very scared here-HELP

[Geoffw]

after you have done all this go into the system and manually
create a system restore point to make sure that you have the
last known good configuration

good luck


message

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thank you for replying decoder. Yes, my computer is ready for sp2
according to windows update but I'm still very fearful that
something will go wrong. I've done everything to prepare for it
including purchasing more memory last week. I'll do another
clean sweep of the system, restore points, delete temp files, viral
and adware scans, defrag and disable everything in msconfig startup
before installing with a cd that ms sent already. The one thing I
haven't done is the external backup which I know I should but I
can't put additional $ into purchasing the software just now.
Hopefully, it will all work and if it doesn't, I'll do an
uninstall.

XXCLONE is free.
http://www.xxclone.com/iscenter.htm
( Use it to backup: http://www.xxclone.com/itechnot.htm )

NTBackup is free.
http://www.winxptutor.com/ntbackup.htm
( Use it to backup: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422 )

Cobian Backup is free.
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm
( Use it to backup:
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/Cobian_Backup_7_Tutorial.htm )

Those might help you get some of your most important things off your
computer and onto external media (CD? DVD?)

If you need a freeware way to burn such things beyond what Windows XP
offers..

CDBurnerXP Pro
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

DeepBurner Free
http://www.deepburner.com/

 

[decoder]

Thank you for replying decoder. Yes, my computer is ready for sp2
according
to windows update but I'm still very fearful that something will go wrong.
I've done everything to prepare for it including purchasing more memory
last
week. I'll do another clean sweep of the system, restore points, delete
temp files, viral and adware scans, defrag and disable everything in
msconfig
startup before installing with a cd that ms sent already. The one thing I
haven't done is the external backup which I know I should but I can't put
additional $ into purchasing the software just now. Hopefully, it will
all
work and if it doesn't, I'll do an uninstall.

I'd much rather you perform the SP2 update via Windows Update site,
It will perform a full scan and create a restore point for you before the
download starts. After download completes, the Windows Update
will tell you it is now ready to install, you just click the "OK" button.
Once Installation completes, it will tell you if successful, and then
it auto Reboots your PC. And remember if doing it from the Windows
update site you are getting the most uptodate version for your
specific PC configuration...........You'll be fine.

In the unlikely event of problems occuring, This link describes how
to boot into safe mode from a troublesome PC.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

Once into safe mode - "Safe mode" is a stripped back version of
windows - a very basic uncomplicated version that will at least
allow you to access System Restore and set your PC back to
the point prior to the SP2 update.
This explains system restore:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx


It really isn't as daunting as you fear.
Windows Update will create a restore point
scan your PC and confirm it is ready.
You just follow the onscreen prompts.
Your PC reboots and WindowsXP is
newly rejuvenated.
If problems do occur, Boot into Safe Mode,
locate the restore point that Windows Update
created - it will be obvious as it will be called
something like "SP"2 update". and dated,
You click to restore, your PC reboots and
it will be back to the point it is now.
In the highly unlikely event that it all goes
wrong and disaster happens, then their
is always the recovery console:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654

 

[decoder]

..........and of course you have an original XP installation disk.
In the extremely unlikely event that SP2 update via the MS
Windows Update site results in disaster, and in the extremely
unlikely scenario that neither safe mode nor recovery console
are accessible-
All you have to do is boot from your XP CD, select recovery/repair,
then select the restore point that windows update created,
remove disk and reboot.
One final point, having read thru your posts,
When downloading and installing SP3,
You only need to close all running apps,
But NOT your AV nor firewall, leave them running.

You'll be fine, if you do it online.
Let Windows Update do the SP2 upgrade.

 

[Alias]

.........and of course you have an original XP installation disk.
In the extremely unlikely event that SP2 update via the MS
Windows Update site results in disaster, and in the extremely
unlikely scenario that neither safe mode nor recovery console
are accessible-
All you have to do is boot from your XP CD, select recovery/repair,
then select the restore point that windows update created,
remove disk and reboot.
One final point, having read thru your posts,
When downloading and installing SP3,
You only need to close all running apps,
But NOT your AV nor firewall, leave them running.

Firewall, yes, AV NO!

Alias

 

[decoder]

Firewall, yes, AV NO!

Well give your reason?
MS has configured it's update(s) to account for ALL
Anti-virus software, likewise ALL anti-virus software
for XP is configured via their own updates to allow
XP service packs etc.
So unless you know otherwise, and can give details,
then, YES, whilst ONLINE and downloading - anything!
the firewall and AV software must run.

 

[Guest]

Alias, NO, I don't have the installation disk. It was built in when I
purchased the computer. I have the key number but I'm not sure how to do
what you've instructed here without the physical cd. Would appreciate it if
you can advise. It is all legal. I purchased computer from office depot and
was under warranty for a year so with this knowledge, how do I retrieve what
you've instructed here? Thanks, Sandra

 

[Alias]

Well give your reason?

