XP SP1 to SP2 Hangs

[Al@discussions.microsoft.com Lost Al]

Windows XP Service Pack 2 hangs very soon after starting at
"Checking product key"

Had to re-install OS from XP Home CD. Now working on bringing my MS Windows
up to date.

Checked Task Manager to make sure the processor is running = Yes

Did the re-install 3 times to make sure I've got it right.
Made sure I allowed the software to download all the updates automatically,
Then installed all the KB upgrades before proceeding with SP2 install.

[TaurArian]

Lost Al wrote:
:: Windows XP Service Pack 2 hangs very soon after starting at

Posted by another user who got a response from MS Support:-

<quote>

There are 3 steps which we have to do to get the SP2 installed.

Steps are:

1) Please go into the CMD prompt (Start/Run --> cmd.exe )

2) Then type cd /d %windir%\inf and make sure we are in that directory.

3) Then type ren oem*.inf oem*.old, it will go back to the prompt after
giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

4) Then type ren oem*.pnf oem*.old1, it will go back to the prompt after
giving you some error (Do not worry about it)

5) Then goto start - run - type "%windir%\inf" and you will see the files in
the folder.

6) Then find the file by name INFCACHE.1 and take a backup of it to desktop
(by copying it to desktop) and delete the INFCACHE.1 from c:\windows\inf.

7) Close all windows and reboot the computer to safe mode and start the
installation of SP2 and it should go fine.

<quote>

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2010 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
Disclaimer: The information has been posted "as is" with no warranties
or guarantees and doesn't give any rights.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Why did you have to reinstall Windows and how did you do it (Repair Install
vs format & clean install)?

You will not be able to update the WinXP computer via Windows Update or
Automatic Updates unless and until SP2 or SP3 is installed.

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

NB: Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until and unless
SP3 is installed.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

[Lost Al]

Thanks to both of you for replying.
TaurArian answered first and that solution worked extremely well for me.
The explanation was well written and easily followed. Thank you very much.
I also enjoyed reading his webpage and comments found there.

Then along comes the response from Robear. From your comments I can
see I should have written a better cry for help.
My objective was to recover as many of
the documents as I could, so I used the "Recovery" choice the first time.
Then I transferred all the documents, software application passwords &
usernames, and other essential data from the hard drive to backup.

Then I read all of your comments Robear and learned a great deal more.
The order of proceed down the correct path worked marvelously.
Thanks to you both for assisting me to "Get out of the woods".

The link at the very bottom of your instructions on -

Learn how to protect your PC by taking three simple steps
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3AD23728-497...

did NOT work at all. Instead my browser indicates the site is no longer
available and re-directed me to the Bing search engine and some confusing
sites. Sorry but I found that last step very messy and got caught in a loop.

Could you please expand on what those three simple steps are for me.

For others who may come across this solution to a dicey problem I recommend
that XP users take notice that Windows XP (all versions) support will some
day expire. It will be a sad day for all of us dedicated users.

We can only hope that Win 7 will be really be Microsoft's saviour. We all
know that Vista was not. I wish I were a rich man but being on a fixed
income sucks.
I must keep this old antique PC of mine clunking along while I save my
pennies in hopes of finding Nervana.

Thanks to both of you. Together we have saved the day to come back and
continue our addiction to the keyboard and screen of life.

Well done from a grateful user.
Lost Al

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Lost Al wrote:
>>> Windows XP Service Pack 2 hangs very soon after starting at
>>> "Checking product key"
>>>
>>> Had to re-install OS from XP Home CD. Now working on bringing my MS
>>> Windows
>>> up to date.
>>>
>>> Checked Task Manager to make sure the processor is running = Yes
>>>
>>> Did the re-install 3 times to make sure I've got it right.
>>> Made sure I allowed the software to download all the updates
>>> automatically,
>>> Then installed all the KB upgrades before proceeding with SP2 install.
>>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>> Why did you have to reinstall Windows and how did you do it (Repair
>> Install
>> vs format & clean install)?
>>
>> You will not be able to update the WinXP computer via Windows Update or
>> Automatic Updates unless and until SP2 or SP3 is installed.
>>
>> HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
>> (after a clean install)
>> http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
>>
>> HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
>> clean install)
>> http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
>>
>> NB: Computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be offered any further critical
>> security updates, Automatic Updates will cease to function, and Windows
>> Update website will not be available after 12 April 2010 until and unless
>> SP3 is installed.
>

<SNIP>

A1. The link to "Learn how to protect your PC by taking three simple steps"
is found in an archived post in WinXP General newsgroup dated 27 October
*2008*. MS has since retired that document and link to same. You can
replace it with the following now:

4 Steps to Protect Your Computer
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

A2. WinXP SP3 (only) entered Extended Support on 12 April 2009, a year after
SP3 was released. MS will continue to release security updates for WinXP
SP3 (only) through 12 April 2014. There will be no added or improved
functionality for WinXP SP3.

You're welcome and thanks for your feedback.