Windows Update wipes out XP OS...

[Chrimarsh]

I tried updating the newest WIndows update (I'd love to tell you which one
but as you will see, I can't find out) and as soon as I did, it wiped out my
XP.

A friend suggested buying a new hard drive and installing that, reinstalling
all the OS and program files. It worked like a charm, until once again I
tried to install the latest update.

I would love to start it up and go to a previous start up point... but it
won't let me. I turn the computer on and it is blank. It's running but there
is no bootup screen, pressing F12 does nothing, using the recovery disk
doesn't work because it won't automatically go to the cd drive to boot up.

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro PSPA3C with XP Home Edition and very little
hair from pulling it all out.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I tried updating the newest WIndows update (I'd love to tell you
which one but as you will see, I can't find out) and as soon as I
did, it wiped out my XP.

A friend suggested buying a new hard drive and installing that,
reinstalling all the OS and program files. It worked like a charm,
until once again I tried to install the latest update.

I would love to start it up and go to a previous start up point...
but it won't let me. I turn the computer on and it is blank. It's
running but there is no bootup screen, pressing F12 does nothing,
using the recovery disk doesn't work because it won't automatically
go to the cd drive to boot up.

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro PSPA3C with XP Home Edition and very
little hair from pulling it all out.

Contact Toshiba about updates to resolve the problem that is obviously with
that specific system (perhaps a BIOS update?)

You bought a new hard drive and installed XP clean? A little extreme. heh

You did this twice and still did not watch carefully what you were
installing? Even after going through the pain of a complete install?

 

[Andrew E.]

With a desktop pc,one can power off (unplug),remove the battery for 3-5
minutes,replace battery,start pc.Once pc starts,tap the proper key & enter
the BIOS,set date/time,etc,apply,set optimal defaults,save and exit BIOS.This
resets the BIOS settings to "as it left the factory",a BIOS update would
still
remain intact..As far as windows update goes,how did you "reinstall OS files"
& "program files" but fail to mention a hd format.The format comes 1st,the OS
files get installed auto if done right...Depending on xp cd (retail or
recovery from
an oem),either way,back in BIOS,before you exit,set 1st boot device to cdrom
with the xp cd in it,set hd as 2nd device,once you exit,if xp cd
retail,boot to cd,
select install xp,delete any partitions,create one,then xp formats &
installs auto,
if xp oem recovery,follow the text,but first delete/create partition.

 

[JMA]

With a desktop pc,one can power off (unplug),remove the battery for 3-5
minutes,replace battery,start pc.Once pc starts,tap the proper key & enter
the BIOS,set date/time,etc,apply,set optimal defaults,save and exit BIOS.This
resets the BIOS settings to "as it left the factory",a BIOS update would
still
remain intact..As far as windows update goes,how did you "reinstall OS files"
& "program files" but fail to mention a hd format.The format comes 1st,the OS
files get installed auto if done right...Depending on xp cd (retail or
recovery from
an oem),either way,back in BIOS,before you exit,set 1st boot device to cdrom
with the xp cd in it,set hd as 2nd device,once you exit,if xp cd
retail,boot to cd,
select install xp,delete any partitions,create one,then xp formats &
installs auto,
if xp oem recovery,follow the text,but first delete/create partition.

 

[JMA]

With a desktop pc,one can power off (unplug),remove the battery for 3-5
minutes,replace battery,start pc.Once pc starts,tap the proper key & enter
the BIOS,set date/time,etc,apply,set optimal defaults,save and exit BIOS.This
resets the BIOS settings to "as it left the factory",a BIOS update would
still
remain intact..As far as windows update goes,how did you "reinstall OS files"
& "program files" but fail to mention a hd format.The format comes 1st,the OS
files get installed auto if done right...Depending on xp cd (retail or
recovery from
an oem),either way,back in BIOS,before you exit,set 1st boot device to cdrom
with the xp cd in it,set hd as 2nd device,once you exit,if xp cd
retail,boot to cd,
select install xp,delete any partitions,create one,then xp formats &
installs auto,
if xp oem recovery,follow the text,but first delete/create partition.

I have the same problem with my Sony Vaio model PCG-VX89
and after a hour plus with Sony they say its a Microsoft problem and will
not help me....so now I have a laptop that I can not use.....

 

[Chrimarsh]

The new hard drive was extreme, but an upgrade that I wanted anyway so it was
a good deal.

As for the update reinstall... I waited two weeks and in that time they
changed the update. I thought they had fixed the issue. I'm afraid I'm not
super geek and can't telepathically know that it was going to crash me again.
In fact, this was my first time upgrading any computer, so I thought I did
pretty good on my own.

 

[Chrimarsh]

Thank you so much for your advice (instead of just ridicule). I will try this
out.

And I did format first. It's actually the first thing that comes up with the
Win XP disk I was using so I didn't bother mentioning it. I thought they all
did it.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thank you so much for your advice (instead of just ridicule). I
will try this out.

And I did format first. It's actually the first thing that comes up
with the Win XP disk I was using so I didn't bother mentioning it.
I thought they all did it.

Following any advice from Andrew E. will likely end badly (although he has
hit upon one or two - likely by accident.)

I did not ridicule you - I pointed out the obvious - sorry if you consider
restating the facts 'ridicule'.

You have two options that I can see:
- Perform a repair installation with your Windows XP installation CD
or
- Fix your computer (some hardware is going downhill - memory, mainboard
maybe? A BIOS upgrade is not a horrible idea... Check the manufacturer's
web page for a method and an update for the system BIOS.)

If I read your original posting correctly - this problem is unlikely to have
been caused by a Windows update or you would be able to boot from a CD (by
going into the BIOS and choosing to do so.) If you wrote that strangely and
you can go into the BIOS and choose the boot order, do so and perform the
repair installation.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

 

[DL]

My previous experince with Sony Laptops is that their supplied drivers can
be problomatic when updated from Sony
Not knowing what winupdate you are attmpting to install, I could only
suggest that you check the Sony updated drivers for any FAQ's with regard
win sp updates