going to reformat XP Pro, is it worth it to install XP SP2 again?

[Archman]

Hi there,

I've run into issues with Windows Installer not working, so now I can not install or remove programs on the system. When I go into
My Computer" it takes about 2 minutes of windows searching with the mouse pointer doing the sand clock shuffle before anything pops up.

I can not even get onto the Windows Update site, I keep getting this error message:

[Error number: 0x800A01AD]

"Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page. You may find the following resources helpful in resolving the problem:
For self-help options:

Windows Update Response Center

Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows Update Newsgroups
For assisted support options:

Microsoft Online Assisted Support (no-cost for Windows Update issues)

Read more about steps you can take to resolve this problem yourself. "

Now, here is my question... is the XP SP2 worth it? I've had nothing but problems since when I first installed it months ago... is it easier to skip the SP and just go with the individual updates?

 

[imported_Phil]

SP2 is recommended, IMHO.

The best way to do it is to slipstream SP2 into your existing XP CD - Google for "slipstream sp2" for more info. This is a much better way of doing things, and a lot easier once it's done.

 

[Bassyhead]

Yes, try to do a slipstream of SP2 on your XP CD. Remember that you don't need SP1 or any previous updates before SP2 if you install SP2.

 

[Jeff7181]

Here's a good step by step on how to slipstream. You definately want SP2 because it fixes a lot of problems and makes Windows XP more secure by default.

 

[lansalot]

Or, http://www.autopatcher.com/autostreamer.html

for the point-and-shoot approach.

 

[Slikkster]

Why not just try to fix the actual problem vs. blowing everything out:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;833766

 

[Archman]

Originally posted by: Slikkster
Why not just try to fix the actual problem vs. blowing everything out:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;833766

my computer has been pretty good for about 2 years with no major issues. Suddenly a lot of programs are having problems, some working and some not.

I think it is time to clean house, as once in a while you have to with anything. I've followed the instructions put out by Microsoft for fixing the Windows Installer issue, but it did not actually fix the problem. I've also added and removed quite a few programs, as well as gone into the registry to remove old entries... so somewhere along the line, I must have made a mistake as well.





Slipstreaming is easy yes, and a great thing to know. Been a fan of it since I learned about it 2 years ago, and it is a great thing! Thanks for the recommendations

 

[Archman]

any ideas why my digi cam no longer is recognized when I connect it to the computer?

should I reinstall the software discs? I tried downloading the latest, and reinstalling... but I kept getting error messages on the install

 

[jackschmittusa]

lansalot

Auto streamer is a great tool, but the download at your link has been down for a long time now. I had to do a lot of looking to find it, and I can't remember now where I finally did find it. For anybody that does find and use it, the thing that had me scratching my head is the final item in the program, naming the file. You must include the entire pathname, including the .iso extention. (The program tells you it is going to make an iso file anyway, so I don't know why it needs the extention too. Took me a while to figure that out.)

 

[Archman]

I was really more curious about XP SP2. I recall hearing about software glitches with a lot of software after people installed SP2... I was really curious... anyways, I'll get along with the slipstreaming...

one question... is it possible to slip stream onto a DVD+R with all the programs I wan on that disc as well (ie. firefox, O&O Disk Defrag, etc.)? This way I'd have a SUPER back up disc

 

[Slikkster]

You're not going to have a choice with XP SP2. Microsoft is going to push it out to everyone unless you turn updates totally off (bad move). So, go ahead and install it.

I'm not sure what you're looking for in terms of people's impressions of sp2. I'm running it without issue. But what does that mean? I'm sure you'll get someone saying "XP sux!" or "Don't install SP2...it hosed my pc!"

I don't see any reason why you can't do the slipstream XP disc and add the other programs in their own folders.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Yes there have been articles on how to slipstream other apps into the installation. It gets more complicated with apps because their installation often requires input choices during the installation. There are ways to do the slipstream with those choices already provided.

 

[montag451]

I think that installing sp2 on an already established system can cause, or is at least more likely to cause problems.
If you treat SP2 like part of the OS, for instance, you install the OS, then install SP2, then other patches from MS that you want to install, thenchipset driver, vga driver et al..........

