Re: Win XP SP3 cancelling question

Given what you've told me this far, my CrystalBall© is telling me that you have a hijackware-infested computer on your hands. Have the shop format & reinstall Windows; a Repair Install will NOT help!

After that, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so take care of EVERYTHING on the following webpage before otherwise connecting the machine to the internet (e.g., to browse, check email, chat, download other stuff):

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

NB: If the shop won't do it, you should do it before turning the machine over to your son. (If your son's over 18, he should pay the shop fees IMHO.)

I'd also recommend that you take further steps to protect the machine, your son, and other family members. See this discussion for some great ideas & useful tips: http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=30095

Good luck!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

ozegirl wrote:
I'm very sorry Pa bear but your advice has got me into a great deal of
trouble .

I took your advice and
(1) ran the checking file you suggested from windows update - even though I
said I thought it was not relevant to my computer, you said it would give me
an error message if it was not relevant. That did not happen, instead on
restart, the computer displayed it's former problem of not booting into
windows, only in safe mode.

From safe mode, I did an uninstall of the file, which said successful, but
reboot still did not work

I tried a system restore (the installation created a restore point) but
reboot didn't work - only safe mode.

(2) I then took your other advice and rang tech support

They went through various steps each of which only made the situation worse,
an attempted repair caused the computer to continually reboot and not even
get into safe mode.
I eventually did after a few more repair attempts get into safe mode albeit
with a mouse which failed to install, despite being a common USB logitech
mouse - hardware install wizard failed. I replaced this with a PS2 mouse
which works, but there are still a lot of other unknown devices and although
I'm usually Ok at installing drivers I think given all that's happened I'm
more inclined to take it to a shop and have someone handle it professionally
- the power up on normal mode still needs to be fixed, and I think that
there is now probably a quite a few registry files/drivers that are
incompatible versions, given the history of sp2 to sp3 back to sp2 followed
by several repair jobs. Just what I have now is anyone's guess - well I
would call it an absolute mess.

Please understand I'm not having a go at you personally, but I just wish I
had never installed that Windows update. Fortunately my son has taken this
rather well, he has a good outlook on life, but I am a desperate mess
because I feel responsible for his loss. Fortunately he backed up his files
only a day ago when we first got problems.
I know you acted in good faith, and I guess the Microsoft techs I spoke to
did too, but from the advice given I have ended up with a bigger problem
than I started with - such is life, I guess.
At the moment my son is backing up a few more things while we are still in
safe mode and then I am taking it to a shop.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

In order:

Sorry, just saw there is phone support for AU - I must have been on the US
page before, it only mentioned US & Canada

By your username here, I suspected you might be an AU resident so I
included the AU-specific link in my last reply. <wink>

...I ran the script on Jesper's blog site and it reported that
although it was an AMD processor that intelppm.sys wasn't a problem and
it
should be OK to go ahead and install SP3. I also checked and couldn't
find
intelppm listed anywhere in the registry key he mentioned

Nevertheless, it *might* be worthwhile to download/install this before
attempting to install SP3 again:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=230796A7-54D6-4C31-BDA3-EFD2F7E87A8C

Save the download to your desktop, then double-click on the saved file to
install it. Follow all prompts. If you get a "...does not apply" error,
don't worry about it.

I disabled Teatimer which was the Spybot function that flagged all the
registry changes before, and which my son played roulette with.

Make ABSOLUTELY certain that Tea Timer's fully disabled!! See
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=32409

NB: If you don't fully understand what Tea Timer does and how it does it,
leave it permanently disabled.

He had 3 instances of teatimer running at once for some reason

I dunno how that's possible unless he'd somehow managed to install Spybot
three (3) times. I'd strongly encourage you to make certain Tea Timer's
fully disabled (see above; if there are 3 installations, you may need to do
it 3 times) and then uninstall ALL instances of Spybot found in Add/Remove
Programs BEFORE attempting to reinstall SP3.

Again, you'd be MUCH better off availing yourself of the free support. The
tech can walk you through all of this or might even do it for you remotely!
--
~PA Bear

ozegirl wrote:
Sorry, just saw there is phone support for AU - I must have been on the US
page before, it only mentioned US & Canada.

"ozegirl" wrote:
"You're putting an awful lot of carts before that horse, my dear."

You've definitely hit the nail on the head there. It's by worst failing -
when there is a computer problem I go into freak out mode. Despite the
fact
that every problem we've ever had has eventually been resolved, I can't
help myself. Anyway....

With regards to the problem mentioned in

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

and your suggestion to go to the windows site and download the update, I
can report that I ran the script on Jesper's blog site and it reported
that
although it was an AMD processor that intelppm.sys wasn't a problem and
it
should be OK to go ahead and install SP3. I also checked and couldn't
find
intelppm listed anywhere in the registry key he mentioned, though it was
listed in C:\windows\system 32\drivers - not really relevant whether it's
there or not as SP3 will install it if it isn't according to Jasper. It
only matters whether it is set to load or not. Right? So I don't think I
need the download from the windows site which appears to be for people
who
have that problem (well at least their computers do!)

