Cannot Uninstall XPSP2-Beta

The version of XPSP2 I have installed is one of the betas Microsoft released.
I am aware of the risk, lack of support, etc., but thought maybe somebody
here may have some info on my dilemma.
Everything's fine until I go to the Windows Updates page. I am prompted to
start the services "Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent transfer and
Error Reporting'.
These services are running and most every repeat attempt gets the same
result …. prompted to start these services, with the error code 0x8DDD0018

I say 'most every' because occasionally I do get in (to date I have only
installed one other update), and when I do get in, am always being offered to
install XPSP2. If I attempt to install it, I am told to first uninstall the
beta. I have tried but can find no way of uninstalling the beta XPSP2 (please
don’t tell me to look in Add\Remove Programs).


Side issue to that, trying to install the IIS, I was prompted to install my
XPSP2 CD ... that I do not have, ... my CD is the SP1.

Hi;

If your SP2 Beta was one of the slipstreamed ("full version") items, you
will have to either use an image of your system created using some kind of
backup software prior to installing the beta, or format your drive and
install XP clean.


--

....Sky

================

martin wrote:
> The version of XPSP2 I have installed is one of the betas Microsoft
> released. I am aware of the risk, lack of support, etc., but thought
> maybe somebody here may have some info on my dilemma.
> Everything's fine until I go to the Windows Updates page. I am prompted to
> start the services "Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent transfer and
> Error Reporting'.
> These services are running and most every repeat attempt gets the same
> result â?¦. prompted to start these services, with the error code
> 0x8DDD0018
>
> I say 'most every' because occasionally I do get in (to date I have only
> installed one other update), and when I do get in, am always being
> offered to install XPSP2. If I attempt to install it, I am told to first
> uninstall the beta. I have tried but can find no way of uninstalling the
> beta XPSP2 (please donâ?Tt tell me to look in Add\Remove Programs).
>
>
> Side issue to that, trying to install the IIS, I was prompted to install
> my XPSP2 CD ... that I do not have, ... my CD is the SP1.

As soon as I saw the word'Slipstreamed' I remember I was trying to create an
unattended install CD at that time.
I guess this re-opens the can of worms I had (or still have), as the OEM CD
I purchased of XP is becoming almost unusable. Where I bought it is now
pretty far and I didn't really get along with the shopkeeper after that (so
going back is not really an option).
Ugh, this is getting ugly.
If there's any tips on my situation, I'd love to hear 'em.

"Sky King" wrote:

> Hi;
>
> If your SP2 Beta was one of the slipstreamed ("full version") items, you
> will have to either use an image of your system created using some kind of
> backup software prior to installing the beta, or format your drive and
> install XP clean.
>
>
> --
>
> ....Sky
>
> ================
>
> martin wrote:
> > The version of XPSP2 I have installed is one of the betas Microsoft
> > released. I am aware of the risk, lack of support, etc., but thought
> > maybe somebody here may have some info on my dilemma.
> > Everything's fine until I go to the Windows Updates page. I am prompted to
> > start the services "Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent transfer and
> > Error Reporting'.
> > These services are running and most every repeat attempt gets the same
> > result â?¦. prompted to start these services, with the error code
> > 0x8DDD0018
> >
> > I say 'most every' because occasionally I do get in (to date I have only
> > installed one other update), and when I do get in, am always being
> > offered to install XPSP2. If I attempt to install it, I am told to first
> > uninstall the beta. I have tried but can find no way of uninstalling the
> > beta XPSP2 (please donâ?Tt tell me to look in Add\Remove Programs).
> >
> >
> > Side issue to that, trying to install the IIS, I was prompted to install
> > my XPSP2 CD ... that I do not have, ... my CD is the SP1.
>
>

martin wrote:
> As soon as I saw the word'Slipstreamed' I remember I was trying to create
> an unattended install CD at that time.
> I guess this re-opens the can of worms I had (or still have), as the OEM
> CD I purchased of XP is becoming almost unusable. Where I bought it is now
> pretty far and I didn't really get along with the shopkeeper after that
> (so going back is not really an option).
> Ugh, this is getting ugly.
> If there's any tips on my situation, I'd love to hear 'em.

