xp sp2 will not complete the installation...app hangs

[Guest]

I installed XP Professional on my son's laptop...new install on a new hard
drive. I was able to get all the automatic downloads from MS. When I got to
the xpsp2 it begins to install and then the app hangs on "Checking Product
Key"

Any suggestions?

 

[Jerry]

Is the product key valid - or was it used on a different system? One
key/install per computer unless you have a license for multiple systems.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I installed XP Professional on my son's laptop...new install on a new hard
drive. I was able to get all the automatic downloads from MS. When I got
to
the xpsp2 it begins to install and then the app hangs on "Checking Product
Key"

Any suggestions?

This is apparently a problem with some OEM inf files not being recognised by
the SP2 install.

It may be a better idea to download the "IT" version of SP2, 266 meg, save
it to CD, and install it from local without any network connection. Even
better is to slipstream SP2 into your install CD, if it permits this.
Then, your base install is already SP2. Not all install media allow this -
recovery disks can't, and Dells have other updates added, and slipstreaming
won't work.

I get the impression that you might have used a pre-SP2 install, gotten
pre-SP2 updates, then tried to install SP2.. this is a waste of time.
Immediately after doing the base install, install any necessary motherboard
drivers, then do the SP2 install from a local file. Then, you can go and
get the 70+ post-SP2 updates. Then, install A/V and firewall stuff.

The posts at these locations may also help you:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/28299627/sp2-install-error.aspx
http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1844096&SiteID=25

" had the problem of sp2 hanging at the "checking product key" point. after
some time searching several forums i solved the problem like this...

you will find on several forums, the solution is to do this:

1) Please go into the CMD prompt (Start/Run --> cmd.exe )
2) Then type cd /d %windir%\inf and make sure we are in that

directory.

3) Then type ren oem*.inf oem*.old, it will go back to the prompt

after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

4) Then type ren oem*.pnf oem*.old1, it will go back to the prompt

after giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

5) Then goto start - run - type "%windir%\inf" and you will see

the files in the folder.

6) Then find the file by name INFCACHE.1 and take a backup of it

to desktop (by copying it to desktop) and delete the INFCACHE.1
from c:\windows\inf.

7) Close all windows and reboot the computer to safe mode and

start the installation of SP2 and it should go fine.

these instructions didn't work from me since i downloaded the sp2 pack and
didn't have the cd.

so you just modify the instructions...
1) start -> run -> cmd.exe
2) type %windir%\inf (folder will pop up)
3) find all the files in that folder named oem whatever (e.g. oem1.pnf,
oem1.inf, oem2.pnf, oem2.inf, etc)
4) drag all of those files to your desktop (i had 38 of them)
5) find infcache.1 and drag to your desktop
6) reboot and your installation should finish (mine did)
7) replace all the files back to the %windir%\inf folder

hope this helps with some of the frustration. it took me 2 hours to figure
this out. good luck!"


HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

When I installed XP the setup files oem.inf DID NOT get installed. So, I
have not oem.inf files to change and rename.

Any ideas on how I can get that installed? Your info was extremely helpful!

Thanks!

 

[Daave]

Then, your base install is already SP2. Not all install media allow
this - recovery disks can't, and Dells have other updates added, and
slipstreaming won't work.

I'm pretty sure ther is a workaround for Dell OEM disks:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...ding&message.id=164459&c=us&l=en&cs=555&s=biz

 

[Patrick Keenan]

When I installed XP the setup files oem.inf DID NOT get installed. So, I
have not oem.inf files to change and rename.

Be sure that Explorer is set to show system/hidden files, or you may not see
them.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Here is an update...the file: "oembios.bin" setup cannot copy the file.
This seems to be the root of the problem. The laptop is a Toshiba of my
son's and his hard drive failed while overseas. He is home and I am trying
to install a spare version of XP professional on it.

I have run some tests and diagnostics and there are NO oem.inf files on the
system. I am attempting to repair the installation and attempt to install
xpsp2 manually. Not sure if this is going to work. I have not had much luck
finding the answer that fixes this. XP runs and the problem is I can't
install xpsp2.

Anymore ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

 

[Guest]

Here is an update...the file: "oembios.bin" setup cannot copy the file.
This seems to be the root of the problem. The laptop is a Toshiba of my
son's and his hard drive failed while overseas. He is home and I am trying
to install a spare version of XP professional on it.

I have run some tests and diagnostics and there are NO oem.inf files on the
system. I am attempting to repair the installation and attempt to install
xpsp2 manually. Not sure if this is going to work. I have not had much luck
finding the answer that fixes this. XP runs and the problem is I can't
install xpsp2.

Anymore ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Hi Tom,
you are using a SLP BIOS locked OEM version of, it is a new Feature
implemented by the Vendors and shipped with all machine OEM BIOS Looked, if
you changed the MOBO or the HDD you need identical with Serial NO or MAC
address which burnt in the hardware itself and each has a Unique MAC NO.
Does this OEM BIOS Looked System, you said you changed the Hard Drive, that
violate the OEM and you will not be able to successfully install the XP OS?.

http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1301055&SiteID=25
You can Contact MS help and Support and describe for them your issue or to
your vendor (Toshiba) for a solution.
HTH.
nass