Re: WinXP SP2 download

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Here are some solutions that I use. (I've number them to keep them separated
not order of preference)
1) You can legally download full versions of the Service packs from
Microsoft and burn them to CD. It is totally acceptable to transfer these to
other computers
SP1a click "Go" button here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp1/network.mspx
SP2 click "Download" button here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

2) Create a Bart's PE CD. This is a excellent tool as it is an operating
system that runs entirely off the CD and, if you install the correct
plug-ins, it gives you the ability to go online and download drivers and
find help information, etc or gain access to a network. My version of Bart's
PE contains Nero, Ghost 8, Firefox, Stinger, Keyfinder-pe, IrfranView,
Ad-Aware, WinZip, as well as a number of other handy tools such as password
crackers and file recovery tools. The learning curve isn't even that steep
and once you have one of these you'll wonder what you did without it.
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

3) While it is true that you cannot use your Product Key to install Windows
on other computers you can still create a slipstream version of XP using
your disc providing that when you install it on another system you use that
person's Product Key. However be aware that Product Keys are version
specific. XP Home keys won't work with XP Pro. Nor will XP Home or XP Pro
"Retail keys" work on XP Home or XP Pro "OEM" versions. Still if you have
friends who call on you often you can legally use their XP CD and a Service
Pack to create a slipstream version for them to keep with their system in
the event you need to help them. Slipstream instructions found here
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

4) Create a CD with commonly used Anti-spyware apps. The essentials are
found here http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm Just keep them up-to-date

5) If you are in the habit of helping friends and family start charging a
small fee. It doesn't have to be exorbitant. This encourages people to be
more responsible and helps you to offset the cost of travel and wear and
tear on your resources.
--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Rev" <revinfreddyfloyd@xxxxxxxxxx(OrSomeThingLikeThat)> wrote in message
news:00833B06-2F7A-47D9-ACE2-FB393E4E165F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> This is a constant source of frustration for me, and I'm wondering
> (hoping)
> if someone has a suggestion that is straight forward that I can use. I
> continually find myself in this situation: I'm "the computer guy" to my
> friends and family, although, I'm just a lowly a Access Application
> Analyst
> with very little experience with Windows configuration... Until I got on
> Cox
> Highspeed internet, and descovered quickly that I don't know squat about
> my
> hardware and software environment and find my self increasingly baried in
> help files trying to figure things out. So I get the call from one of my
> friends who can't get on the internet to run their business or whatever,
> or
> they can't boot up. So I go there and find all kinds of problems... Way
> too
> much software, spyware infestation, viruses, myriad problems that I've
> spent
> countless days nights weekends endlessly searching for answers that never
> seem to come easy enough... So in these situations, when it't "THAT BAD" I
> suggest a clean install, as I've done this many times and it used to go
> smoothly, until XP and Automatic Updates. Now it seems every time I try to
> run the setup from the OEM disk or whatever they have, I end up in a loop
> of
> error messages asking for a disk the PC owner never had, because the file
> being looked for was installed by an update. "Fatal Error! Setup can not
> continue. Please insert the Window XP SP1 CD to coninue setup." but there
> is
> no service pack 1, the files may be on the disk, but I don't know where,
> and
> at this juncture, setup seems to have gone to the point of no return, as
> it
> just keeps looping back to the setup program and to the same error... The
> big
> problem, and excruciatingly time consuming, is that these users have one
> household PC, it isn't operational, and they are completly helpless... So
> I
> go home, get on the MS Sites and start trying to find help. I go to the
> manufacturers sites and try to find help. But it always expends massive
> amounts of time, as no one seems to have a Service Pack 1 (or whatever it
> is
> being asked for at the moment) and Microsoft tells me I have to go to the
> manufacturer for help. Isn't there a license friendly solution for me to
> help
> my friends (like I want to make a CD or two that contains the various
> Service
> Packs) but unless I am missinformed, I'm not allowed to do this because of
> license issues or complience validation or something... Sorry for being so
> wordy, but I'm going through this nightmare again, and I'm just kinda
> frustrated... don't mean to vent, I just keep thinking, Microsoft put the
> file on there, why can't I get the file I need from microsoft, so everyone
> can go about there business and be happy :-)
> Much Thanks in advance
> --
> Everything in EXCESS!!! If you want to taste the flavor of LIFE, Take BIG
> Bytes. Moderation is for monks.
>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> ~ FreeSpirit ~ wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > "Harry Ohrn" <harry---@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> > news:escInWroFHA.764@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> Create a slipstream CD using your Windows XP CD and the SP2 download.
>> >> It is
>> >> easy to do - see here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm
>> > ===================
>> > What about those of us who don't get the XP-CD when we buy our PCs? I
>> > have several CDs to reinstall WXP from HP.
>> >
>> > FS~
>>
>> It depends on what the OEM has given you. Check with HP's tech support.
>> If you have only a restore image, you can't slipstream it. Sometimes
>> you can slipstream using the i386 folder on the hard drive if the OEM
>> set it up that way. Otherwise, you are SOL. You can check out the links
>> that the following Google search produced for possibilities:
>>
>> http://www.google.com/search?q=slipstream+XP+with+OEM+restore+disk&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic"
>>


.

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