If you created a slipstreamed version during testing, then that likely means
you have access to the retail (OEM) clean XP files. In the i386 folder on
that OEM CD, perhaps? You can use that to create an XP SP2 (RTM) CD to use
in the clean install.

--

....Sky

================

Hi Sky,
Admittedly I have considered merging different versions just so that I can
have all of my files working. I used to reformat and install more than needed
(surely what lead to the beaten CD), and more than once have noticed things
going fishy. Not sure, but can I grab the entire i386 from somewhere
else?Seems a bit overboard, but if it can be done ...
Understandably, what typed in here is, well ....
... my e-mail & MSN messenger is

"Sky King" wrote:

> martin wrote:
> > As soon as I saw the word'Slipstreamed' I remember I was trying to create
> > an unattended install CD at that time.
> > I guess this re-opens the can of worms I had (or still have), as the OEM
> > CD I purchased of XP is becoming almost unusable. Where I bought it is now
> > pretty far and I didn't really get along with the shopkeeper after that
> > (so going back is not really an option).
> > Ugh, this is getting ugly.
> > If there's any tips on my situation, I'd love to hear 'em.
>
> If you created a slipstreamed version during testing, then that likely means
> you have access to the retail (OEM) clean XP files. In the i386 folder on
> that OEM CD, perhaps? You can use that to create an XP SP2 (RTM) CD to use
> in the clean install.
>
> --
>
> ....Sky
>
> ================
>
>
>

martin wrote:
> Hi Sky,
> Admittedly I have considered merging different versions just so that I can
> have all of my files working. I used to reformat and install more than
> needed (surely what lead to the beaten CD), and more than once have
> noticed things going fishy. Not sure, but can I grab the entire i386 from
> somewhere else?Seems a bit overboard, but if it can be done ...

I doubt that the complete i386 folder is elsewhere, but you can check other
partitions on our HD. Note that the i386 folder inside any
Windows\ServicePacks folders won't be complete so you shouldn't use that
one.

Can you still copy the i386 folder from your original CD to your HD, then
burn a fresh version of it to a new CD?

--

....Sky

================

Sky King wrote:
> I doubt that the complete i386 folder is elsewhere, but you can check
> other partitions on our HD.

Rats. The above should read "other partitions on your HD."

--

....Sky

================

I ordered, and paid for, a Full up version of XP Pro with SP2 from
some internet site in Europe. I loaded this purchased version over the
top of another OEM version ie.. selected repair. Seemed to install
and work fine for about two weeks, then all hell broke loose. After
entering the Key information and installing WinXP Pro with SP2, all of
the new security stuff seemed to work with my third party firewall
(zonealarm) and antivirus (norton) applications. It indicated that
SP2 was a beta version during the install.

When I tried to install the latest SP2, it refused to install and
indicated I needed to remove the previous SP2 and try again.
Since SP2 was part of the install (not loaded after the OS was
installed), I can not find any way to remove this Beta Version of SP2.
Has anyone found a way to remove the Beta SP2 from XP Pro? Has
anyone else ordered the Full up OEM version with a Beta Version of
XP2? if so, any comments on this and other isssues would be greatly
appreciated. After all hell broke loose, the system still boots up;
however, when I launch any Microsoft application it flashes up on the
screen only for an instant. I can run none Microsoft apps just fine
ie... Mozilla etc. Also, the free version of Zonealarm worked fine
until this problem arose, now I keep getting a message that Zonealarm
has shut down and do I want to restart it. I am going to ghost this
disk before formatting and starting over. Has anyone selected the
repair option to install a similar OEM verion of XP Pro, with a beta
version of SP2, over an existing OEM install? Is so, any comments?

What so flustrating about the issues discussed above is the system had
a firewall and antivirus software running and worked great for about
two weeks. I was installing my Wifes bookmarks to the new system
then planned to Ghost the system, when it went nuts.

