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Service Pack 2 fubared my fresh install. Help save 5 hours of work.

I

imported_UhOh

Junior Member
Okay, so I spend 5 hours formatting and reinstalling everything. Software, games, drivers etc...
I install service pack 2 as soon as the motherboard drivers are installed, right after the installation of windows itself.

So, I tell the windows update thing to install everything.
It downloads and installs sp2, wich takes about an hour.
It restarts.
I try to install norton Anti-virus 2005, but right after entering the serial, it crashes the installer.
I reboot. I see a text file on the desktop (the log of the norton crash), I try to open it, but the computer freezes and gives me a devl32 (or something like that) error.

Okay, so I reboot, uninstall sp2 within the add/remove panel.

It takes 15 minutes or so.
I reboot, install the remaining software.
I try to install office 2003, but the installer gives me a "bad source" error.

So..... now if I try to go to the device manager, I get an error alert.
Now, I cant uninstall stuff. I can't install stuff.. and I've already lost 4 hours of sleep.

Anyone knows how to fix this without using a "repair" (wich sucks, so I've been told).

Thanks and goodnight.
 
hmm, sorry to hear of your situation but why didn't you slipstream sp2 onto your XP CD before you started reinstalling?
 
If you were connected to the internet at all between the time Windows was installed and the time you installed SP2, you could have exposed yourself to hundreds of worms and exploits. As bacillus suggested, you should download the network install file of SP2 and slipstream it with your XP setup CD. With SP2 slipstreamed, you can feel reasonably secure connecting to the internet after installation.
 
Are you overclocking?

If not, have you tested your RAM?

I'm sorry but it doesn't sound like SP2 is the problem here. And when you do a fresh re-install, you should try to put on SP2 BEFORE installing games and software.

If you're sure the hardware works, I would try to burn SP2 to a CD and pull the plug from the net; reformat, install windows, install SP2 as soon as you get to the desktop, and THEN update drivers and install software.
 
You dont neccisarily have to do a slipstreamed install; but make sure you're firewalled off before connecting it to the internet (even the pre sp2 software firewall is sufficient). One possibility (like MrChad suggested) is that your machine cought any number of those nasty worms prior to installing SP2 and that could have botched your install.

I also agree with sideswipe's suggestion to do the SP install before you install all your 3rd party software and drivers. Yes it *shouldnt* matter, but that's no reason to risk it.
 
I really don't think trojans are the problem. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY unlikely. I mean common, how is a person supposed to install SP2 with his internet connection off.... he had an "insecure" machine pre-sp2 install.. and it ran fine. The most obvious and simple reason being almost always the right one, I'm blaming this on Microsoft. It's known that sp2 isn't the easiest patch to install. Yes, I understand the complexity, but that doesn't change the fact I wasted alot of time and sleep. Anyways, since it looks like there is no turning back now.. I'm simply gonna get me a CD that contains WindowsXP and SP2. Those have been out for a couple of months...

Yeah! for losing a whole day of work. I guess you live and learn...

Wait, what did I learn exactly?

Thanks for the feedback guys 🙂

 
If you did a new install of windows and it was connected to the internet it's quite likely that it got infected prior to your ability to apply patches. There was a thread a few months ago about how quick an open unpatched windows node would be infected with worms; typically machines are infected within 20 min. and sometimes even faster (i.e. you're on a segment that has more infected machines such as cable internet or at a university).
how is a person supposed to install SP2 with his internet connection off
Click to expand...
1. use the network install
2. use a slipstreamed installer

or
1. use the internet connection but have a hardware firewall
2. use the internet connection but use a software firewall
I'm blaming this on Microsoft.
Click to expand...
You can blame whoever you want, but in the end this is still your problem. The lessons that you should have leared are:
1. Dont connect an un-patched or un-firewalled machine to the internet
2. Typically OS patches should be the first thing you install on a new machine (not the last)
 
I really don't think trojans are the problem. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY unlikely.
Click to expand...

Your VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY wrong. Except it's worms, not trojans. Average time to infection of an unpatched XP machine is about 20 minutes on a broadband connnection.

Bill
 
Network Installation of SP2 can be found here. Better to have it on hand ahead of time (burned to disc, stored on network, stored on external USB/1394 storage, etc), and not allow one's box online access until said box is patched. In most cases, I try to keep the box physically unplugged completely (the RJ-45 unplugged, that is) until the machine has all critical updates and patches. The "no brain, no headaches" sort of approach.

Service pack installation should be the first step after a fresh install (even prior to drivers, on most occassions), if the installation disc does not already contain the desired service pack.
 
Originally posted by: bsobel
I really don't think trojans are the problem. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY unlikely.
Click to expand...

Your VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY wrong.
Bill
Click to expand...

LOL. You should trademark that phrase, Bill, just like "You're Fired."
🙂
 
Why not just download and install ZoneAlarm before updating?
Personally, I like to download SP's and DX9 ahead of time. But I just started reading a little about AutoStreamer.
That sounds like a great option. :laugh:
 
I just used autostream to make the new install disk
was really easy yo use


will try it out sometime soon
 
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