XP SP2 recovery after system restore

[Guest]

I recently downloaded SP2 for XP Pro. On completion, it had substituted all
my emails and address book with an archived copy, thus junking about 200
emails and business contacts. Also startup was inexorably slow with upto a
min to refresh all desktop icons. Having read others issues with SP2, and
figuring it was perhaps not the best move to upgrade, I restored to a point
before download. I was able then to carry on as before viz outlook
express...no problems. Now with more time on my hands, I have tried to start
again with SP2; however whilst the download files are on the drive, windows
has not configured itself to acknowledge that it is SP2, despite restoring to
a point imediately after the initial installation. Also windows update,
appears to see the SP2 update file on the hard drive and therefore assumes
all is well...it isn't. I have tried to remove SP2 using "Add Remove" plus
over methods as described on the Msoft website, however as far as my PC is
concerned, SP2 is not installed and therefore does not appear on the
installed programme list.

Could anybody advise how I can start from scratch and try and install SP2?

 

[Guest]

Download SP2 is ok,dont forget after the initial installation,reboot,update
will still add to SP2.Also,you might read and try kb900871

 

[Guest]

I did succesfully install SP2 but it screwed up my email so I restored the
system to before the installation. Now my PC doesn't recognise the upgrade,
even if I restore back to the point after SP2 installation. My PC still
thinks it is SP1a and the update website sees the SP2 files on the HD and
thinks the installation is complete - which it isn't - and therefore will not
allow me to install SP2 again.

1) Do I just delete the SP2 zip file that is in my Windows directory and try
upgrade again?
2) Do I still follow instructions detailed in kb900871 - even though it is
for networked PCs and mine is a single machine?

Many thanks