SP2, How to not get burnt again?

I've been reading through all the posts concerning SP2. I tried it out when
it came out, and it worked great for about 2 weeks. Then, I started getting
all types of odd behavior from my system. I found that most of my hw/sw
vendors didn't have the updates to go with SP2. Ultimately, I ended up in
Stop Error-blue screens and the endless boot-loop. MS Chat support suggested
uninstalling SP2, and running a repair operation on Windows. I was able to
get my data off the affected hd and I'm ready to just reformat and start
fresh. I would like to try SP2 again, now that most of my hw/sw vendors have
fixes. Since the explanation that seems to be given concerning all the
people who had problems with SP2 is being placed on systems that weren't
prepared, I would like to know what is the best way to prepare for a
successful installation? Is it more stable/compatible if SP2 is installed
before the other programs and hardware I'll be using? Or does it not matter
what order I install everything. Also, since I will be giving Windows it's
own partition, will that make it easier to uninstall SP2 if there are
problems later? I plan to separate my programs and data on other partitions
as well.

"bobcat" wrote in message
...

snipped

Is it more stable/compatible if SP2 is installed
before the other programs and hardware I'll be using? Or does it not
matter
what order I install everything. Also, since I will be giving Windows
it's
own partition, will that make it easier to uninstall SP2 if there are
problems later? I plan to separate my programs and data on other
partitions
as well.

I would say yes it is, and to then install your other updates from Windows
Updates tat are critical/securty too. But before ytou do so, be sure that
all of your apps and hardware has drivers specically for SP2. If all of them
are not avaiable yet, are those apps impostant enough to do without SP2. If
you can get the updates for everything, install them one at a time with
their updates after you installed SP2 and the others I mentioned earlier.

Make a restore point, after each install, to see whether this will work or
not. If after each app install, there is a problem, uninstall it, then
restore your PC to before it. Go from there. Also, while you are at it, be
sure after you reinstall Windows, and SP2, to see if there are updated
chipset drivers for your CPU. If there is one, that would be the first I
would install after SP2 and its subsequent updates.

bobcat wrote:

I've been reading through all the posts concerning SP2.
I tried it out when it came out, and it worked great for
about 2 weeks. Then, I started getting all types of odd
behavior from my system.

NOT the fault with SP2. If it worked for two weeks (or for even ONE
week) then something YOU did changed that situation.

and as I also mentioned, I realized the problems were coming from my apps and
hardware not being updated to go with SP2, I didn't blame SP2 for the
problem. Your post didn't add in anyway to help me know how to set my system
up to work correctly with SP2. I was not attacking SP2, so you don't need to
sell me on it or run to it's defense. I liked SP2 until I started having
problems, I had to uninstall it because my apps were too valuable to my
business to do without. I had to wait for the vendors to catch-up before I
could take the chance with the upgrade again. Now I'm looking for how to do
the set up right, and I've decided to upgrade my harddrive while I'm at it,
so there shouldn't be any leftover data of any sort to interfere.
Information that helps to this end is appreciated.

"Curmudgeon" wrote:


bobcat wrote:

I've been reading through all the posts concerning SP2.
I tried it out when it came out, and it worked great for
about 2 weeks. Then, I started getting all types of odd
behavior from my system.

NOT the fault with SP2. If it worked for two weeks (or for even ONE
week) then something YOU did changed that situation.

Thank you for the helpful information. How do I go about seeing if there are
updated chipset drivers for my CPU? I have an ASUS TUV4X motherboard with a
P3 866 mhz chip. I know I have to flash my BIOS and got the necessary files.
I've never flashed a BIOS before, either, but I think I understand the
directions well enough. How hard is it to update chipset drivers?

"Tom" wrote:


"bobcat" wrote in message
...

snipped

Is it more stable/compatible if SP2 is installed
before the other programs and hardware I'll be using? Or does it not
matter
what order I install everything. Also, since I will be giving Windows
it's
own partition, will that make it easier to uninstall SP2 if there are
problems later? I plan to separate my programs and data on other
partitions
as well.

I would say yes it is, and to then install your other updates from Windows
Updates tat are critical/securty too. But before ytou do so, be sure that
all of your apps and hardware has drivers specically for SP2. If all of them
are not avaiable yet, are those apps impostant enough to do without SP2. If
you can get the updates for everything, install them one at a time with
their updates after you installed SP2 and the others I mentioned earlier.

Make a restore point, after each install, to see whether this will work or
not. If after each app install, there is a problem, uninstall it, then
restore your PC to before it. Go from there. Also, while you are at it, be
sure after you reinstall Windows, and SP2, to see if there are updated
chipset drivers for your CPU. If there is one, that would be the first I
would install after SP2 and its subsequent updates.

