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rjdjbd

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R

rjdjbd

26 Posts

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20877

November 6th, 2006 05:00

Windows XP; I cannot install Service Pack 2

Hello Everyone;
 
I have a DELL Dimension 8300, with a shipping date of 01/16/2004 that came with  Windows XP pre-installed.

My problem is that I have never been able to install Service Pack 2. (Service Pack 1 is installed.) I've tried using three different discs and twice the download from Microsoft, all to no avail. I've tried numerous attempts to install Service Pack 2 but the computer 'hangs up' or 'stalls' and never completes the installation. I must do 'restore' for the computer to operate correctly after attempting to install Service Pack 2.

It was recommended that I install Windows XP Professional (which I have) but I believe that if I do that it will wipe out all computer files, software and contents and I am not up to re-installing all files and drivers.

Microsoft support for Service Pack 1 expired in October and my DELL is now at risk for viruses, Trojan horses, etc. because I can not install Service Pack 2. Additionally, some Windows XP updates can not be installed without Service Pack 2. When I contacted Microsoft, they told me there were hardware conflicts and to contact DELL for support.

Any help you could offer would be appreciated...

Thank you, Richard

 

  • R

    rjdjbd

    26 Posts

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    Posted November 6th, 2006 05:00

    NoLo813;
     
    Thanks for the reply; I posted my question today but attempting to install Service Pack 2 goes way back when it was first released. After trying to install many times, I just gave up. With the ending of support for Service Pack 1 last month encouraged me to try to find a solution. Someone must have had the same or similar problem and has a solution. I have two older DELL computers and one newer DELL, and no problems installing Service Pack 2. Just my 8300...
     
    Richard
  • L

    LatinMcG

    121 Posts

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    Posted November 6th, 2006 05:00

    u,mmmm you been at risk for a loong time if u didnt have sp2. in fact i think thats the real problem.. you got infected and something might have changed permissions.
  • J

    jmwills

    2 Intern

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    11984 Posts

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    Posted November 6th, 2006 06:00

    Virutally all of the problems associated with installing SP2 are from viruses or malware that ar eon the machine you are upgrading.  Scan for same and then turn off the AV to install SP2.
  • S

    sparkenh

    570 Posts

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    Posted November 6th, 2006 10:00

    rjdjbd,

    read the Dell Information on SP2
  • S

    simpswr

    2 Intern

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    3224 Posts

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    Posted November 6th, 2006 11:00

    Have you updated the BIOS? . . the newest includes "Updated microcode for newer CPUs" . . which seems to be DellSpeak for " the first one would not work well with SP2".

    Message Edited by simpswr on 11-06-2006 07:40 AM

  • J

    jmwills

    2 Intern

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    11984 Posts

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    Posted November 7th, 2006 06:00

    Plenty of space.  Why not backup your data and do a clean install?
  • R

    rjdjbd

    26 Posts

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    Posted November 7th, 2006 06:00

    Okay, I have now installed and ran adware and spyware software, along with my existing anti-spy and antivirus software. I updated the BIOS and turned off everything on the Task Bar, including the antivirus software and DSL connection. I tried three times today, and have tried on numerous occasions over the last year. The installation always 'stalls' at the same point on the Progress Bar (running processes after install). Any other suggestions I could try?
     
    Thank you, Richard
  • J

    jmwills

    2 Intern

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    11984 Posts

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    Posted November 7th, 2006 06:00

    How much free space on that partition?
  • R

    rjdjbd

    26 Posts

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    Posted November 7th, 2006 06:00

    I'm not very knowledgeable regarding computers: if you're asking about the hard drive size, it's 80 GB with 33GB free.
     
    Thank you, Richard
  • R

    rjdjbd

    26 Posts

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    Posted November 7th, 2006 13:00

    When you say a 'clean install', are you referring to Windows XP? I'm not sure how to do that without wiping everything out on my computer. Doesn't it take hours and hours to reload all the software, drivers, files, etc? Plus, I have a software program that the company is now defunct. When I originally installed the software program it required me to activate it online; with the company gone I can't activate it again and I use the program everyday.
     
    If I have to do a complete reinstall, I also have Windows XP Professional I could install...
     
    Thank you, Richard

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