eMachines M2350 fails to restart after upgrade - need help

My eMachines M2350 has the same problem. The only way to
recover is to reload the original software from the
recovery disks. Emachines technical support says it is a
Microsoft problem and to contact them. I have done so
without much help. As you cannot get to the "Safe Mode"
I cannot do what MS has suggested which is to rename the
Catroot2 file and re-install. No explanation as to why
this might help. I have installed three times with the
same results. First time from a complete SP2 download,
second time from the automatic update process and the
third time from a MS SP2 disk that was provided to me by
Best Buys. On the final install all other software had
been removed from the system. All three installs fail
identically in the you get the black F8 "Safe Mode"
selection screen but can go no farther.

Some help from a MVP would certainly be appreciated. I
am getting tired of completely reloading the system but
all restore points are lost as you cannot restart at all.

Mike Blake

>-----Original Message-----
>
>I think mine is doing the same. I upgraded three
computers
>with no issues and now I upgraged my laoptop which is a
>emachines 2350 and I tried to upgarde adn it won;t
reboot
>had to reinstall from factory disks and emachines told
me
>to try with out putting anything else on the computer
and
>it happened again. email me and let me know if you find
an
>answer. thansk>-----Original Message-----
>>Everything seemed to go fine, then a restart and it
tells
>>me my c:\windows\system32\config\system file is corrupt
>>or missing. I tried to replace it with a copy from
>>c:\windows\repair\system but when i boot back up i get
>>BSoD with stop error 0x0000024. The way it is I can't
>>boot to safe mode, last known good, any place but
>>recovery console on install disk. So i did a reinstall
>>of windows xp, redid all the updates including sp2 and
>>whammo, same friggin thing. Any ideas?

You might check out
http://www.emachines.com/support/vie...1801&topic=3#7

Despite what eMachines is telling you, most of us are recommending that
those with laptops, especially older ones, contact the manufacturer for info
on upgrading to SP2. I would not upgrade until I got an "all clear" from
the manufacturer as well as download links for any model-specific drivers
which SP2 would require.

We similarly discourage laptop owners from formatting and installing a
retail version of Windows until they have the necessary, laptop-specific
files and drivers on hand which will be needed.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default...r=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...ssoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

Mike Blake wrote:
> My eMachines M2350 has the same problem. The only way to
> recover is to reload the original software from the
> recovery disks. Emachines technical support says it is a
> Microsoft problem and to contact them. I have done so
> without much help. As you cannot get to the "Safe Mode"
> I cannot do what MS has suggested which is to rename the
> Catroot2 file and re-install. No explanation as to why
> this might help. I have installed three times with the
> same results. First time from a complete SP2 download,
> second time from the automatic update process and the
> third time from a MS SP2 disk that was provided to me by
> Best Buys. On the final install all other software had
> been removed from the system. All three installs fail
> identically in the you get the black F8 "Safe Mode"
> selection screen but can go no farther.
>
> Some help from a MVP would certainly be appreciated. I
> am getting tired of completely reloading the system but
> all restore points are lost as you cannot restart at all.
>
> Mike Blake
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > I think mine is doing the same. I upgraded three computers
> > with no issues and now I upgraged my laoptop which is a
> > emachines 2350 and I tried to upgarde adn it won;t reboot
> > had to reinstall from factory disks and emachines told me
> > to try with out putting anything else on the computer and
> > it happened again. email me and let me know if you find an
> > answer. thansk>-----Original Message-----
> > > Everything seemed to go fine, then a restart and it tells
> > > me my c:\windows\system32\config\system file is corrupt
> > > or missing. I tried to replace it with a copy from
> > > c:\windows\repair\system but when i boot back up i get
> > > BSoD with stop error 0x0000024. The way it is I can't
> > > boot to safe mode, last known good, any place but
> > > recovery console on install disk. So i did a reinstall
> > > of windows xp, redid all the updates including sp2 and
> > > whammo, same friggin thing. Any ideas?

I also have an eMachine M2350 and have had the same problems as all of
you. I have perused the many different forums regarding SP2 problems
and none of them seemed to describe my particular portion of update
hell. I have found the solution for my problem, and hopefully yours.

