Install SP2 problem now no Control Panel

Hi everyone

I have XP Pro SP1 and, after a lot of persuasion from colleagues, I
eventually decided to take the plunge. I reinstalled my OS from the
recovery disc (the laptop's about 3 months old) and installed McAfee
VirusScan. I'm on ADSL behind a router.

I am the sole user of the laptop and have a single account which has all
capabilities. I used this, rather than THE Administrator account. I went
to the Windows Update site from StartAll Programs and let it install the
smaller updates. I rebooted and then allowed it to download SP2. The
Install Wizard started and halted about half way through when it was running
the processes. I waited for 3 hours and nothing. I tried CAD without any
response. I waited another 45 minutes and then hit the power button as CAD
remained ineffective.

When I tried to reboot, it said that XP2 hadn't been installed fully and the
system was unstable. I was instructed to remove it via the Control Panel.
When I tried to access Control Panel, it threw up an error saying that
Windows Explorer had to close (with apologies!). I tried again and
eventually resorted to Safe Mode from which I could access the Control Panel
to delete SP2. Success!

I rebooted to normal mode but noticed two things - still no access to
Control Panel and the Network Connections that I had set up weren't there.

I think I've explained everything. Anyone any idea what's happened and how
I can get around it? I'm happy to reinstall the OS but am very concerned
because this may happen again. If I don't know what went wrong, how can I
prevent it happening again? I must admit that this experience has put me
off SP2, even though I know many folks who have installed it without any
problems.

Thanks for your time.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Checklist
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]

Welcome to the Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Chat.
You can get no charge Windows XP SP2 support he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=Wxpsp2chat

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Tosca" wrote:

| Hi everyone
|
| I have XP Pro SP1 and, after a lot of persuasion from colleagues, I
| eventually decided to take the plunge. I reinstalled my OS from the
| recovery disc (the laptop's about 3 months old) and installed McAfee
| VirusScan. I'm on ADSL behind a router.
|
| I am the sole user of the laptop and have a single account which has all
| capabilities. I used this, rather than THE Administrator account. I went
| to the Windows Update site from StartAll Programs and let it install the
| smaller updates. I rebooted and then allowed it to download SP2. The
| Install Wizard started and halted about half way through when it was running
| the processes. I waited for 3 hours and nothing. I tried CAD without any
| response. I waited another 45 minutes and then hit the power button as CAD
| remained ineffective.
|
| When I tried to reboot, it said that XP2 hadn't been installed fully and the
| system was unstable. I was instructed to remove it via the Control Panel.
| When I tried to access Control Panel, it threw up an error saying that
| Windows Explorer had to close (with apologies!). I tried again and
| eventually resorted to Safe Mode from which I could access the Control Panel
| to delete SP2. Success!
|
| I rebooted to normal mode but noticed two things - still no access to
| Control Panel and the Network Connections that I had set up weren't there.
|
| I think I've explained everything. Anyone any idea what's happened and how
| I can get around it? I'm happy to reinstall the OS but am very concerned
| because this may happen again. If I don't know what went wrong, how can I
| prevent it happening again? I must admit that this experience has put me
| off SP2, even though I know many folks who have installed it without any
| problems.
|
| Thanks for your time.

You must have used a banned serial number when sp2 tried to install.
"Tosca" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I have XP Pro SP1 and, after a lot of persuasion from colleagues, I
eventually decided to take the plunge. I reinstalled my OS from the
recovery disc (the laptop's about 3 months old) and installed McAfee
VirusScan. I'm on ADSL behind a router.

I am the sole user of the laptop and have a single account which has all
capabilities. I used this, rather than THE Administrator account. I went
to the Windows Update site from StartAll Programs and let it install the
smaller updates. I rebooted and then allowed it to download SP2. The
Install Wizard started and halted about half way through when it was
running
the processes. I waited for 3 hours and nothing. I tried CAD without any
response. I waited another 45 minutes and then hit the power button as
CAD
remained ineffective.

When I tried to reboot, it said that XP2 hadn't been installed fully and
the
system was unstable. I was instructed to remove it via the Control Panel.
When I tried to access Control Panel, it threw up an error saying that
Windows Explorer had to close (with apologies!). I tried again and
eventually resorted to Safe Mode from which I could access the Control
Panel
to delete SP2. Success!

I rebooted to normal mode but noticed two things - still no access to
Control Panel and the Network Connections that I had set up weren't there.

I think I've explained everything. Anyone any idea what's happened and
how
I can get around it? I'm happy to reinstall the OS but am very concerned
because this may happen again. If I don't know what went wrong, how can I
prevent it happening again? I must admit that this experience has put me
off SP2, even though I know many folks who have installed it without any
problems.

Thanks for your time.

Pull all the crap off the outside of the computer (printers usb devices) get
rid of mcaffee then install sp2 with a non banned serial number. Sounds to
me like you never had sp1 or access to any updates and downloaded sp2 as one
file.
"Tosca" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone

I have XP Pro SP1 and, after a lot of persuasion from colleagues, I
eventually decided to take the plunge. I reinstalled my OS from the
recovery disc (the laptop's about 3 months old) and installed McAfee
VirusScan. I'm on ADSL behind a router.

I am the sole user of the laptop and have a single account which has all
capabilities. I used this, rather than THE Administrator account. I went
to the Windows Update site from StartAll Programs and let it install the
smaller updates. I rebooted and then allowed it to download SP2. The
Install Wizard started and halted about half way through when it was
running
the processes. I waited for 3 hours and nothing. I tried CAD without any
response. I waited another 45 minutes and then hit the power button as
CAD
remained ineffective.

When I tried to reboot, it said that XP2 hadn't been installed fully and
the
system was unstable. I was instructed to remove it via the Control Panel.
When I tried to access Control Panel, it threw up an error saying that
Windows Explorer had to close (with apologies!). I tried again and
eventually resorted to Safe Mode from which I could access the Control
Panel
to delete SP2. Success!

I rebooted to normal mode but noticed two things - still no access to
Control Panel and the Network Connections that I had set up weren't there.

I think I've explained everything. Anyone any idea what's happened and
how
I can get around it? I'm happy to reinstall the OS but am very concerned
because this may happen again. If I don't know what went wrong, how can I
prevent it happening again? I must admit that this experience has put me
off SP2, even though I know many folks who have installed it without any
problems.

Thanks for your time.