I downloaded service pack2 for windows XP (and horked my machine)

[madison2000]

and after I rebooted it wouldn't even go to explorer.exe (desktop).
Reinstall the operating system?

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Kellanved]

1. no

Take your Install CD, use it to boot to the recovery console and enter "c:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe".

On Edit: or use the recovery function. ;-)

[madison2000]

3. Thanks

recovery function will be a prompt from the CD?

[Kellanved]

8. Here

Microsoft probably has better how-tos than my memory -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350/en-us

:hi:

[Nite Owl]

2. My computer did that too.

I didn't even check the download box it just somehow downloaded it without my knowledge and I found out that it was there and causin trouble. Your machine has to be 'clean' before it's done or it just doesn't seem to work. I did a system restore to the day before and it everything went back.

[madison2000]

4. I take back the good things I've been saying about microsoft

I used to be deathly afraid of Windows Updates but I'd heard they had gotten better. Apparently not.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. The problem is you probably have more than one firewall

XP has a firewall and if you are running a Norton Firewall you need to turn it off..but leave virus protection on...I was on the phone with my internet provider for an hour after downloading it...if you are DSL most companies have tech support to walk you through it.

[madison2000]

9. Its a small business and one machine behaved perfectly when

I downloaded the service pak, but another one, which apparently already had some major issues, got screwed up.

[Radical Activist]

6. I haven't had any problems

I guess I'm lucky. It was huge and didn't let me choose which hard drive I could download it on. That was annoying.

[GOPisEvil]

7. It screwed up mine, too. Screwed up the wireless connection.

But, I just hard-wired into the router and fixed my problem.

[Imajika]

10. That's why I haven't messed with it yet...

Our engineers and admin's haven't installed it on anything other than testing machines in one of the labs.

Now that you've reminded me, I've got a spare desktop in my office running XP, and the monitor for that one I have stategically faced towards the office door. I use this computer only to open spreadsheets and important looking documents to give the impression I'm really working hard (meanwhile my good computer faces inside the office and usually has episodes of Invader Zim or the like playing). Perhaps I should put SP2 on the pretend work machine and see what damage it causes.

I dread putting it on my XP machines at home as I have them set up just the way I like them.

Imajika

[mcscajun]

11. I've installed the SP2 on two XP Setups so far without incident.

You'll want to read Microsoft's page on What to Know Before You Install SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx
Naturally, they advise a complete backup of your system before you begin. Skip steps at your own risk.

This is beyond a patch or an update; this is virtually a new Operating System; so it takes time, patience and a certain amount of discipline to accomplish properly. The PC needs to be as stable as possible before beginning; that is, cleaned of all spyware and adware, run your Anti-Virus scan, run scandisk, disk cleanup and disk defragmenter, etc. All OTHER critical/security Windows updates should be installed before you begin the SP2.

All of this can take a couple of hours or so to complete, depending on the size of your Hard Drive and the age of your system.

[name not needed]

12. I haven't had any problems.

Of course I have yet to download it.

[sweetheart]

13. It buggered up mine as well

Its an older PC, and SP2 loads up all sorts of SLLLOOOOWWWWW stuff.
I'm thinking of rolling back the interent box to the earlier version
and just re-building it if it gets virused. Virus protection at
the cost of the PC functioning is really not worth much.

What it has inspired me, is to look seriously at buying an APPLE
next time round. Microsoft, for all their money, has produced crapola
and i'm sick of supporting them with my valuable time and energy which
they seem to think is free.