SP2 Install Issue-Stuck on "Checking Product Key"

[Guest]

Hello, I've tried several times to update the Acer laptop that I just
performed a clean install on. After launching the SP2 installer, it will stop
when "Checking product key" I know the key is good, any clue as to how to get
SP2 installed?
Thanks,
Edison

 

[Guest]

I have the same issue and I have seen others recently with the same issue. I
think there is something wrong with the latest install of SP2, since they
added the Windows Genuine Checking. I accepted the install for the Windows
Genuaine Checker and I am genuine, but now it nags that SP1 will not be
supported after October and I can't get SP2 to get past the Checking Product
Key stage, it just hangs. Did you find out why? Does any one have a fix for
this. I have a Dell laptop and Dell will not give any support without
paying.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hello, I've tried several times to update the Acer laptop that
I just performed a clean install on. After launching the SP2
installer, it will stop when "Checking product key" I know the
key is good, any clue as to how to get SP2 installed?

Hi,

I just had this issue one some computers at work, and did some
googling. At a web forum I found the solution. A guy named Matt had
this problem and phoned Microsoft. After a second hour session on the
phone, the Microsoft tech found the reason, it had to do with OEM inf
files not being recognized by the SP2 installation. Below is the
resolution email that was sent to Matt. This procedure also solved the
problem on the computers where I work.


<quote>
Hi Matt,

There are 3 steps which we have to do to get the SP2 installed.


Steps are:


1) Please go into the CMD prompt (Start/Run --> cmd.exe )

2) Then type cd /d %windir%\inf and make sure we are in that
directory.

3) Then type ren oem*.inf oem*.old, it will go back to the prompt
after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

4) Then type ren oem*.pnf oem*.old1, it will go back to the prompt
after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

5) Then goto start - run - type "%windir%\inf" and you will see
the files in the folder.

6) Then find the file by name INFCACHE.1 and take a backup of it
to desktop (by copying it to desktop) and delete the INFCACHE.1
from c:\windows\inf.

7) Close all windows and reboot the computer to safe mode and
start the installation of SP2 and it should go fine.


Please let me know the result of the above steps.

Thanks & Regards,

Dilep R****

Research Engineer - OSR II

Microsoft Platforms and Desktop Support

Windows XP Team

Microsoft Corporation

* Email: ******@mssupport.microsoft.com

( Voice Mail: 425-635-**** ext. *****

¹ Hours: Monday - Friday, 5:00am - 2:00pm PST

</quote>

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hi,

I just had this issue one some computers at work, and did some
googling. At a web forum I found the solution. A guy named Matt had
this problem and phoned Microsoft. After a second hour session on the
phone, the Microsoft tech found the reason, it had to do with OEM inf
files not being recognized by the SP2 installation. Below is the
resolution email that was sent to Matt. This procedure also solved the
problem on the computers where I work.


<quote>
Hi Matt,

There are 3 steps which we have to do to get the SP2 installed.


Steps are:


1) Please go into the CMD prompt (Start/Run --> cmd.exe )

2) Then type cd /d %windir%\inf and make sure we are in that
directory.

3) Then type ren oem*.inf oem*.old, it will go back to the prompt
after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

4) Then type ren oem*.pnf oem*.old1, it will go back to the prompt
after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

5) Then goto start - run - type "%windir%\inf" and you will see
the files in the folder.

6) Then find the file by name INFCACHE.1 and take a backup of it
to desktop (by copying it to desktop) and delete the INFCACHE.1
from c:\windows\inf.

7) Close all windows and reboot the computer to safe mode and
start the installation of SP2 and it should go fine.


Please let me know the result of the above steps.

Thanks & Regards,

Dilep R****

Research Engineer - OSR II

Microsoft Platforms and Desktop Support

Windows XP Team

Microsoft Corporation

* Email: ******@mssupport.microsoft.com

( Voice Mail: 425-635-**** ext. *****

¹ Hours: Monday - Friday, 5:00am - 2:00pm PST

</quote>

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying that worked. I am installing SP2 now. I hope it
completes ok. That is usually the hard part.

 

[Eric]

Thanks for the help. I just upgraded my laptop to a 100GB HDD and
after reinstalling OEM CD I could not upgrade to SP2. Finally stumbled
on this newsgroup and voila I am upgraded.



Eric

 

[blurb2m]

this worked for me....you guys are amazing!!!
I just couldn't believe that my Dell would give me this much trouble
when I have clean formatted in the past with zero problems. This have
anything to do with MS nixing SP1 support?