SP2/Laptop/XP Home

[Colin Meredith]

No task-bar....unable to uninstall SP2....wouldn't boot-up so tried the recovery disk :-(

After installing SP2 the small green intro-screen running squares had changed to blue (as in the Pro edition) but returned to green after using the recovery disk. I have XP Pro upgrade....is it worth trying this ?

Cheers,

Colin.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Well, what happened after you tried the recovery disk, are you able to boot,
are you back to your previous setup, what's the story?

The boot screen change is normal and now there is no designation on that
screen, Pro or Home, just a generic Windows XP.

Have you checked the laptop manufacturer's website for any necessary updates
or issues with regard to SP2? Make and model of laptop, were you having any
issues with your setup before trying to install SP2.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

No task-bar....unable to uninstall SP2....wouldn't boot-up so tried the
recovery disk :-(

After installing SP2 the small green intro-screen running squares had
changed to blue (as in the Pro edition) but returned to green after using
the recovery disk. I have XP Pro upgrade....is it worth trying this ?

Cheers,

Colin.

 

[Colin Meredith]

Well, what happened after you tried the recovery disk, are you able to
boot, are you back to your previous setup, what's the story?

I got the screen and screen icons back but it was a very slow process...but
I couldn't retrieve the task-bar.....
Tried the XP Pro upgrade but then found there was a fatal error: "Setup
failed to install the product catalos. This is a fatal error. The set-up
log files should contain more information."

Requests I reinstall the upgrade CD but then returns errors and can't
continue... what's my next move please??

Colin.

 

[Colin Meredith]

Well, what happened after you tried the recovery disk, are you able to
boot, are you back to your previous setup, what's the story?

Michael,

The latest is: Please insert the Compact Disk labelled "Windows XP
Professional Service Pack 1 CD" into your CD-Rom drive[F:] and then click
O.K." Is this referring to SP1 (which I haven't got a separate copy of)
??

Colin.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

XP Pro upgrade to what? I assume you tried to install SP2 to Home Edition,
you discovered the problems you mentioned and then tried to install XP Pro
from an upgrade disk. You cannot upgrade from Home Edition with SP2 to XP
Pro with no service pack.

If you can't boot the system to the desktop, it would appear your setup is
totally hosed, the only way out is to start over clean, meaning you'll lose
everything on the drive. Depending upon the type of disk you have for your
original OS, assuming it was XP Home Edition, if you are not backed up, you
can try installing XP to a separate partition, then copy your data from the
previous setup to the new one. If you have no such available partition, you
would need third party software such as Partition Magic, www.powerquest.com
to first create such partition by resizing the current partitions, creating
free space and then creating a new partition, then run XP setup by booting
from the CD as follows:
Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

A few screens into the boot process, if you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.

After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:

To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

In your case, press ENTER.

Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.

You will then be taken to a screen with two options.

To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.

This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

It appears to be looking for the Service Pack 1 CD.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Well, what happened after you tried the recovery disk, are you able to
boot, are you back to your previous setup, what's the story?

Michael,

The latest is: Please insert the Compact Disk labelled "Windows XP
Professional Service Pack 1 CD" into your CD-Rom drive[F:] and then click
O.K." Is this referring to SP1 (which I haven't got a separate copy
of) ??

Colin.

 

[Colin Meredith]

It appears to be looking for the Service Pack 1 CD.

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your PC."

This appears each time.....it advises me to check for viruses..none
previously. "Remove any newly installed H/D's and/or controllers. Check
the H/D to make sure it is properly configured and terminated.
Run CHKDSK /F to check for H/D corruption and then restart the PC."

"Technical Info:-
*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF894E640, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)"

Got the count-down to start Windows normally, pressed "Enter" and the same
screen, as above, reappeared.

Colin.

The only way in which I can switch-off and restart is by the "On-Off"
button.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

If you can boot to Safe Mode, boot the system, start tapping F8, at the
menu, select Safe Mode and press enter, make sure your antivirus is up to
date and run a virus scan. Also, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com