SP2 Uninstall / System Restore - Mess

After installing WIN XP SP2, I had difficulties. HP sent
out updates that should be installed prior to installing
SP2. They recommended Uninstallilng SP2, installing the
updates, then reinstalling SP2. I uninstalled SP2. Then
I downloaded and installed the updates. I have a Compaq,
not HP but I assumed the updates were for both. Maybe
they weren't. When I tried to restart the computer,
everything froze.

I did a system restore through Safe Mode which worked to
get me back into my computer. But unfortunately I
couldn't get back to the date before I had installed
SP2. Now, when I try to uninstall SP2, I get a message
that it may have already been uninstalled, but there are
at least parts of the service pack still on my computer
because it is listed in the Add/Remove Program, it is
still listed as part of my Windows Version in Windows and
in IE, and many of the SP2 behaviors that I didn't like
before are still present.

How can I remove all of the SP2 components completely?
The add/remove uninstall method doesn't work, System
Restore no longer has restore points before the
installation of SP2, the hidden $NtServicePackUninstall$
solution doesn't work. And my computer came with Win XP
Home and a Compaq Recovery CD and not a Windows XP CD.
So I am not sure if I can try the Recovery Console method
using the Compaq Recovery CD. What would I look for on
the CD? Am I going to have to do a factory restore?
That puts me back to a time before SP1. Aaaaaagggahhh.

Sharon wrote:

After installing WIN XP SP2, I had difficulties. HP sent
out updates that should be installed prior to installing
SP2. They recommended Uninstallilng SP2, installing the
updates, then reinstalling SP2. I uninstalled SP2. Then
I downloaded and installed the updates. I have a Compaq,
not HP but I assumed the updates were for both. Maybe
they weren't. When I tried to restart the computer,
everything froze.

I'm sorry to hear this. Absolutely you should have gone to the tech
support page for your exact make/model computer. Definitely the updates
were not for both HP and Compaq computers. HPs and Compaqs are
completely different computers.


I did a system restore through Safe Mode which worked to
get me back into my computer. But unfortunately I
couldn't get back to the date before I had installed
SP2. Now, when I try to uninstall SP2, I get a message
that it may have already been uninstalled, but there are
at least parts of the service pack still on my computer
because it is listed in the Add/Remove Program, it is
still listed as part of my Windows Version in Windows and
in IE, and many of the SP2 behaviors that I didn't like
before are still present.

How can I remove all of the SP2 components completely?
The add/remove uninstall method doesn't work, System
Restore no longer has restore points before the
installation of SP2, the hidden $NtServicePackUninstall$
solution doesn't work. And my computer came with Win XP
Home and a Compaq Recovery CD and not a Windows XP CD.
So I am not sure if I can try the Recovery Console method
using the Compaq Recovery CD. What would I look for on
the CD? Am I going to have to do a factory restore?
That puts me back to a time before SP1. Aaaaaagggahhh.

If you did not get an actual operating system disk with your computer, I
do not believe you will be able to use the restore disk for anything
except returning your computer to factory condition. HP's restore disks
give you the opportunity to do a Repair Install, but AFAIK Compaq's
restore disks do not. You might try borrowing a friend's XP cd (making
sure it is the same Edition as yours) and see if you can get into the
Recovery Console that way. If you can, here's a link that explains how
to remove SP2 with the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350

I do not believe you will be able to do a Repair Install with the
hypothetical friend's XP Home XP either, because Compaqs have such
proprietary hardware and software. You might try calling Compaq tech
support, but I don't hold out much hope for them telling you anything
but "use the Restore Disk". Remember, if you *do* use the restore, it
will wipe out everything so back up all your data first.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

-----Original Message-----
Sharon wrote:

After installing WIN XP SP2, I had difficulties. HP
sent
out updates that should be installed prior to
installing
SP2. They recommended Uninstallilng SP2, installing
the
updates, then reinstalling SP2. I uninstalled SP2.
Then
I downloaded and installed the updates. I have a
Compaq,
not HP but I assumed the updates were for both. Maybe
they weren't. When I tried to restart the computer,
everything froze.

I'm sorry to hear this. Absolutely you should have gone
to the tech
support page for your exact make/model computer.
Definitely the updates
were not for both HP and Compaq computers. HPs and
Compaqs are
completely different computers.


I did a system restore through Safe Mode which worked
to
get me back into my computer. But unfortunately I
couldn't get back to the date before I had installed
SP2. Now, when I try to uninstall SP2, I get a message
that it may have already been uninstalled, but there
are
at least parts of the service pack still on my computer
because it is listed in the Add/Remove Program, it is
still listed as part of my Windows Version in Windows
and
in IE, and many of the SP2 behaviors that I didn't like
before are still present.

How can I remove all of the SP2 components completely?
The add/remove uninstall method doesn't work, System
Restore no longer has restore points before the
installation of SP2, the hidden
$NtServicePackUninstall$
solution doesn't work. And my computer came with Win
XP
Home and a Compaq Recovery CD and not a Windows XP CD.
So I am not sure if I can try the Recovery Console
method
using the Compaq Recovery CD. What would I look for on
the CD? Am I going to have to do a factory restore?
That puts me back to a time before SP1. Aaaaaagggahhh.

If you did not get an actual operating system disk with
your computer, I
do not believe you will be able to use the restore disk
for anything
except returning your computer to factory condition.
HP's restore disks
give you the opportunity to do a Repair Install, but
AFAIK Compaq's
restore disks do not. You might try borrowing a friend's
XP cd (making
sure it is the same Edition as yours) and see if you can
get into the
Recovery Console that way. If you can, here's a link
that explains how
to remove SP2 with the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=875350

I do not believe you will be able to do a Repair Install
with the
hypothetical friend's XP Home XP either, because Compaqs
have such
proprietary hardware and software. You might try calling
Compaq tech
support, but I don't hold out much hope for them telling
you anything
but "use the Restore Disk". Remember, if you *do* use
the restore, it
will wipe out everything so back up all your data first.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
.


Thank you for responding Malke. It's my worse nightmare
come true. I had to do factory restore last year (twice)
because the tech I paid to help me didn't tell me to
disconnect everything first. I don't have the backup
feature because it isn't a part of XP Home and again, I
don't have the Win XP disc. I will never buy Compaq
again. But I really appreciate your answering.
Sharon

wrote:

Thank you for responding Malke. It's my worse nightmare
come true. I had to do factory restore last year (twice)
because the tech I paid to help me didn't tell me to
disconnect everything first. I don't have the backup
feature because it isn't a part of XP Home and again, I
don't have the Win XP disc. I will never buy Compaq
again. But I really appreciate your answering.
Sharon

The NTBackup isn't particularly good, anyway. What you want to do is
back up all your *data* - the things *you've* created that can't be
replaced. The easiest way is just burn the files to cd-r.

If you have important data on the machine, it can be rescued if you do
nothing more right now. Take the machine to a *good* local repair shop
(obviously not the same one), not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of store.
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with a tech. There are many of
us who are very good and care about our clients, though. Ask friends
and colleagues for the name of someone they like and trust. If you need
more help, don't hesitate to post back. I second your opinion on
Compaq, but there is no substitute for backing up. One of the things I
always do for clients who need me to rescue their data is teach them
how to back up - for free. Find a friend or ask the good tech to teach
you how to do this.

Regards and good luck,

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"