My new PC HATES XP SP2. Any suggestions?

[netloss]

My new PC:

AMD 64 3500+, socket 939
Abit AN8-SLI motherboard
2 sticks 1gig Corsair PC3200
300gig Diamondmax 300gb hd
Sapphire X800 Pro 256meg video card
etc.

It all seems to work just fine when I install XP. It continues to work fine when I used Windows Update to add a bunch of little updates that effectively add up to SP1. If I try to add SP2, though, either using Windows Update or the sysadmin download, everything goes to hell.

If I try to install via Windows Update, I get a freeze near the end. (I have tried installing a Windows patch that supposedly helps with this, but it had no effect.) If I use the sysadmin version, I successfully install - but there are problems when I reboot.

There's some variation in what I encounter, but eventually what I tend to get is a freeze on the XP loading screen - the one where the 3 blue dots scroll from left to right. After several seconds they stop scrolling, and that's it.

When this happens, rebooting results in the same condition until I choose to go to safe mode. If I do that, and then use Add/Remove Programs to remove SP2, I go back to having a perfectly healthy system.

I just bought and assembled this PC, and have tried the install several times. It's perfectly clean and virus-free, and has no 3rd party programs.

I have updated the motherboard BIOS, but no help.

Any suggestions?

 

[nweaver]

I would suggest a full memtest, and I would suggest a slipstreamed SP2. I know this sounds like a new install, but have you run spyware/virus detection programs? A freshly installed (EDIT: Unpatched) XP box lasts something like 8 minutes before it's comprimised (just heard that statistic from somewhere, but it "feels" right based on my experience in the test lab). SP2 issues are *usually* virus/spyware related.

edit added, didn't want it to sound like a fully patched machine would get hosed in 8 minutes.

 

[netloss]

I will try the memtest. The virus - probably not an issue, as I think that statistic only applies if you connect to the net without the benefit of a firewall. I use a hardware firewall from the start. Though I will do a virus check too...

 

[netloss]

Mem check turned out OK, and no viruses detected by scan. Any other suggestions?

 

[flightlesscake]

Have you looked in the event viewer? I know when I run windows update it installs a new driver for my nic which crashes my system (the new marvell yukon). If you haven't, go to "run" and type eventvwr.msc. check the relevent sections for errors which occured the same time as the crash. Also, if you havent, try loading setup defaults for your bios, and try setting "os is plug and play ready" usually in the "PCI/UPnP section to "yes"

 

[thegorx]

try reloading all your drivers
or try installing SP2 first or slipstream
my guess is that windows is changing your drivers with SP2
but that's just a wild guess

 

[Valkerie]

restore comp.

 

[mechBgon]

I would install Windows, then install SP2 immediately, before installing any drivers (mobo, video, LAN, whatever). Install SP2 in Safe Mode if you want to be extra-cautious.

 

[JDCentral]

Slipstream....then you don't have to re-download SP2 each time.

EDIT: And it 'feels' quicker.

 

[Phoenix86]

I would strongly recommend slipstreaming SP2 into the original XPCD using autostreamer.

 

[Bozo]

Install Windows.
Install drivers from motherboard CD.
Install SP2

Bozo

 

[TKHDebater]

Netloss, I'm having the same problem. Did you ever find a solution?

 

[myjaja]

My Athlon 64 system died when I installed SP2. I went through so many procedures, none worked. I reinstalled Windows. I am going to install the hotfix before I reinstall SP2. The hotfix link was posted in my thread. Also, maybe the suggestions in thread may help you too.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=34&threadid=1692046

 

[forumposter32]

http://www.autopatcher.com

 

[coomar]

i started using sp2 in the beta, never had any problems with it

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: nweaver
I would suggest a full memtest, and I would suggest a slipstreamed SP2.

Originally posted by: thegorx
or try installing SP2 first or slipstream

Originally posted by: JDCentral
Slipstream....then you don't have to re-download SP2 each time.

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
I would strongly recommend slipstreaming SP2 into the original XPCD.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: Brazen

Originally posted by: nweaver
I would suggest a full memtest, and I would suggest a slipstreamed SP2.

Originally posted by: thegorx
or try installing SP2 first or slipstream

Originally posted by: JDCentral
Slipstream....then you don't have to re-download SP2 each time.

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
I would strongly recommend slipstreaming SP2 into the original XPCD.

I'm spotting a trend here....

 

[Bluefront]

I'd like to know this.....So some people have trouble installing SP2 on a clean XP install (won't start after the install). Is there any proof a slip-streamed SP2 install will fix the problem? Or is this just a bunch of "hear-say"?

What possible difference is there between the two types of SP2 installs?

Try reading this page. See anything there that mentions "slip-streaming" as a possible fix?

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
I'd like to know this.....So some people have trouble installing SP2 on a clean XP install (won't start after the install). Is there any proof a slip-streamed SP2 install will fix the problem? Or is this just a bunch of "hear-say"?

What possible difference is there between the two types of SP2 installs?

Try reading this page. See anything there that mentions "slip-streaming" as a possible fix?

When it first came out, sooooo many people screamed "SP2 is buggy". This resulted in mass cunfusion about SP2.

Their problems magically went away after a format with SP2 slipstreamed. Conclusion: SP2 is not bugged, something in *their* install didn't like SP2.

edit: to answer your question more direclty, it's likely a driver or software that wasn't SP2 compatible but they installed SP2 anyways, causing an error. When they do a new install they are not repeating the same mistake.

 

[Bluefront]

So what you're saying is an SP2 upgrade may fail on an XP install that has an incompatable program or driver installed.

What I'm saying is an SP2 install to a clean XP install(no other software installed), will probably be ok if the MS patch is installed right before SP2.....

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
So what you're saying is an SP2 upgrade may fail on an XP install that has an incompatable program or driver installed.

What I'm saying is an SP2 install to a clean XP install(no other software installed), will probably be ok if the MS patch is installed right before SP2.....

Yes, you should be able to install the SP2 patch OK on a clean system. I haven't cared to diag the specific issue since I know it's not an SP2 bug that cause the failure in the first place. It's something else on the system.

Since you are looking at reinstalling (people posting these thread obviously have an existing install it's failing on) , you might as well rebuild the disk so SP2 is already on it, thus the suggestion to reinstall with a slipstreamed SP2 disk.

 

[EatSpam]

Are you overclocking? Try running stock.