Win XP SP2 Boot Problem

[xdocx]

I recently installed the Win XP SP2 Update and now my PC will not boot
into Windows. I apologize if this problem has been posted and
addressed here before, but I reviewed many days of past postings and
couldn't find anything related. When trying to run System Restore in
Safe Mode it reports no hard drive found. I suspect that SP2 has
somehow caused a conflict, possibly involving my dual hard drive
serial ATA 0 RAID configuration. My PC came with only a manufacturer's
Recovery CD and I obviously prefer not to do a complete reinstall to
the original specs and lose all my data.

I have kept current with all previous MS updates, regularly run
updated Norton AV, am behind a router firewall, and before the update
installation I routinely did my usual pc maintenance routine, which
includes a complete virus scan, Norton Utilities diagnostic scan for
problems, Ad-Aware scan, SpyBot S&D scan, HD Valet scan, WindowWasher
cleanup, and defragged the drives. There were no problems and
everything was fine and fast.

I am running Win XP Home on an AMD 64 3200+, with 1GB of Corsair
PC3200 DDR Ram, a Gigabyte K8 Triton GA-K8N Pro mobo, with dual Maxtor
120GB serial ATA hard drives in a 0 RAID configuration system that is
less than six months old.

 

[xdocx]

I recently installed the Win XP SP2 Update and now my PC will not boot
into Windows. I apologize if this problem has been posted and
addressed here before, but I reviewed many days of past postings and
couldn't find anything related. When trying to run System Restore in
Safe Mode it reports no hard drive found. I suspect that SP2 has
somehow caused a conflict, possibly involving my dual hard drive
serial ATA 0 RAID configuration. My PC came with only a manufacturer's
Recovery CD and I obviously prefer not to do a complete reinstall to
the original specs and lose all my data.

I have kept current with all previous MS updates, regularly run
updated Norton AV, am behind a router firewall, and before the update
installation I routinely did my usual pc maintenance routine, which
includes a complete virus scan, Norton Utilities diagnostic scan for
problems, Ad-Aware scan, SpyBot S&D scan, HD Valet scan, WindowWasher
cleanup, and defragged the drives. There were no problems and
everything was fine and fast.

I am running Win XP Home on an AMD 64 3200+, with 1GB of Corsair
PC3200 DDR Ram, a Gigabyte K8 Triton GA-K8N Pro mobo, with dual Maxtor
120GB serial ATA hard drives in a 0 RAID configuration system that is
less than six months old.

Any help, suggestions for a fix, recommended sources for a fix, etc.
will be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

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

Reboot tapping F8 each second.
Select "Last known good configuration" at the menu.
If that fails, reboot tapping F8 again this time choosing Safe Mode.
Then System Restore to Date/Time before issue started:
Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore

Otherwise perform a Repair Installation:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/repaxp.htm

When you are ready for SP-2, follow the Service Pack Installation
Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

 

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Thanks, but I tried all of these suggestions already, including
reinstalling the SATA driver from the manufacturer's floppy disk, but
it won't let me in, even in safe mode, because it doesn't locate and
recognize any hard drive. Same with trying to use "last known good
configuration" and "start windows normally." It can't do a system
restore for the same reason; no drives recognized/nothing to restore.

The only thing I haven't tried is the "Repair Installation" because I
don't have the WinXP Home disk, just the "System Restore Disk" from
the manufacturer and I don't want to reformat and reinstall and lose
all of my data.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Contact the manufacturer to see what options there may be with the CD
or otherwise.

 

[xdocx]

Contact the manufacturer to see what options there may be with the CD
or otherwise.

I have now learned that there is a known conflict between the AMD64
processors and SP2. However, Microsoft's "fix" requires being able to
access WinXP in safe mode and then remove a file "mpegport.sys." Catch
22, the SP2 conflict prevents any access to the hard drives and,
therefore, WinXP. Totally microshafted and screwed! It looks like a
total reinstall from the manufacturer-supplied Restore Disk is my only
option with the accompanying full data loss.

Thanks for the suggestions anyway.