Problem Installing XP SP2 for XP Home *HELP*

Question

Dimension 2400 WinXP Home

Things were installing just fine and then it got to "Finishing Installation - running processes after install" then everything just stopped. It's been sitting there about 15 minutes doing nothing.

I cleaned the system before attempting this install. The auto prompt kept coming back to me to install these necessary updates to my system...so I prepared for the install and got this junk.

How bad is it, and why would this install blow up?

Message Edited by jimtnc on 03-13-2005 08:34 AM

jimtnc · Answer

Thanks jmwills. I did have a external harddrive plugged into the USB, but it wasn't powered on (if that makes a difference). It appeared to almost finish the upgrade and stalled.   I did find out that XP is a lot more forgiving than previous OS's.  I rebooted after it stalled and XP replied 'setup was interrupted. Restoring to previous configuration' and told me to remove SP2, which I did. I'm not back to previous configuration.   Whew!!

jmwills · Answer

I would blow out the exisiting partition and start fresh again.

jmwills · Answer

UNplug everything from the computer except ofr the keyboard, mosue, and monitor and start again.  Sounds like a USB conflict.

lawnmowerguy · Answer

I have a Dimension 2400 too.

It's tedious and time consuming, but before I installed SP2 I followed this plan:

First, I upgraded the BIOS. With a 2400 that is A05. Next I backed up my important files to USB flash drives. Afterwards, I turned off the computer and powered off and unplugged the surge protector. I unplugged everything from the the computer except the mouse, keyboard, monitor and power cord. After a boot up, I formatted the hard drive with the Windows XP SP1 CD-ROM supplied by Dell. Perhaps it would have been better to do a slipstream install, but I don't know how to do that.

With a clean slate, I turned off the screen saver and installed SP2 via a CD-ROM I picked up free from Circuit City. After that, I installed updated drivers (ethernet, sound, video) I had previously downloaded and saved to my flash drives. I didn't use the ones that came on the Dell Dimension Resource CD, figuring it was better to use newer drivers.

Immediately afterwards I went to Windows Update and installed the huge amount of critical files. After that was over, I turned on Automatic Updates. Next step was to install various anti-spyware programs and an anti-virus program. After all this, I reinstalled all my other programs/hardware devices and extracted important data I had previously saved.

Message Edited by Lawnmowerguy on 03-13-2005 09:28 AM

jimtnc · Answer

Thanks guys. I hate having to wipe everything clean and and format the HHD. Since I got this PC there has been very little if anything done on it. I got it for my son, and he went in the Navy right after that. I can see wiping clean if it's been used for a year or two, but it's hardly been touched.

Are you saying that perhaps the less complicated way of installing major upgrades is to start over from scratch? Geeezzzz! If hope that's not the way M/S is setting things up for us users for fear the "SP" upgrades won't install properly any other way.

Is the BIOS update crucial for this upgrade also? I really don't know what my current BIOS is, and have always been somewhat uncomfortable applying upgrades to BIOS. Things can get kludged (sp) really quick.

Jim.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 03-14-2005 05:49 AM

jmwills · Answer

If you just got the machine, don't worry about the BIOS.  But, make sure your get the latest video, network, chipset, and audio drivers.

Windows General

Problem Installing XP SP2 for XP Home HELP

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