XP SP2 update screwed up my computer

[Patrick]

I had Windows XP Pro SP1. Tonight, Windows Update downloaded and installed an
UPDATE for SP2 (something to do with IE security). Now my computer is all
screwed up.

XP loads, but nothing really works. My programs don't work, I can't access
files through My Computer or Windows Explorer and I can't get System Restore
to open

I booted in Safe Mode, but I had the same problems. At the top of the screen
in Safe Mode, it says I now run XP SP2. But I never had SP2 installed. I
tried to install it from Windows Update site, but it always failed

Norton Antivirus take a while to load and my ZoneAlarm firewall repeatedly
shuts down and asks to restart. AIM doesn't load at all. It's weird and
frustrating. I even put System Restord in the Startup folder, but it doesn't
work. Even logging in as the Admin had no effect

I guess I now have SP2 eventhough I never was able to install it. I've read
the solutions for uninstalling SP2, but I can't uninstall. I can't access
System Restore and every time I try to enter a command in the Run dialog box
from the start menu button, it closes down, the desktop icons and taskbar
disappear and the desktop refreshes itself.

I want everything to work again, but I have no way of accedsing the proper
programs

I am able to open the System Configuration utility: msconfig (it's how I was
able to boot in Safe Mode) and Regedit opens too

And I gues my hard disk has been making a grinding noise for several days
now (perhaps since I upgraded my ZoneAlarm firewall) Smetimes it's quiet and
will only grind when I open a program (sounds like a rotary phone)

I'll try what's suggested here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350 but if anyone has any
info or advice I'd really apprecaite it

Thanks!

[Andrew E.]

If run is not available,press Ctrl_Alt_Delete @ the same time,this opens task
mgr.,in task mgr.,new task,type:cmd In cmd type:Sfc /Scannow Then install
xp cd,exit the page,when the graph is thru,type:CHKDSK C: /F Agree to
restart
then type:EXIT Restart computer,remove cd.Also,run the DOS window in min.,
sometimes the graph runs behind it.

"Patrick" wrote:

> I had Windows XP Pro SP1. Tonight, Windows Update downloaded and installed an
> UPDATE for SP2 (something to do with IE security). Now my computer is all
> screwed up.
>
> XP loads, but nothing really works. My programs don't work, I can't access
> files through My Computer or Windows Explorer and I can't get System Restore
> to open
>
> I booted in Safe Mode, but I had the same problems. At the top of the screen
> in Safe Mode, it says I now run XP SP2. But I never had SP2 installed. I
> tried to install it from Windows Update site, but it always failed
>
> Norton Antivirus take a while to load and my ZoneAlarm firewall repeatedly
> shuts down and asks to restart. AIM doesn't load at all. It's weird and
> frustrating. I even put System Restord in the Startup folder, but it doesn't
> work. Even logging in as the Admin had no effect
>
> I guess I now have SP2 eventhough I never was able to install it. I've read
> the solutions for uninstalling SP2, but I can't uninstall. I can't access
> System Restore and every time I try to enter a command in the Run dialog box
> from the start menu button, it closes down, the desktop icons and taskbar
> disappear and the desktop refreshes itself.
>
> I want everything to work again, but I have no way of accedsing the proper
> programs
>
> I am able to open the System Configuration utility: msconfig (it's how I was
> able to boot in Safe Mode) and Regedit opens too
>
> And I gues my hard disk has been making a grinding noise for several days
> now (perhaps since I upgraded my ZoneAlarm firewall) Smetimes it's quiet and
> will only grind when I open a program (sounds like a rotary phone)
>
> I'll try what's suggested here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350 but if anyone has any
> info or advice I'd really apprecaite it
>
> Thanks!

[Patrick]

Nevermind. I fixed it. I was able to access appwiz.cpl
(Control Panel) with Run. I uninstalled XP HotFix KB 834707

I have XP SP2 v.2096 which I think is a version of SP1
which might have caused the problem

Thanks though



>-----Original Message-----
> If run is not available,press Ctrl_Alt_Delete @ the same
time,this opens task
> mgr.,in task mgr.,new task,type:cmd In cmd
type:Sfc /Scannow Then install
> xp cd,exit the page,when the graph is thru,type:CHKDSK
C: /F Agree to
>restart
> then type:EXIT Restart computer,remove cd.Also,run the
DOS window in min.,
> sometimes the graph runs behind it.
>
>"Patrick" wrote:
>
>> I had Windows XP Pro SP1. Tonight, Windows Update
downloaded and installed an
>> UPDATE for SP2 (something to do with IE security). Now
my computer is all
>> screwed up.
>>
>> XP loads, but nothing really works. My programs don't
work, I can't access
>> files through My Computer or Windows Explorer and I
can't get System Restore
>> to open
>>
>> I booted in Safe Mode, but I had the same problems. At
the top of the screen
>> in Safe Mode, it says I now run XP SP2. But I never had
SP2 installed. I
>> tried to install it from Windows Update site, but it
always failed
>>
>> Norton Antivirus take a while to load and my ZoneAlarm
firewall repeatedly
>> shuts down and asks to restart. AIM doesn't load at
all. It's weird and
>> frustrating. I even put System Restord in the Startup
folder, but it doesn't
>> work. Even logging in as the Admin had no effect
>>
>> I guess I now have SP2 eventhough I never was able to
install it. I've read
>> the solutions for uninstalling SP2, but I can't
uninstall. I can't access
>> System Restore and every time I try to enter a command
in the Run dialog box
>> from the start menu button, it closes down, the desktop
icons and taskbar
>> disappear and the desktop refreshes itself.
>>
>> I want everything to work again, but I have no way of
accedsing the proper
>> programs
>>
>> I am able to open the System Configuration utility:
msconfig (it's how I was
>> able to boot in Safe Mode) and Regedit opens too
>>
>> And I gues my hard disk has been making a grinding
noise for several days
>> now (perhaps since I upgraded my ZoneAlarm firewall)
Smetimes it's quiet and
>> will only grind when I open a program (sounds like a
rotary phone)
>>
>> I'll try what's suggested here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350
but if anyone has any
>> info or advice I'd really apprecaite it
>>
>> Thanks!
>.
>