Also, the sp3 set up file has already downloaded via automatic updates.
it
is setting there in the tray with it's little yellow shield telling me it
is ready to install, but I haven't done that just yet.

I've run AV over the computer to check for viruses and also Spybot. I've
disabled Teatimer which was the Spybot function that flagged all the
registry changes before, and which my son played roulette with.

I'm thinking considering he randomly decided not to accept all the
registry
changes and had 3 instances of teatimer running at once for some reason,
and that he turned his computer off before the installation had finished,
that perhaps this is more likely the cause of the problem.

When he gets home I'll ask him if he wants to try again - this time
disabling the AV and any other running programs first. I think it should
then be straightforward. If not then we'll contact tech support (but I
can't phone cos I'm outside US so it would be via email or chat at best
anyway)

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
You're putting an awful lot of carts before that horse, my dear.

...If I try
add/remove and that doesn't work, should I try system restore then?

Personally & professionally speaking, I would not use System Restore if
uninstalling WinXP SP3 via Add/Remove Programs isn't successful.

Again, I urge you to open a free support incident instead of messing
around with this yourself.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-ca&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-gb&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-au&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 |
select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

ozegirl wrote:
I'm a bit confused as the article on how to remove sp3 gives system
restore
as the 3rd method - so are you saying not to use it at all or only
after
trying the other method first? I understand that there could be a
problem
in
running system restore if the sp3 installation hasn't finished, as it
will restore the system, but then run those files that are pending to
be
run on a
reboot (which perhaps haven't run as a proper reboot into normal mode
hasn't
occurred, only to safe mode). However, if the installation was stopped
before finished, would the add/remove work properly anyway? If I try
add/remove and that doesn't work, should I try system restore then? And
if I do a system restore and it boots into normal mode, should I
perhaps
then before rebooting a second time perform another system restore so
that if pending files ran and made changes, these could be undone with
an earlier system restore which would then hopefully boot to a good
configuration but without running those files again - or is this just a
disaster in the making?

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
Do NOT use System Restore, please! It is not an "undo" utility.

If you can boot into Safe Mode and successfully uninstall WinXP SP3
via
Add/Remove Programs...and reboot *twice* afterwards, please do so.

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

Whether you were able to uninstall WinXP SP3 or not, I'd strongly
recommend
opening a free support incident about this. See my previous reply.
If
you )or another family member or friend) is technically inclined, see
[1] below, but I think you'd be better off getting help from MS
Support
instead.

==================
[1] •
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


ozegirl wrote:
With respect to this computer, it seems OK - I think the installation
must
have completed properly and that my attempt to cancel was not acted
on.

However I have a problem with my son's computer. It appears that he
got
the
sp3 update and started installing it but had not switched off the
spyware
that warns against registry changes - nevertheless he allowed all
changes
bar one - for some reason best known to himself. Over a couple of
days
he
got a cmd prompt box that ran each time on start up followed by
prompts
for
more registry changes. When he opened messenger, he saw a progress
bar
that
said "finalising installation" but it appeared to stall and he got
sick
of
waiting so turned the computer off.
I'm guessing he hasn't installed sp3 correctly. Now when he starts up
he can't get past the windows splash logo to the log on screen,
however it will
start in safe mode. Sp3 is shown in add/remove programs and in safe
mode on
the desktop as sp3. Would a system restore be safe to try given that
I
don't
know if the installation finished - he has restarted the computer
several
times since but only in safe mode, it won't go into normal. Or would
it be
better to try unintall from add/remove programs?

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

WinXP SP3 is fully uninstallable, should the need arise:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available
for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat
and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.
Go
to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
"Windows
XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3"
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

ozegirl wrote:
It's a bit early to tell 100%, however it seems to be doing
everyday
tasks
OK. I had a moment of panic when I opened Printers & Faxes and
there
were
none listed at all, but on restarting the computer they reappeared.
My main
concern was whether if it had installed, it had installed properly
considering I hit the cancel button about 85% of the way through.
It
would
appear that it didn't cancel the installation, I'm just hoping now
that
it
did install properly instead. :-)

"Alan" wrote:

So is your PC running okay with SP3??

Alan

"ozegirl" <ozegirl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4E25E486-C537-45E6-AD28-7E34F3D73334@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Too late - it looks like it completed the installation anyway.

"ozegirl" wrote:

I found my husband had downloaded and was installing the XP SP3
update.
I
didn't want him to do this, so I hit the cancel button - however
for
some
time it continued installing files, though it said cancelling.
Eventually
it
said something about changing registry entries, then it said
"performing
clean up" - this was all under a main heading of "finishing
installation". It
took a very long time to do this section. I am confident that
the
cancel
request went through because on the main automatic updates
windows
it
said
cancelling updates, and on both that window and the installation
window

.

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