System Startup Problem After Installing Windows SP2

[Guest]

My computer was running fine until I decided to install Windows Service Pack
2. After successfully installing it, I rebooted the computer as required.
This is when the problems started. When my computer restarted, it managed to
load far enough that I could see the Windows loading bar with the Windows
background. Right before the bar was finished loading, the computer would
crash and turn off. It would then restart automatically and start to load up
Windows where the computer would crash again. This keeps going on no matter
how much I try to fix it.

I know it is a software problem because the computer only started to crash
after I installed Windows Service Pack 2. If anyone has any information on
this problem, please respond.

 

[Plato]

My computer was running fine until I decided to install Windows Service Pack
2. After successfully installing it, I rebooted the computer as required.

Next time read these first:

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#1

 

[Rock]

My computer was running fine until I decided to install Windows Service Pack
2. After successfully installing it, I rebooted the computer as required.
This is when the problems started. When my computer restarted, it managed to
load far enough that I could see the Windows loading bar with the Windows
background. Right before the bar was finished loading, the computer would
crash and turn off. It would then restart automatically and start to load up
Windows where the computer would crash again. This keeps going on no matter
how much I try to fix it.

I know it is a software problem because the computer only started to crash
after I installed Windows Service Pack 2. If anyone has any information on
this problem, please respond.

A system must be running well with no problems and be free of all
malware for the SP2 install to go ok.

To start with, for your problem:

How to use the Automatic Recovery feature to recover your computer if
the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup program is not completed successfully
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=875355

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=875350

After that:

Installing Service Packs
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Pre-Install, Install, Cleaning Up Afterwards
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=45

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

Get the Latest Updates and Information from Your PC Manufacturer Before
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/oemlinks.mspx

The hard disk space requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=837783

Free Technical Support for SP2
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&x=18&y=6&c1=509&gprid=6794&

 

[Unk]

My computer was running fine until I decided to install Windows Service Pack
2. After successfully installing it, I rebooted the computer as required.
This is when the problems started. When my computer restarted, it managed to
load far enough that I could see the Windows loading bar with the Windows
background. Right before the bar was finished loading, the computer would
crash and turn off. It would then restart automatically and start to load up
Windows where the computer would crash again. This keeps going on no matter
how much I try to fix it.

I know it is a software problem because the computer only started to crash
after I installed Windows Service Pack 2. If anyone has any information on
this problem, please respond.

See if you can start up in the Safe Mode:
Restart the computer. After the Power On Self Test (POST), press and hold the F8 key.

If yes, then disable XP's "Restart on failure"
Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Advanced

In the Startup and Recovery section, click on the "Settings" button to open the Startup and
Recovery window. In the System Failure section, uncheck "Automatically restart", Click "Apply",
"OK"

After that change the computer will no longer restart when a system failure occurs. Instead it
will probably throw up a "Blue Screen Of Death" with a STOP error message and then halt
completely, requiring a manual power off and restart (or reset if it has a hardware reset
switch). But the contents of the STOP error message will give a specific clue
as to the underlying cause of the problem.

Don't be suprised, if after changing the setting, things appear to run just fine. Some errors
are so minor that they will only show up in the Event logs and not produce a BSD.
However, they would still evoke the restart if the setting were changed back to the default.

Also, Right click on "My Computer" and select Manage.
Expand the Event Viewer category and look through each of the three sub-categories for the red
flagged error records. The date and time of these should correspond to your restarts. Double
click on an error record to see the details of the error.

If you can't start up in safe mode, read this:
How to uninstall a hotfix or Service Pack via the Recovery Console
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/spuninst.htm