Can't Boot After Installing Windows Xp Sp2

[Trevor]

I just installed Service Pack 2 to my 2004 version of Windows XP and now the system won't boot.

Have tried all 8 options such as safe modes, previous configuration which worked and VGA but the thing just cycles without reaching the desktop :

Toshiba -- In touch with tomorrrow

Black screen

Coloured Message : Windows is starting up

Black screen

Toshiba -- In touch with tomorrrow (repeats)

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Crossy]

Was it SP2 or SP3 you installed?

There have been issues reported with installing SP3 onto a new Windows installation before it's finished its restarting procedure There's a thread discussing this problem here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Warning-Microsoft-t204662.html

Edited August 23, 2008 by Crossy

[Trevor]

It was definitely SP2.

http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/xp_sp3.asp recommends having SP1 or SP2 before installing SP3.

Clearly SP2 has affected the boot procedure on my early version of Windows XP.

Is there any way to get into system restore so I can at least boot the machine? Thanks.

Edited August 23, 2008 by Trevor

[BigJobs]

You can just manually remove SP2 by using the Windows cd

1. Boot to recovery console; this hsould take you to the c:\windows prompt

2. Type in these command

c:\windows\> cd $ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst

c:\windows\$ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst\> batch spuninst.txt

this usually takes 10mins or so, don't worry about errors that appear that's normal. Once finished type in EXIT, enter - this will reboot system

3. On reboot, press F8; to get to the safe mode menu, boot into SAFE MODE, and then do a system restore to the date that SP2 was installed.

4. Should be ok

MS Article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350

--> if there is still problem, then maybe a manual system restore is needed, I can post instructions on this if needed

[Trevor]

You can just manually remove SP2 by using the Windows cd

1. Boot to recovery console; this hsould take you to the c:\windows prompt

2. Type in these command

c:\windows\> cd $ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst

c:\windows\$ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst\> batch spuninst.txt

this usually takes 10mins or so, don't worry about errors that appear that's normal. Once finished type in EXIT, enter - this will reboot system

3. On reboot, press F8; to get to the safe mode menu, boot into SAFE MODE, and then do a system restore to the date that SP2 was installed.

4. Should be ok

MS Article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875350

--> if there is still problem, then maybe a manual system restore is needed, I can post instructions on this if needed

Thanks for that. I was impatient and just re-installed XP from the Toshiba recovery disk before reading your post. Didn't take too long as it is 'Image-Based'.

My techie brother suggested there may have been a conflict between my 2004 version of XP (with SP1 only) on the recovery disk and XP's SP2, and thus advised me to leave it uninstalled as it is not essential. He suggested applying SP2 to an original version of XP. Are Pantip versions of XP and Vista reliable? Any preference for one or the other? Isn't there a completely-new operating system coming out from Microsoft in 2010 which is not DOS-based?

[dotcom]

I can only speak about Win XP Pro (Windows 2008) from the IT malls.

It is SP3 integrated & runs great.

PM me if you want to run the updates from Microkrap.