Trying to Patch XP from SP1 to SP2

[Reece]

Hi, I have made 2 unsuccessful attempts at trying to patch XP to SP2, I even tried patching to SP1 first, that went ok, then ran SP2, installs ok but when rebooting it gets to the point of displaying the desktop picture with cursor then BSOD. The first attempt did exactly the same! Can anyone suggest what I coud do, should I uninstall devices, I did goto msconfig and untick a lot of non essential stuff like Wallpaper Master, ZoneAlarm, Logitech keyboard etc first.
Any help appreciated, I am hoping for only one more attempt as doing this & restoring a previous system takes many hours.
The reasons for doing so is that the new AVG 8 antivirus wont install, & just purchased Ship Simulator 2008, that won't run, this also requires SP2 (after technical discussion).
Cheers.

[SUBMAN1]

Try SP3 first.

[Reece]

If SP2 won't go I fail to see that SP3 will, plus I have SP2 & my modem is not good enough to do an update online unless I can get it via Torrent. There certainly are many torrents but who know which one! There all around 500megs.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Reece

If SP2 won't go I fail to see that SP3 will, plus I have SP2 & my modem is not good enough to do an update online unless I can get it via Torrent. There certainly are many torrents but who know which one! There all around 500megs.

First thing you need to do is check for corruption. Pull up a command window:

Start -> Run -> 'cmd'

Check for NTFS in a dirty state first (assuming you aren't running FAT, and if you are, get rid of it already!) - 'chkntfs c:'

Go to your C drive next and type 'chkdsk /f'. It will ask you to reboot and it will run a file system check that will look for corruption.

I assume it will find some. let it repair it and then reboot and then try running SP2 again.

-S

[Overboard]

Originally Posted by Reece

Hi, I have made 2 unsuccessful attempts at trying to patch XP to SP2, I even tried patching to SP1 first, that went ok, then ran SP2, installs ok but when rebooting it gets to the point of displaying the desktop picture with cursor then BSOD. The first attempt did exactly the same! Can anyone suggest what I coud do, should I uninstall devices, I did goto msconfig and untick a lot of non essential stuff like Wallpaper Master, ZoneAlarm, Logitech keyboard etc first.
Any help appreciated, I am hoping for only one more attempt as doing this & restoring a previous system takes many hours.
The reasons for doing so is that the new AVG 8 antivirus wont install, & just purchased Ship Simulator 2008, that won't run, this also requires SP2 (after technical discussion).
Cheers.

I can only tell you this...When i downloaded sp3 an installed it, I seen an instant 15-20 if not more % improvement over sp2 in every thing i do on my machine and thats no ****t, Well worth it if you ask me.

[Reece]

@ overboard, how big is the file, give me an idea of the torrent size to download.
@ SUBMAN1, I checked disk first with Norton Disk Doctor & found no faults, yes I have NTFS, ditched Fat 32 years ago, will give chkntfs c: a go but if ok then no point trying again & wasting several more hours! and you know how long from scratch to build a system back up, the thought of setting up all the devices, network, internet, 100's of apps including reregistering and setting up software like Sony Soundforge, DVD apps, G15 keyboard, TV card & stations, Skype, tray tools, dozens of Radio apps, etc etc!
Oh the pain, Oh the pain!

[THE_MASK]

Its called microsoft update .

[Overboard]

Originally Posted by Reece

@ overboard, how big is the file, give me an idea of the torrent size to download.
@ SUBMAN1, I checked disk first with Norton Disk Doctor & found no faults, yes I have NTFS, ditched Fat 32 years ago, will give chkntfs c: a go but if ok then no point trying again & wasting several more hours! and you know how long from scratch to build a system back up, the thought of setting up all the devices, network, internet, 100's of apps including reregistering and setting up software like Sony Soundforge, DVD apps, G15 keyboard, TV card & stations, Skype, tray tools, dozens of Radio apps, etc etc!
Oh the pain, Oh the pain!

Sorry i do not know what a torrent is (never used that).. but the sp3 update is from microsoft updates.

OK! I have to put this in here because from MY experince (spell) I have installed SP3 and ran it for 3 maby 4 weeks now and i have used all of my same progams that i always use.. "BUT WITH ONE VERY BIG DIFFERENCE" my computor is faster,workes better, quicker to boot, porgrams load faster, games don't sssstttuter as mutch and just all around better. (Sorry for spelling)

[Overboard]

Sides SP3 is the end of the road for xp..so eather you do or you don't, Anyways
theres always vista.
The differance between sp2 and sp3 for xp is sp3 works.

[GlobalExplorer]

Interesting. Maybe I have to try SP3. If it improves so much on SP2 performance this also backs my - often ridiculed - claims that SP1 was 20% faster than SP2. Thats why I still run my games with it, I only have SP2 for work and internet.

[peterloo]

Why don't you slipstream SP3 into your Windows XP disc? In this way, you will automatically install SP3 when you install Windows XP, saving you the hassle of upgrading, which costs time and prone to failure

The software that you need is called nLite. Run it and it will guide you through the whole process. You will need a Windows XP installation disc (any "recovery disc" bundled with your PC won't work), the SP3 installation package, nLite itself, and a blank disc to burn the new SP3 slipstreamed installation program in

nLite: http://www.nliteos.com/
Windows XP SP3 (you must use this version - others won't work):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...8-1e1555d4f3d4

Good luck

[SUBMAN1]

Because he says above that he doesn't want to reload everything.

-S

[kiwi_2005]

Agree with Peterloo method using nLite for xp (vlite for Vista users). Another way is to get an AIO creator (All in One) great program simular to the nlite.

AIO creator for installing OS's can add onto 1 dvd anything really for an example heres my winxp installation dvd:

WindowsXP Pro installation
Sp2 (at time of making this sp3 wasn't out)
open office
Photoshop lite
Firefox
Opera
Divx
Eset Security suite
Internet download manager
MSN live messager v2008 build 8.5
VLC media player
Klite mega codec pack
Foxit pdf reader
Peer guardian 2.0
Ulimate defrag
Uninstaller 2008
Save data.exe (all my docs rapt up into an exe file to install later )

When installing windows it will install all the above in the order i put them once install finish everything is uptodate Makes reformating/reinstalling windows and all your favourite software a breeze, no need to even be in front of the PC while its installing. Just a few clicks and leave it.

[Reece]

AIO sounds interesting but what about settings for each program, what folders you want the apps placed in, various options that have to be ticked/unticked, etc, seems to me that you may as well install individually, unless it can take apps that are currently installed (register entries etc) and place them into a new system?
Could you please elaborate kiwi_2005.
Thanks, btw Avira is great! (wonder how long it will last free?)

Edit: I did look on the web for AIO Creator but find nothing but crap, also looked up nLite, blowed if I can figure what the heck it is, how to use etc, I think a manual install is the way to go!

[d@rk51d3]

With regards to a service pack 3 download, If you machine is fully up to date (which, in this case it isn't) the download is about 66MB.

Or you can download the full service pack which weighs in at about 350MB.

And give yourself a good hour to install completely.