Not hard at all, you do it whilst in Windows. You would either need to
consult your PC maker, or the MOBO maker/supplier of your chipset, and refer
to their website for an update, if there is one.

"bobcat" wrote in message
...
Thank you for the helpful information. How do I go about seeing if there
are
updated chipset drivers for my CPU? I have an ASUS TUV4X motherboard with
a
P3 866 mhz chip. I know I have to flash my BIOS and got the necessary
files.
I've never flashed a BIOS before, either, but I think I understand the
directions well enough. How hard is it to update chipset drivers?

"Tom" wrote:


"bobcat" wrote in message
...

snipped

Is it more stable/compatible if SP2 is installed
before the other programs and hardware I'll be using? Or does it not
matter
what order I install everything. Also, since I will be giving Windows
it's
own partition, will that make it easier to uninstall SP2 if there are
problems later? I plan to separate my programs and data on other
partitions
as well.

I would say yes it is, and to then install your other updates from
Windows
Updates tat are critical/securty too. But before ytou do so, be sure that
all of your apps and hardware has drivers specically for SP2. If all of
them
are not avaiable yet, are those apps impostant enough to do without SP2.
If
you can get the updates for everything, install them one at a time with
their updates after you installed SP2 and the others I mentioned earlier.

Make a restore point, after each install, to see whether this will work
or
not. If after each app install, there is a problem, uninstall it, then
restore your PC to before it. Go from there. Also, while you are at it,
be
sure after you reinstall Windows, and SP2, to see if there are updated
chipset drivers for your CPU. If there is one, that would be the first I
would install after SP2 and its subsequent updates.

bobcat wrote:
I've been reading through all the posts concerning SP2. I tried it
out when it came out, and it worked great for about 2 weeks. Then, I
started getting all types of odd behavior from my system. I found
that most of my hw/sw vendors didn't have the updates to go with SP2.
Ultimately, I ended up in Stop Error-blue screens and the endless
boot-loop. MS Chat support suggested uninstalling SP2, and running a
repair operation on Windows. I was able to get my data off the
affected hd and I'm ready to just reformat and start fresh. I would
like to try SP2 again, now that most of my hw/sw vendors have fixes.
Since the explanation that seems to be given concerning all the
people who had problems with SP2 is being placed on systems that
weren't prepared, I would like to know what is the best way to
prepare for a successful installation? Is it more stable/compatible
if SP2 is installed before the other programs and hardware I'll be
using? Or does it not matter what order I install everything. Also,
since I will be giving Windows it's own partition, will that make it
easier to uninstall SP2 if there are problems later? I plan to
separate my programs and data on other partitions as well.

All the people who've had trouble with SP2 (27) have reported their
problems.

We've not heard from the 120 million who have not had problems.

I have just spent alot trying to see why my computer keep stopping and
trying to reboot and now I see that it seems to be possibly a problem
related to SP2.
I had my computer reformatted and XP SP2 installed at Xmas, it has turned
off repeatedly since..Is there away of checking logs to see whether its the
XP and not a hardware problem.
Thanks
Althea

Althea rambled on in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general:

I have just spent alot trying to see why my computer keep stopping and
trying to reboot and now I see that it seems to be possibly a problem
related to SP2.
I had my computer reformatted and XP SP2 installed at Xmas, it has turned
off repeatedly since..Is there away of checking logs to see whether its the
XP and not a hardware problem.
Thanks
Althea




Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\eventvwr.msc

Black Baptist wrote in
news:Xns961FA12F969Apraythechurchcom@Letuspray:

Althea rambled on in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general:

I have just spent alot trying to see why my computer keep stopping
and trying to reboot and now I see that it seems to be possibly a
problem related to SP2.
I had my computer reformatted and XP SP2 installed at Xmas, it has
turned off repeatedly since..Is there away of checking logs to see
whether its the XP and not a hardware problem.
Thanks
Althea




Run C:\WINDOWS\system32\eventvwr.msc

This has nothing to do with the topic...
I clicked on that in my newsreader (XNews) and it offered to run it.
http://www.mewnlite.com/whatever.gif
You learn something every day. Is this old news or did I discover something
new? :-)

--
--- A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ---

Although not a big fan of SP2, if your doing a fresh install, what have you got to lose? You won't have any applications or data installed yet, so this would be the time to check your event logs, device manager, etc. Make sure the installation went ok, and that your computer functions up to par before you start adding applications & restoring data.
There is no guarentee that SP2 will work on your computer, period.
The guy that said only 27 people that posted had a problem with SP2, must live under a rock.
So take a shot, make sure all your drivers, bios, and chipset drivers are up-to-date before the install. If you have problems after, post back.
Most folks here are glad to help.
Treeman