USB not working

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Cross the Activation bridge if & when you come to it, Ralph.

After you reinstall again, Windows Updates may fail to install. If so,
see...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

NB: Also applies to clean installs, upgrade installs, and Recovery installs.
--
~PA Bear

That machine's got major problems (the USB issue isn't one of them). I'd
start by examining the WindowsUpdate.log for errors associated with the
failed install of SP3 (and any other updates since you did the Recovery
reinstall).

PA Bear,

I've had it with this machine. I wanted to help my neighbor who is a
nice,
80-year old guy who mostly uses it for family photos and email [via AOL
]
It looks as if my help will be limited.

I've saved the photos onto a usb stick and now hope to re-install rather
than repair. I expect the install will wipe out everything.

One thing I wonder about is how do I then configure it to be recognized as
a
valid install, hopefully as a Dell OEM one as it came from Dell loaded
with
XP Home. I found this app-note on TechNet
Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457078.aspx
but 1-it might address automated deployment and 2-it gives keys for XP
Pro,
Tablet and Pro 64 bit but not for XP Home.

I've also looked at a couple of reinstall app notes but each addressed a
specific situation that does not apply here.

So my questions are:

Is it enough to just give it the key from the Windows sticker on the
machine
so that it's recognized as a valid installation by the MS update
validator?

Are there pitfalls that you can guide me around?

Note that I value your help greatly. I may dance well to C++ and assembly
but on the subject of Windows troubleshooting and installing I have found
myself essentially illiterate.

 

[ralphs]

Cross the Activation bridge if & when you come to it, Ralph.

After you reinstall again, Windows Updates may fail to install. If so,
see...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

NB: Also applies to clean installs, upgrade installs, and Recovery
installs.
--

That app note made it work without complaint. Thank you again!

Of course almost all the Dell installation items required a reboot and
Windows of course required it - I counted 27 reboots not counting those from
when I did updates to other stuff like Adobe Acrobat. Re-installing a
machine's software is definitely a pain in the neck!

You wouldn't know the secret code to keep it from re-enabling the langauge
toolbar on each reboot would you?

 

[ralphs]

You wouldn't know the secret code to keep it from re-enabling the langauge
toolbar on each reboot would you?

Solved.

Control Panel,
Regional and Language,
Languages tab,
Details button,
Language Bar button,
uncheck Show the Language bar tn the desktop

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

<ROFL> I guess that might do it!

Solved.

Control Panel,
Regional and Language,
Languages tab,
Details button,
Language Bar button,
uncheck Show the Language bar tn the desktop