Thanks Much
Ron

martin <> wrote in message news:<33D40CF8-1772-431C-AAA9->...
> As soon as I saw the word'Slipstreamed' I remember I was trying to create an
> unattended install CD at that time.
> I guess this re-opens the can of worms I had (or still have), as the OEM CD
> I purchased of XP is becoming almost unusable. Where I bought it is now
> pretty far and I didn't really get along with the shopkeeper after that (so
> going back is not really an option).
> Ugh, this is getting ugly.
> If there's any tips on my situation, I'd love to hear 'em.
>
> "Sky King" wrote:
>
> > Hi;
> >
> > If your SP2 Beta was one of the slipstreamed ("full version") items, you
> > will have to either use an image of your system created using some kind of
> > backup software prior to installing the beta, or format your drive and
> > install XP clean.
> >
> >
> > --
> >



> > ....Sky
> >
> > ================
> >
> > martin wrote:
> > > The version of XPSP2 I have installed is one of the betas Microsoft
> > > released. I am aware of the risk, lack of support, etc., but thought
> > > maybe somebody here may have some info on my dilemma.
> > > Everything's fine until I go to the Windows Updates page. I am prompted to
> > > start the services "Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent transfer and
> > > Error Reporting'.
> > > These services are running and most every repeat attempt gets the same
> > > result â?¦. prompted to start these services, with the error code
> > > 0x8DDD0018
> > >
> > > I say 'most every' because occasionally I do get in (to date I have only
> > > installed one other update), and when I do get in, am always being
> > > offered to install XPSP2. If I attempt to install it, I am told to first
> > > uninstall the beta. I have tried but can find no way of uninstalling the
> > > beta XPSP2 (please donâ?Tt tell me to look in Add\Remove Programs).
> > >
> > >
> > > Side issue to that, trying to install the IIS, I was prompted to install
> > > my XPSP2 CD ... that I do not have, ... my CD is the SP1.
> >
> >

Ron Olsberg wrote:
> I ordered, and paid for, a Full up version of XP Pro with SP2 from
> some internet site in Europe.
.......
> ..... It indicated that
> SP2 was a beta version during the install.
>
> When I tried to install the latest SP2, it refused to install and
> indicated I needed to remove the previous SP2 and try again.

Hi;

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sounds to me like you have been had.
You paid "some internet site" money for what you could have had for free;
and the base software is likely pirated.

> Since SP2 was part of the install (not loaded after the OS was
> installed), I can not find any way to remove this Beta Version of SP2.

Correct. You will have to format your drive and install the original OEM
version that you have, then upgrade that to SP2.

> Has anyone found a way to remove the Beta SP2 from XP Pro?

Not possible with the slipstreamed version you purchased from that website.
There is no RTM version of files to go back to.


--

....Sky

================

I'm going to have to agree with sky on that one, or at least say the version
you paid for is not compatible (not trying to state the obvious but I'm not
sure what happens if a European CD goes over a North American one).

I have tried the repair install. I would boot from the disc and the first
question is to repair or do a fresh installation, choose fresh install. Later
it will ask again, fresh install or repair, this is where you choose repair.

Using the command prompt 'scandisk /now' (with the cd in tray), might help
and there is another prompt where it will compare two versions of the same
file, but give little information. Basically it says which is bigger.

I'm sure there's a solution to this, for me the clock is starting to tick as
I'm not positive all is running smooth.


"Sky King" wrote:

> Ron Olsberg wrote:
> > I ordered, and paid for, a Full up version of XP Pro with SP2 from
> > some internet site in Europe.
> .......
> > ..... It indicated that
> > SP2 was a beta version during the install.
> >
> > When I tried to install the latest SP2, it refused to install and
> > indicated I needed to remove the previous SP2 and try again.
>
> Hi;
>
> Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sounds to me like you have been had.
> You paid "some internet site" money for what you could have had for free;
> and the base software is likely pirated.
>
> > Since SP2 was part of the install (not loaded after the OS was
> > installed), I can not find any way to remove this Beta Version of SP2.
>
> Correct. You will have to format your drive and install the original OEM
> version that you have, then upgrade that to SP2.
>
> > Has anyone found a way to remove the Beta SP2 from XP Pro?
>
> Not possible with the slipstreamed version you purchased from that website.
> There is no RTM version of files to go back to.
>
>
> --
>
> ....Sky
>
> ================
>
>
>