 

[Archman]

Are there article links on how to slipstream say the latest drivers for your machine into the OS?

 

[Slikkster]

If you mean the latest Microsoft generic drivers, they'll be in the service pack. If you're talking about third party drivers, that's another story. To me, that would require either finding a way to dictate to the OS during install which drivers to install, or determining the .inf file that would have been used for your hardware for a generic install, and replace it with the .inf file for your 3rd party drivers by using the same name. Sounds like a dicey proposition.

I think you'd be better off just copying the drivers to the install disk in a separate folder and installing them after XP is finished installing.

That said, there may still be a way to do what you want. I haven't had the time to read through this, but you should give it a go:

http://unattended.msfn.org/

 

[stevty2889]

I followed the instructions here and succesfuly slipstreamed my SATA Raid drivers in to a windows xp install, so I no longer need a floppy to install windows on my raid 0 raptors.

 

[Slikkster]

That looks pretty detailed, too, Stevty. I guess the only issue I would have with including drivers is that drivers are regularly upgraded anyway, so the backup install might be of limited value with older drivers installed. I can see why you would want to use them for Raid drivers, however, to avoid having to do them manually at setup.


So for Raid and Motherboard drivers, I can see where this is useful. Even if those drivers are eventually upgraded, at least that should help the install. But for things like sound drivers (i.e. Creative) and Video, I would think it would be better to do that post-install. That way you're sure to get the applications installed along with the drivers.

 

[Archman]

alrighty, I tried to slipstream using my XP Pro CD (this is the reinstall cd that came with my Dell Inspiron 600m) and got this error message as the SP was being slipstreamed about halfway through:

"This service pack can not be integrated into a destination that also has integrated Software Updates.

Consult the Service Pack documentation for more details about supported integration scenarios."

any ideas?

 

[Slikkster]

You have to delete a couple of things in your I386 folder that you are slipstreaming (your original Dell I386 folder). You can't Slipstream if the SP detects that your I386 folder already has integrated security/hotfixes/service packs.

Here's what you do, taken from another forum from a guy with a Dell Cd:

"I've had success slipstreaming SP2 into Dell OEM CD's with post-release updates. It took me a littke while to find the solution. And it's really easy!

1. Delete the svcpack folder, and all files in it.
2. In the \i386 directory, delete all files called either "KBnnnnnn" or "Qnnnnnn", where n equals a number, and there are six numbers in the file name.
3. Open svcpack.inf, and delete out all references to any hotfixes to install. Save as svcpack.inf.
4. Here's the kicker - you need to makecab your svcpack.inf down to svcpack.in_. Apparently the SP2 routine requires svcpack.in_ to be cabbed, and if it finds an uncabbed one it will not install the service pack.

This has worked for me on the Dell OEM version of XP Home that shipped out with a new computer in July, 2004, just before SP2 went RTM."

("makecab" is a command line command in XP. Once you make the changes above,
you would open up a command prompt and go to your I386 folder that you are slipstreaming. Then, once you are at the I386 folder via the command prompt, type this:

"makecab svcpack.inf svcpack.in_" (don't use quotes, obviously)

Once done, check to make sure there's no longer a svcpack.inf file, but only a svcpack.in_ file in the I386 folder.

 

[Archman]

Howdy people,

I did a reformat of my system, and created a slipstreamed Re-install CD w/ XP SP2 (actually made a DVD with all the programs I need). I have an issue with the audio not working now, in the device manager I get this error message:

"Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)
Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device."

I've followed the troubleshooter and uninstalled the device and then done what it asks, but Windows seems to automatically install the driver without any help from me. I have downloaded the latest driver from Dell's website for the audio SigmaTel C audio device, and tried to install that, but to no go...any ideas what to do?

thanks

 

[montag451]

What sound card is it? is it integrated? more info

 

[Archman]

Hi,

this is on a Dell 600m Inspiron (notebook), so it is integrated. It is a Sigma Tel C-Major integrated sound card.

 

[Archman]

Even other people seem to be stumped on this one

 

[Archman]

well I decided to do a re-install again... WEEEEEeeeee! I now have sound back


Thank you everyone for your time and input