RE: SP2 Update

From: cosmicjooj42 (cosmicjooj42_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 10/12/04 

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 08:57:02 -0700

"cosmicjooj42" wrote:

> I am a first year University Student at Hull Campus of Lincoln University.
> I recently purchased a Tiny Home 3200 Laptop computer which incorporates
> Windows XP Home Edition. This computer has been widely advertised in the
> National press. I have also taken out a 5 year gold guarantee.
> After downloading SP2 update, I restarted my computer and got the following
> message:- 'We apologise for the inconvenience but windows did not start
> successfully. Your recent hardware or software change may have caused this.
> If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly or was
> automatically shutdown to protect your files and folders choose last known
> good configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked. If a
> previous starting attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because
> the power or reset button was pressed or if you aren't sure what caused the
> problem choose start Windows normally. Then gives safe mode, safe mode with
> networking, safe mode with command prompt. Have tried all three but none
> work. Also tried last known good configuration - this sticks on small
> Windows logo and the green line that moves across the screen just sticks.
> Being a student I have downloaded loads of information that I need for my
> course, now it seems to be irretrievable. I paid over £1000 for this laptop
> computer hooping that I would get something which is reliable. Please will
> someone help me to sort this problem out.
> Joanne.

This is Joanne replying back:-
Hey, thanks you guys for giving me the benefit of your valued advice &
experiences.
My Dad & I read them all thoroughly and Dad spoke to our local and well
respected Computer Retailer & Maintenance Outlet here in Scarborough
who were quite willing to rescue my data by slaving the hard drive into a
temporary store, format system, restore and copy back onto my hard disk as
Malke had initially suggested.
At their suggestion we did however attempt to restart my laptop by powering
up and immediately start trembling button F8 as fast as possible to obtain
window enabling selection of 'Safe Mode' & subsequently a page load of
Drivers hoping that they would load as apparently they can some times do and
then enabling me to further select to retreive my data.
Unfortunately this was only partially successful as the drivers refused to
load.
Armed with the local advice etc., Dad contacted Tiny Gold Cover Advice &
Maintenance Dept and whilst they tried to rectify the situation live via
verbal instructions over the phone their attempts didn't work.
Their only remedy was for me to load their Recovery Disk supplied with the
laptop and reset/restart from basic factory settings and losing all my data.
Dad told them that he knew it was possible to recover my data by slaving etc.
and insisted that Tiny pick up the laptop, take it back to their premises,
slave and retrieve/reload (as per Malke's suggestion) and return laptop back
to me, all under the Gold Cover my Dad had paid out (approx £300) to ensure
that I wasn't left in lumber during the 5 year cover.
Tiny's reply was that they will not carry out such an operation as, quote "
they do not want to get involved in handling personal information that is on
anybody's hard drive"!!!
This 'personal information' comprised:- a calendar, my University project
notes and a host of photos & videos that I had taken over the last 3 weeks
with my digital camera of buildings, monuments & views of HULL to support my
project.
My Dad inferred (per Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 885626) that their
Celeron D processor (Prescott stepping) and/or their BIOS specifications were
a very probably cause for my demise but this was refuted and Tiny added
(when pressed on the issue by my Dad) that their BIOS spec for the Processor
support was the very latest in cutting edge technology for my Computer that
no specification update has been issued or was needed at this present time.
They also blamed Microsoft not issuing any warning re computer crash
potential when attempting to load SP2.?? (any comments on this??)
They did however give my a Microsoft Patch number KB.885626 (a critical
update to be loaded prior to any future downloading of SP2).
Time being of the essence Dad consequently went back to J's and arranged for
them to slave etc as per Malke which cost him 2.5 hours labour charge!
.J's also downloaded the KB.885626 Patch but were reluctant to download SP2
until as such time that I had Antivirus protection installed.They were kind
enough to give me the SP2 download disc and seemed to suggest that it really
wasn't such an immediate critical update that has been widely inferred. SP1A
that is installed on my laptop is doing fine for the moment and mine (and
Dad's) reading of the Windows XP General THREADS makes us very reluctant to
activate the SP2 disk. - so we haven't !!
My laptop is now fully opertional with all my data fully restored and
accessible and my Dad & I thank you all for your invaluable advice.
As you have all mentioned, I have to make sure that I back up all data daily
in the unlikely event of a crash.I thought such instances never occurred,
especially to me. How wrong I was and anybody reading this - TAKE NOTE &
LEARN from my experience (& Dad's necessary generosity)
I am toying with the idea of backing up my data via an independent desk top
hard drive so that I can carry all my data around with me on just, hopefully,
 one disk.
Has anybody any thoughts on this or will I have to back-up the back-up as
well !!
Alex, will that CD of the Knoppix version of Linux be of use in this respect?
Dad & I have bookmarked and hard copied all your suggestions and web sites
etc
 to read and absorb at our leisure. One never knows and we are now in
agreement with Alex' first sentence.It is a case of being wise after the
event.
Thanks again you guys. We really appreciated your responses.Hopefully you
may have something to say on my further questions above.
Joanne.

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