Re: "Support"

G1811 wrote:
I have been having problems with Service Pack 3, along with the
rest of the world (see Service Pack 3 Installation Problems in the
newsgroup). The one "helpful" response I got was to send a service
report to Microsoft. After attempting SEVERAL times to do this,
only to have the program stall on "collecting and analyzing data,"
I found that the only way to make it go through was to refresh the
page after it stalled. I also found that going back one page, and
then forward again several times worked. However, at that point,
instead of stalling at 80% and still on "collecting and analyzing
data," thw page went to 100%, only to flash a "Internet Explorer
has encountered an error, and must shut down" window. After
attempting to send the report several times, I finally left that
window on the screen, until the main window showed that the report
had been sent. I seriously doubt that the actual data had been
sent, which rendered the whole excersize moot, but that was the
only way I could do it.

Today, I received a response that didn't even confirm my original
suspicion that the report hadn't actually been sent. I received a
cookie-cutter resonse telling me to contact support via phone,
e-mail, or chat, and they would take care of me. This was after I
received the original newsgroup response telling me to send the
report to Microsoft in the first place, because supposedly they
could help me via that method.

To me, it seems I've gone one step forward, and two steps back,
because instead of sending the service report, along with the
uploaded system information, I am expected to simply describe my
problems third party, which is exactly how I started this in the
first place.

In addition, and this is why this is a question and not a comment,
along with the cookie-cutter response, I received two links in the
E-mail. These links were to a comment section for the originator's
supervisor, and to the actual telephone, E-mail, or chat section.
Neither of these links worked. After discovering this, I clicked
the link at the right of the page, which referred to contacted
Microsoft via E-mail, telephone, or chat, only to find that it
directed me back to the support report program that I already knew
didn't work.

Once again, I'm still at my wits end. The last time I posted a
question on this board, "Robert Aldwinckle" responded to me in a
way that I deemed immature and arrogant. I attempted to resond to
him in a mature manner that also implored others to be serious. As
Microsoft apparently had a problem with that, I will now ask anyone
that responds here actually do so in the spirit of help, and not
arrogance, or misguided superiority.

SP3 troubleshooting...

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals
and Developers
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Release Notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/d/8/cd8cc719-7d5a-40d3-a802-e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm

Key things to note:

Internet Explorer:
"If you have installed Windows Internet Explorer® 7 or a beta version of
Internet Explorer 8, and then install Windows XP SP3, you cannot uninstall
Internet Explorer. To avoid this, ensure Internet Explorer 7 or a beta
version of Internet Explorer 8 is not installed before installing Windows XP
SP3. If you have already encountered this issue, uninstall Windows XP SP3,
uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002:
"If you install Windows XP SP3 on a computer running Windows XP Media Center
Edition 2002 with SP1, Windows XP Media Center Edition may malfunction. To
avoid this, install Windows XP SP2 before you install Windows XP SP3. If
this issue has already occurred, uninstall Windows XP SP3, install Windows
XP SP2, and then reinstall Windows XP SP3."

It seems some people are unable to get further updates after installing
SP3... Seems some have experienced a symptom similar to doing a repair
installation on Windows XP - and the same fix seems to work for them for
that...

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP
installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

Some people experience an "endless reboot" issue...

From PA Bear [MS MVP]:
Workarounds:

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
[NB: The above has been updated many times and now includes "a small tool
that will detect the IntelPPM problem and mitigate it before installing
[WinXP SP3]."

1. Boot into Safe Mode and rename INTELPMM.SYS to INTELPMM.OLD.
2. After booting into Safe Mode:
Start --> Run --> (copy/paste)
sc config intelppm start= disabled
--> OK --> Reboot into normal (Windows) mode.

Other references include:
.. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=187790#p187790
..
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/windows_xp_sp3_reboots_crashes/
..
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9084418
.. You receive a "Stop 0x0000007E" error message after you upgrade to Windows
XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer
(Revised 06 May-08)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372

Some people have gotten an "Access Denied" message when trying to install
SP3... Method 3 of this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


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