[bobgio]

Andrew:
I am not as able as Patrick at fixing this problem.
I get an error message as follows:
The procedure entry point SHRegGetValueW could not be located in the dynamic
link library SHLWAPI.dll.
or
The procedure entry point SHCreateThreadRef could not be located in the
dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll.
This happened after an automatic update and subsequent shut down and re-boot.
Now the machine gets as far as showing the wallpaper but not the icons on
the desktop.
What should I do to fix this?
Thank you,
Bob

"Andrew E." wrote:

> If run is not available,press Ctrl_Alt_Delete @ the same time,this opens task
> mgr.,in task mgr.,new task,type:cmd In cmd type:Sfc /Scannow Then install
> xp cd,exit the page,when the graph is thru,type:CHKDSK C: /F Agree to
> restart
> then type:EXIT Restart computer,remove cd.Also,run the DOS window in min.,
> sometimes the graph runs behind it.
>
> "Patrick" wrote:
>
> > I had Windows XP Pro SP1. Tonight, Windows Update downloaded and installed an
> > UPDATE for SP2 (something to do with IE security). Now my computer is all
> > screwed up.
> >
> > XP loads, but nothing really works. My programs don't work, I can't access
> > files through My Computer or Windows Explorer and I can't get System Restore
> > to open
> >
> > I booted in Safe Mode, but I had the same problems. At the top of the screen
> > in Safe Mode, it says I now run XP SP2. But I never had SP2 installed. I
> > tried to install it from Windows Update site, but it always failed
> >
> > Norton Antivirus take a while to load and my ZoneAlarm firewall repeatedly
> > shuts down and asks to restart. AIM doesn't load at all. It's weird and
> > frustrating. I even put System Restord in the Startup folder, but it doesn't
> > work. Even logging in as the Admin had no effect
> >
> > I guess I now have SP2 eventhough I never was able to install it. I've read
> > the solutions for uninstalling SP2, but I can't uninstall. I can't access
> > System Restore and every time I try to enter a command in the Run dialog box
> > from the start menu button, it closes down, the desktop icons and taskbar
> > disappear and the desktop refreshes itself.
> >
> > I want everything to work again, but I have no way of accedsing the proper
> > programs
> >
> > I am able to open the System Configuration utility: msconfig (it's how I was
> > able to boot in Safe Mode) and Regedit opens too
> >
> > And I gues my hard disk has been making a grinding noise for several days
> > now (perhaps since I upgraded my ZoneAlarm firewall) Smetimes it's quiet and
> > will only grind when I open a program (sounds like a rotary phone)
> >
> > I'll try what's suggested here:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350 but if anyone has any
> > info or advice I'd really apprecaite it
> >
> > Thanks!

[bobgio]

Patrick,
Try going to the Windows or directory and look for the $NtUninstallKB######$
sub-directory. Keep going until you get to a file spuninst.exe. A service box
wil appear- follow the directions. This should remove the updates and your
icons will eventually appear. I had to do the same thing thanks to Microsofts
wonderful updates. I will now not upload any updates as I am happy with the
computer was bfore these updates.

"Patrick" wrote:

> I had Windows XP Pro SP1. Tonight, Windows Update downloaded and installed an
> UPDATE for SP2 (something to do with IE security). Now my computer is all
> screwed up.
>
> XP loads, but nothing really works. My programs don't work, I can't access
> files through My Computer or Windows Explorer and I can't get System Restore
> to open
>
> I booted in Safe Mode, but I had the same problems. At the top of the screen
> in Safe Mode, it says I now run XP SP2. But I never had SP2 installed. I
> tried to install it from Windows Update site, but it always failed
>
> Norton Antivirus take a while to load and my ZoneAlarm firewall repeatedly
> shuts down and asks to restart. AIM doesn't load at all. It's weird and
> frustrating. I even put System Restord in the Startup folder, but it doesn't
> work. Even logging in as the Admin had no effect
>
> I guess I now have SP2 eventhough I never was able to install it. I've read
> the solutions for uninstalling SP2, but I can't uninstall. I can't access
> System Restore and every time I try to enter a command in the Run dialog box
> from the start menu button, it closes down, the desktop icons and taskbar
> disappear and the desktop refreshes itself.
>
> I want everything to work again, but I have no way of accedsing the proper
> programs
>
> I am able to open the System Configuration utility: msconfig (it's how I was
> able to boot in Safe Mode) and Regedit opens too
>
> And I gues my hard disk has been making a grinding noise for several days
> now (perhaps since I upgraded my ZoneAlarm firewall) Smetimes it's quiet and
> will only grind when I open a program (sounds like a rotary phone)
>
> I'll try what's suggested here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350 but if anyone has any
> info or advice I'd really apprecaite it
>
> Thanks!

[EvilDobie]

When I encountered this error I used a slip-streamed WinXP Pro SP2
disk to do a restore on the machine. The other solutions to remove
SP2 from the system were too much of a hassle and not worth the extra
effort. Aside from working on a p2 400MhZ computer the restore went
as expected and no outside problems have occured. I suggest avoiding
the Microsoft solutions to the problem, I mean you'd think the
developers of the software would be a better aide... then again, what
do I know?
But if you want to try them, I found the site that MS suggests you use
when repairing this problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350