallation.

And this tells you nothing?

Call HP with your reinstallation discs, authorized, in hand.

 

[PA Bear]

Most of us are recommending that those with laptops, especially older ones,
contact the manufacturer for info on upgrading to SP2. I would not upgrade
until I got an "all clear" from the manufacturer as well as download links
for any model-specific drivers which SP2 would require.

We similarly discourage laptop owners from formatting and installing a
retail version of Windows until they have the necessary, laptop-specific
files and drivers on hand which will be needed.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

WinXP SP2 Release Notes
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835935

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Gordon]

Most of us are recommending that those with laptops, especially older ones,
contact the manufacturer for info on upgrading to SP2. I would not upgrade
until I got an "all clear" from the manufacturer as well as download links
for any model-specific drivers which SP2 would require.

Interestingly, I've clean-installed XP with SP1 and then SP2 onto a
three-year old Toshiba Tecra 9000 with no problems what so ever, and no need
for any external drivers either! Works fine.

 

[PA Bear]

Interestingly, I've clean-installed XP with SP1 and then SP2 onto a
three-year old Toshiba Tecra 9000 with no problems what so ever, and no
need
for any external drivers either! Works fine.

YMMV. Others (including Toshiba users) have not been so fortunate.

 

[Guest]

I too have an HP laptop (pavilion zt1000) with XP home edition which has been
given me real problems since installing SP2. I have generally had more
errors in the past few days since installation and two bigger problems also
immediately come to mind:

- my IE browser now often locks up (?seemingly for Java-related reasons?)

- if I put my laptop into "hibernate," I get errors when I try to start it
up again and end up being forced to entirely restart the thing

- I've also had more errors elsewhere which I cannot remember now

From my end, it seems like something is not right with SP2 and I'm hoping
for some sort of follow up. Like SP2a or something.

 

[PA Bear]

My previous reply to this thread notwithstanding, in all likelihood the
install of SP2 has revealed 'malware' which remained hidden and buried in
SP1, Sam.

Dealing with Trojans & Hijackware

A. Trojans

1. Check in at Windows Update and install all critical updates & reboot.

2. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

3. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow *all* Removal steps, including editing the Registry if directed.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then:

Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most recent Restore
Point.

B. Hijackware

Help with Hijackware (MS MVP sites all)
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder v1.59.1 (no updates available currently; fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware SE (reconfigure per Post #2 in
http://aumha.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5877; fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You must seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each and
every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://forum.aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to
use. It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware.
**Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

WinXP SP2: What's New for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/ieoeoverview.mspx

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

 

[Rock]

I too have an HP laptop (pavilion zt1000) with XP home edition which has been
given me real problems since installing SP2. I have generally had more
errors in the past few days since installation and two bigger problems also
immediately come to mind:

- my IE browser now often locks up (?seemingly for Java-related reasons?)

- if I put my laptop into "hibernate," I get errors when I try to start it
up again and end up being forced to entirely restart the thing

- I've also had more errors elsewhere which I cannot remember now

From my end, it seems like something is not right with SP2 and I'm hoping
for some sort of follow up. Like SP2a or something.

:

SP2a - not likely - at least not as some fix for SP2. SP1a was not a
fix for SP1. It is the same as SP1 with MS's JVM removed because of
court order due to a suit by Sun.

 

[Guest]

To continue to discuss this problem... I would like to make it known that
before allowing the installation of service pack 2 on my laptop I checked
with both microsoft and HP for the latest updates and recommendations. I
also had scanned for adware, spyware, and viruses on a regular basis and my
computer had been running fine. And yes, all the fans are in proper working
condition and I also sit the computer on a heat pad that has ventilation
holes in it and several fans to help pull heat away from the laptop so
temperature is very well moderated. On the installation of service pack 2,
my laptop started its demise. When I turn on my laptop now, if i'm lucky it
goes for like 2 minutes before the computer locks up. I can't do anything
without the computer locking up. Usually when I start the computer up, I see
lights come on on the keyboard, and then there is no display on the monitor.
I've tried contacting both microsoft and hp about my problem and i've checked
both companies for possible fixes and searched their knowledge bases indepth.
So i'm fairly confident that it isn't a heat issue and it's not likely to be
a virus that was on my laptop before the installation of service pack 2. I
would be happy right now if i could even get to a command prompt or complete
a reformat or recovery. No idea what to do. Please help lol. I am
desperate.

 

[PA Bear]

When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://forum.aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to
use. It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware.

Install HT, enable 'Show Hidden Files', reboot into Safe Mode and run HT.
Save your log, reboot into Windows and post your files to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
for expert analysis, **not here,** for expert advice.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org