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Why so much trouble installing XP with SP2 ?

M

Montano

Lifer
I have a Dell laptop that has fits when I try to do a clean install of XP with SP2. It doesn't matter if I use the Dell XP SP2 CD, a Windows XP SP2 CD, or an OEM XP SP2 CD.

I can install Windows XP (non SP2) without issues, as well as Vista without issues. So what is it about SP2 that causes me headaches ?

What happens is it goes all the way through the install until only 1 minute remains... then it freezes up. This has happened to me at least 15 times. I figure there has to be a something in SP2 that causes this.
 
Originally posted by: cprince
It could also be bad media.
Click to expand...

I thought that at first, but after trying the Dell CD, then the Windows CD, and finally an OEM CD, and having all of them freeze with 1 minute left.........
 
Install vanilla XP or XP SP1, then install SP2 afterwards. Just for kicks and grins I would see if you can complete 2 passes of Memtest86+.
 
Originally posted by: John
Install vanilla XP or XP SP1, then install SP2 afterwards. Just for kicks and grins I would see if you can complete 2 passes of Memtest86+.
Click to expand...

Doing that now. Once the SP2 install finishes, I'll run the Memtest.

Thanks :beer:
 
Im gonna gues there is a version of a driver in SP2 that has an issue on your system. Try turning off everything you can in the bios. install not docked (just power supply). Remove any additional devices you can.

If that installs start adding devices until you see what it is...
 
There are log files that monitor success/failure during the XP install and can give you an idea of where the failure is occuring. You could likely access them with something like BartPE or a Linux boot disk.

WindowsITPro.com

"XP creates the following log files:

setupact.log-This log file contains a list of actions in chronological order that occurred during the graphical installation phase, such as file copies and registry changes. The OS also stores setup error log entries in this file. XP writes the setupact.log file to the %systemroot% folder (e.g., c:\windows).

setuperr.log-This log file contains a list of errors that occurred during installation and their severity (this log file should be 0 bytes in size if no errors occurred during installation). XP writes the setuperr.log file to the %systemroot% folder.

comsetup.log-This log file contains installation information about Optional Component Manager and COM+ components. XP writes the comsetup.log file to the %systemroot% folder.

setupapi.log-XP writes information to the setupapi.log file each time a .inf file executes, including any errors. XP writes the setupapi.log file to the %systemroot% folder.

netsetup.log-This log file contains information about workgroup and domain membership. XP writes the netsetup.log file to the \%systemroot%\debug folder.

setup.log-The Recovery Console (RC) uses the setup.log file to gain information about the Windows installation during repair operations. XP writes the setup.log file to the \%systemroot%\repair folder. "
 
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