I said so. Heh.

MS has configured it's update(s) to account for ALL
Anti-virus software, likewise ALL anti-virus software
for XP is configured via their own updates to allow
XP service packs etc.

Keep telling yourself that.

So unless you know otherwise, and can give details,
then, YES, whilst ONLINE and downloading - anything!
the firewall and AV software must run.

The firewall, yes. The AV NO! The reason is that you don't want your AV
checking everything while a program, be it an update or anything else,
is installing. Otherwise, you may get a corrupt installation, of course!

Alias

 

[Alias]

Alias, NO, I don't have the installation disk. It was built in when I
purchased the computer. I have the key number but I'm not sure how to do
what you've instructed here without the physical cd. Would appreciate it if
you can advise. It is all legal. I purchased computer from office depot and
was under warranty for a year so with this knowledge, how do I retrieve what
you've instructed here? Thanks, Sandra

Sounds like it's on a hidden partition. Call Office Depot and ask them
how to reinstall your OS.

Alias

 

[decoder]

Alias, NO, I don't have the installation disk. It was built in when I
purchased the computer. I have the key number but I'm not sure how to do
what you've instructed here without the physical cd. Would appreciate it
if
you can advise. It is all legal. I purchased computer from office depot
and
was under warranty for a year so with this knowledge, how do I retrieve
what
you've instructed here? Thanks, Sandra

Alias didn't post that, I did.
Just perform the SP2 upgrade from Windows Update, you'll be fine.
Alias is not a poster with any idea what he/she is talking about.

 

[decoder]

I said so. Heh.


Keep telling yourself that.


The firewall, yes. The AV NO! The reason is that you don't want your AV
checking everything while a program, be it an update or anything else, is
installing. Otherwise, you may get a corrupt installation, of course!

Nonsense, you haven't a clue what you are talking about.
Your only contribution to the thread and you are wrong!
Bye.

 

[Alias]

Alias didn't post that, I did.
Just perform the SP2 upgrade from Windows Update, you'll be fine.
Alias is not a poster with any idea what he/she is talking about.

LOL! If you follow "decoder"'s advice, you'll have problems for sure.

Alias

 

[Leythos]

The firewall, yes. The AV NO! The reason is that you don't want your AV
checking everything while a program, be it an update or anything else,
is installing. Otherwise, you may get a corrupt installation, of course!

Funny Alias. I've seen that warning for decades, see it on thousands of
systems we manage, and never had a single problem leaving the AV
software in real time scanning mode while installing programs.

If the AV software is going to corrupt the install, it's going to screw
with the program to begin with once it's installed without the scanning.

Now, if you've got a screwed-up system, already have malware, etc...
then yes, it may cause problems, but it's not the real cause of the
problem.

 

[Alias]

Funny Alias. I've seen that warning for decades, see it on thousands of
systems we manage, and never had a single problem leaving the AV
software in real time scanning mode while installing programs.

"Never had a single problem" with ALL of your computers? Pull the other
one, Leythos, it has bells on it.

If the AV software is going to corrupt the install, it's going to screw
with the program to begin with once it's installed without the scanning.
Illogical.


Now, if you've got a screwed-up system, already have malware, etc...
then yes, it may cause problems, but it's not the real cause of the
problem.

I don't agree but for the sake of argument, it can't hurt to turn the
auto-scan off before installing a program, now can it? I suppose you
also leave it on when defragging ...

I'm glad you're not my computer tech.

Alias

 

[Leythos]

"Never had a single problem" with ALL of your computers? Pull the other
one, Leythos, it has bells on it.

I said, Quoted again:

Illogical.

Maybe to you, but it seems to prove the case to me.

I don't agree but for the sake of argument, it can't hurt to turn the
auto-scan off before installing a program, now can it? I suppose you
also leave it on when defragging ...

Yes, it can't hurt as long as the installation is from a "trusted"
source and you're sure it's free of malware.

I defrag my servers and workstations nightly in many cases, never
disabling the AV software, ever.

I'm glad you're not my computer tech.

And I'm glad you would never get hired in my I.T. Company with such
assumptions as you have.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

I'm going to attempt installing from cd sp2 once again. Did it last year on
my then, new computer....crashed.....had the os reinstalled. I feel
pressured to install sp2 'cause everyone say to do it. Everything works fine
now but I want to stay kept up on everything. I've read all the pre-install
requirements, did all updates, ran viral and malware, adware detections,
scanned disks, defragmented, created new system restore point, cleaned out
cookies, temp files, you name it, I've done it. Should I go into msconfig
and stop all programs from loading (except microsoft prog.'s) before
installing sp2? I'll be offline when installing. Should I disable windows
firewall? Zone Alarm? Norton AV? I'm deathly afraid of another crash.

SP2 works fine for most people, but a small minority have had problems
with it. Since you had problems before, take the advice in the other
post and do an image.