SP1 Uninstall error

[Larry]

I have an HP Pavilion and experienced a recent crash. I need to unistall SP1
in order to reinstall the Vista Upgrade which is pre-SP1 release. When I
attempt to uninstall, I keep getting an error message that "all of the
updates could not be uninstalled" and absolutely nothing happens to SP1. How
can I force SP1 to uninstall?

I look forward to your responses.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Do a System Restore to a date prior to SP1 install.
Start>Programs>Accessories>System tools>System restore.

 

[Larry]

Thanks, Mick. Unfortunately the computer crash was a major one and I have no
restore points before the crash date. I can't restore to a point before SP1
was installed.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Larry, your only option then is method 1 at the MS link below.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948537

 

[Larry]

Thanks again, Mick, but same error message. If that's my only option, then I
am truly in trouble. The system won't allow me to install an external hard
drive so that I can back up all my files - can't find the driver even though
I have the driver and pointed the installer to the file - and I did want to
save all my programs.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Larry, save your Data to a Memory Stick/flash drive, or CD using a burn
Program.
Actual Programs(except for like solitaire), you can NOT save to another Drive.
Programs have to be re-installed from the original media, as they are spread
through your system(registry, etc) when installed..

The only way to save your Programs is to use something like Acronis true
Image, and backup your complete system.
But, in your case, that is not an option, as you want to fix problems with
Vista, not move probs!

Sorry I can't help you more, but it is only the Net here!
If it is a USB ExT HD, you should have no probs installing.

 

[SG]

Thanks again, Mick, but same error message. If that's my only option,
then I
am truly in trouble. The system won't allow me to install an external
hard
drive so that I can back up all my files - can't find the driver even
though
I have the driver and pointed the installer to the file - and I did want
to
save all my programs.

Larry,

If all else fails see if you can remove your hard drive and slave it to
another machine and copy all your user files over. A friend perhaps or a
good neighbor should help you out.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft

 

[Larry]

Thanks a million for all your help and sorry that nothing seems to work.
I've decided to just do an upgrade from Home Premium to Ultimate to try and
resolve this issue. Hopefully the reinstall will correct the system files
and allow me to move forward.

Larry

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks a million for all your help and sorry that nothing seems to work.
I've decided to just do an upgrade from Home Premium to Ultimate to try and
resolve this issue. Hopefully the reinstall will correct the system files
and allow me to move forward.

In my view that's a very bad plan. An upgrade from one version of an
operating system to a higher level is normally the easiest and
most-likely successful of all possible upgrades. But the one time it's
most likely to not go well is when you are having problems.

Do not look to upgrades to solve problems. They are more likely to
exacerbate the problems than to solve them.

 

[Larry]

SG. Thanks for the input and that's a superb idea!! I have several other
computers here at home with multiple teenagers and I'm sure that one of them
wouldn't mind helping out dear old dad!!

Larry

 

[Larry]

Thanks, Ken. That is certanly good advice. At the present time, I've been
able to restore most of my functionality and the only real lissue remaining
is my inability to get my Maxtor 750GB external drive to be recognized by
Windows. I've hooked the drive up to another computer in my home running
Vista and it loaded with absolutely no problems. I still cannot uninstall
SP1, but the upgrade to Ultimate is post SP1 release and contains the update.
Most of the other problems have been resolved so I'm hoping that installing
Ultimate will also resolve the driver issues. It that works, then I'm home
free!!!

Thanks again for your advice.

Larry