XP SP2 - can't boot!

[inky dink]

I just installed XP SP2, and now XP will not boot up.

I am, occasionally, able to get it to boot in safe mode. I cannot restore
to last working configuration.

I wish to uninstall SP2. However, since I cannot boot XP, I cannot use
Add/Remove Programs, or uninstall, or system recovery.

I did try to use spuninstall.exe from a command prompt and from a command
prompt that brought up the Add/Remove screen. Both these attempts gave me a
start screen, then just hung.

Is there a way to manually remove SP2 files, etc?

thanks.

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Use the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350
How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer

--

==================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
==================================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
"Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping
the information current)


|I just installed XP SP2, and now XP will not boot up.
|
| I am, occasionally, able to get it to boot in safe mode. I cannot restore
| to last working configuration.
|
| I wish to uninstall SP2. However, since I cannot boot XP, I cannot use
| Add/Remove Programs, or uninstall, or system recovery.
|
| I did try to use spuninstall.exe from a command prompt and from a command
| prompt that brought up the Add/Remove screen. Both these attempts gave me
a
| start screen, then just hung.
|
| Is there a way to manually remove SP2 files, etc?
|
| thanks.
|
|

 

[inky dink]

Use the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350
How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer

thanks for the quick reply. I do not have an XP CDROM - only a "recovery
CDROM", which seems to want to wipe out the hard drive and start all over.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

You say you can get the computer to boot into Safe Mode occassionally. Keep trying. Once this happens, you're offered the option (Yes) of continuing into Safe Mode or (No) accessing System Restore. Choose No to go into System Restore and roll back to a point before the SP2 install.

 

[inky dink]

You say you can get the computer to boot into Safe Mode occassionally. Keep
trying. Once this happens, you're offered the option (Yes) of continuing
into Safe Mode or (No) accessing System Restore. Choose No to go into
System Restore and roll back to a point before the SP2 install.


I've tried that, but the boot is not sucessful if I choose Restore. But, I
haven't done thagt lately, so I will try it again.

 

[inky dink]

You say you can get the computer to boot into Safe Mode occassionally.
Keep trying. Once this happens, you're offered the option (Yes) of
continuing into Safe Mode or (No) accessing System Restore. Choose No to
go into System Restore and roll back to a point before the SP2 install.


I've tried that, but the boot is not sucessful if I choose Restore. But,
I haven't done thagt lately, so I will try it again.

by "not successful", I mean I get a message something like "system restore
will not protect your system. Restart and try restore again".

 

[Guest]

Hello

As TaurAian mentioned, Use the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350


If you do not have the CD, and have access to a second PC, use the 6
Bootable Windows XP Floppy Disks - Be sure to obtain the correct ones
Here is the link
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994

Thanks

Sincerely
Robert A Janes
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

Here is a good tutorial with it.
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;875355&x=8&y=15

Anyway do you have any USB device that connected to pc? If so try to remove
them before booting up computer. Hope that helps.

 

[inky dink]

wiping c: drive and starting over . . .

I tried half a dozen things, over and in different combinations, including a
boot CD from a friend. At one point, I got to do a system restore, and then
windows was really hosed.

this will be a long evening . . .

thanks for your suggestions and links.

Bill Gates: thanks for nothing.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I just installed XP SP2, and now XP will not boot up.

I am, occasionally, able to get it to boot in safe mode. I cannot restore
to last working configuration.

I wish to uninstall SP2. However, since I cannot boot XP, I cannot use
Add/Remove Programs, or uninstall, or system recovery.

I did try to use spuninstall.exe from a command prompt and from a command
prompt that brought up the Add/Remove screen. Both these attempts gave me
a start screen, then just hung.

Is there a way to manually remove SP2 files, etc?

thanks.

Before installing SP2 did you verfy that the machine had no malware
installed? Malware will often do this to an SP2 install.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971

Help with Hijackware
All MS - MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
(http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm)
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
(http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm)
(http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html)
(http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm)

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315