Re: Windows Update Failure; Tech Abaondoned Me

MowGreen,

Yeah, the Dell I have is a 5 year old system, that's why I've been thinking
I would be better off upgrading anyway and its defitnately out of warranty.

I did not think about Dell technical support, because when MS Updates failed
it gave me a couple options, one was for online support, so I just did that.

I guess I should have mentioned I am using a slipstreamed reinstall disk. I
had previously made one when I started searching on my own for a solution and
found out about integrating SP2.

I do have the system running again in its proper after the steps I had to
try on my own to get it back up again.

Thanks,
STurbo

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

STurbo,

All I can say is ... <expletive deleted>
Here's where the issue lies ... Dell preinstalls Windows and is
*supposed* to provide support for it. Unfortunately, when the warranty
and/or service contract runs out, you're on your own.
MS will provide support for the OS if you install it.

When it comes to the installation of Critical Security Updates, MS will
support that aspect.
The support you received for that was less than adequate, to put it
politely.

To avoid having to reinstall from the Dell CD, thus losing SP2 and all
subsequent updates, suggest you peruse this article :
Create A Bootable/Slipstreamed Windows XP Installation CD
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstream_01.htm

Have you moved the HD back to the original system ?


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


STurbo wrote:


"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:


Please supply me with the case number.
Was Windows preinstalled by the computer's manufacturer or did you
install it from a CD ?


she had me download the XP SP2 file and try to reinstall it.

If she had you install the entire SP2 package, then boot to Safe Mode
and uninstall it :

Start the computer in safe mode
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350

If she had you install something else, please inform us what it was.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2006]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



MowGreen,

My case number is SRZ060723000779

The computer is a Dell which came with Windows XP installed, but was
purchased before SP2 was released, so that was installed at a later date.

I do have the Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition which came
with the system.

The MS tech had me download and install the Full Installation of Service
Pack 2 from:


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en


Mow,

I don't know if you saw my post from 8/12. On that date, I received
another email with a suggestion to run some commands from the Recovery
Console:

Per my previous post and problem, I emailed the Microsoft Tech with, she had
me run the Recovery Console, and

FIXMBR C:
FIXBOOT C:
chkdsk /r
BOOTCFG /rebuild

After that the computer would not restart it had a bios error, after
restarting it would stop after the bios screen ran:

"Windows Could Not Start because \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf is missing or
corrupt.

I tried the repair feature of the XP recovery disc and it says the same
thing after reboot.

I emailed the tech stating exatly that, the computer would not restart after
those commands, and that I had tried the "Recovery Function" of the XP
Reinstallation disc and after it finished it still had the same error message
after the bios screen that was on 8/12.

Well today 8/14, her email response stated:

This issue may occur if the system files have been corrupted.

Her suggestion was to perform a reinstall of Windows, and then she went on
to describe in DETAIL step by step the procedure to use the Repair feature of
the Windows Reinstallation CD!!!!

In my email stating the problem, I clearly stated that I had already tried
the "Repair" Feature of the XP CD!!!! Apparantly I figured out the problem
with the techs all along, They are only reading the first sentence of your
message and then jumping in with their suggestions!!!!!

She also stated that some applications would need to be updated to current
versions after this.

Well I CAN'T Update, the whole reason for conversing with her about my
UPDATE Problem.

They're too much to handle! Almost to the point of unbelievable! This is
ridiculous almost to the point of insanity.

It has taken me far too long to realize that apparantly this problem is too
much for them to handle and I have been checking the deals and found a Dell
package for $339, and I guess that I am probably just going to have to get
it.

I am just discouraged because I think that this was their intent all along,
if they drag you on long enough you will just get tired of it and go out and
replace it and they make more money because they sell another operating
system? Who knows.

Mow,

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, even though I could not get the
updates working again your suggestions really were more infromative then the
MS techs, and even though some of them were the same that the techs suggested
you were much quicker to recognize the answer to my questions and reply with
the answer much sooner.

STurbo.

Oh by the way,

I did get the system running again. I had to take the harddrive out of the
tower and stick it in another computer as the slave drive. I then ran an
error check, ran a disc clean, and then defragmented the drive. I then stuck
it back in the original tower and was able to utilize the Reinstallation CD
and ran the Repair feature again on the drive and this time it worked. I was
able to restart the computer.








.

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