Re: SP2 makes XP-Home/SP1 CD useless - other PC problems.


"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:exPipoKqFHA.2956@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
~ FreeSpirit ~ wrote:
<snip>

Make your slipstreamed SP2 CD.
Gather all of your other applications (and installation media/CD keys, etc) together.
Back up your important data (documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, bookmarks, etc..).

Format and Reinstall.

Seriously - you have been battling these same troubles for months now - it's time to take the dive and redo the system. It would have - without a doubt and with careful planning - taken less time than you have already spent on trying to get something fixed by yourself that you are not qualified to do.

BACKUP your data first. Don't forget your Favorites/Bookmarks. Don't forget your pictures and such. Don't forget your documents and spreadsheets. Don't forget your downloaded installation programs. Don't forget your email and the associated contacts. Don't forget your CD Keys. Collect it all together in a pile - burned safely to CD and/or copied to some external media. Use CD-Rs, not CD-RWs.. Close the sessions on the burned CDs.

Download and burn to CD the latest drivers for your hardware - each piece - but at least your motherboard chipset, video card, network card and modem for now.

## Where do I get these things from? SP2 will not allow me to download anything like that. I can't even get downloads from the MS website now, no less other websites. I was very lucky I was able to get the slipstream software.

Get a system snapshot with Belarc Advisor - print it out - that way you know what you had installed and what your hardware is.

## I have Belarc on my PC. No problem there. I also have copies of all my software. I never had these problems with W98! This will be the fourth time I would be reinstalling WXP in 24 months because of endless problems. :*(

Make your slipstreamed Windows XP SP2 CD.

Unplug all peripherals (Printers, Scanners, Cameras, External Drives, etc) - leave only your mouse, keyboard and monitor plugged in. 

## What about the replacement internal Sony burner?

Boot from it. (Doing whatever it takes to get into your system BIOS and setting the system to boot from CD first.)

## I don't know how to get into the BIOS, what or where the BIOS is or what to change there. I'm just an average PC user.

Follow the directions and DELETE the partitions on your computer when it asks you where to install..

## You mean the partition where HP stores a copy of XP on our HDs? I never added partitions on my HD.

Then create new partition(s) and install!

## How do I create new partitions? Are you talking about a regular XP CD or the CDs we get from the PC mfg.'s?

Once
done - update all of your hardware with the drivers you dlownloaded earlier. 

## I can no longer download drivers or other updates because of SP2.

Then visit the Windows Update web site and download all the updates OTHER THAN hardware. Install your Antivirus application, immunize with the various antispyware applications and then begin reinstalling your other applications (Office, etc.)

## I CANNOT DO THAT WITH SP2 ON MY MACHINE!!!!! How do I STOP SP2 from stopping these downloads?

After you get all the software installed - plug in your peripherals one at a time - get their drivers installed and updated - one at a time.. ONE AT A TIME.

## How do I stop SP2 from stopping downloads from the net? Since installing SP2 nothing I do allows most downloads. I changed the settings in Tools/Options to low security and to allow Active-X but Sp2 still doesn't not allow it!!! How to I SHUT off or disable Sp2 so I can get the downloads I need?

Then begin the tedious task of importing all of your old files back - if you like. Get the Windows Backup going on your important files and folders.. Make sure your AntiVirus software is set to autoupdate - make sure windows updates (autoupdates) are setup the way you desire. Enjoy the use of your computer.

## Sounds wondeful! What makes me think going through all that once more will make a difference THIS time? As soon as I start downloading the critical updates the problems will probably start again. I'm sorry if I sound bitchy but I used W98 for 7 years without problems. Now with XP this would be the 4th reinstall of the OS. I've lost hope that XP will ever be as problem free as 98 was.

FS~ 

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