OUTLINE:
The first problem I had was when I tried to apply the SP2 update
directly to the factory installation of Windows XP Home that comes
with the M2350. This crashed. After reading a few groups, I believed
that my problem was that I was running antivirus or other programs on
the side while trying to install the update. After another several
hours, I tried to reinstall SP2 after removing or stopping all
non-essential programs with the same results. I received a blue
screen which began an endless cycle of unrecoverable safe-reboot
options. None of the options gave me an operating OS, not even safe
mode.

I nearly broke down in tears for two weeks. I thought I was doomed to
be left behind while the rest of the world basked in the utopian bliss
of the post SP2 world. Alas, I was not alone. Several other forum
users had posted that their solutions lie within upgrading to Windows
XP Pro. I was weary at first, but eventually I, too, chose to install
XP Pro because it might be my only chance to reap the benefits of SP2.
I performed a full restore with my eMachine restore CDs and backed up
my previous files in the 'My Backup' folder. Then I upgraded my
system to Windows XP Pro. After installing Pro, I applied the SP2
update. Same style system reboot cycle. Crap. Worthless. I thought
I was doomed.

So I resolved to try one more thing, and it worked. We're really
close. I finally got XP Pro to work on my M2350 by installing it OVER
the existing copy of windows on my hard drive by choosing the install
deleting current windows installation on my notebook. Others
complained that when installing XP Pro directly to their computer they
were unable to find drivers for the system configuration packaged in
the M2350. ALL OF THESE DRIVERS were located on the third restore CD
by eMachines. After the CLEAN install of XP Pro, I applied the SP2
patch and it finally worked for me. Then I installed the drivers one
by one and my system is at last complete. Sorry if this was long, but
it worked for me when I thought all was lost. Good luck.

Short version to succeed in installing Windows XP SP2 for the eMachine
M2350 notebook:

1. Backup important files if possible (just in case).
2. Reboot computer from Windows XP Pro CD.
3. Choose to delete current installation of Windows and install new
one in same location.
4. Once XP Pro is installed, install SP2 (i did it from the full IT
download).
5. After rebooting and confirming that it appears to work, install
M2350 specific drivers from the third restore CD shipped with the
system.

Good luck; I'll respond to emails as I can.

"Glen" wrote:

> I also have an eMachine M2350 and have had the same problems as all of
> you. I have perused the many different forums regarding SP2 problems
> and none of them seemed to describe my particular portion of update
> hell. I have found the solution for my problem, and hopefully yours.
>
> OUTLINE:
> The first problem I had was when I tried to apply the SP2 update
> directly to the factory installation of Windows XP Home that comes
> with the M2350. This crashed. After reading a few groups, I believed
> that my problem was that I was running antivirus or other programs on
> the side while trying to install the update. After another several
> hours, I tried to reinstall SP2 after removing or stopping all
> non-essential programs with the same results. I received a blue
> screen which began an endless cycle of unrecoverable safe-reboot
> options. None of the options gave me an operating OS, not even safe
> mode.
>
> I nearly broke down in tears for two weeks. I thought I was doomed to
> be left behind while the rest of the world basked in the utopian bliss
> of the post SP2 world. Alas, I was not alone. Several other forum
> users had posted that their solutions lie within upgrading to Windows
> XP Pro. I was weary at first, but eventually I, too, chose to install
> XP Pro because it might be my only chance to reap the benefits of SP2.
> I performed a full restore with my eMachine restore CDs and backed up
> my previous files in the 'My Backup' folder. Then I upgraded my
> system to Windows XP Pro. After installing Pro, I applied the SP2
> update. Same style system reboot cycle. Crap. Worthless. I thought
> I was doomed.
>
> So I resolved to try one more thing, and it worked. We're really
> close. I finally got XP Pro to work on my M2350 by installing it OVER
> the existing copy of windows on my hard drive by choosing the install
> deleting current windows installation on my notebook. Others
> complained that when installing XP Pro directly to their computer they
> were unable to find drivers for the system configuration packaged in
> the M2350. ALL OF THESE DRIVERS were located on the third restore CD
> by eMachines. After the CLEAN install of XP Pro, I applied the SP2
> patch and it finally worked for me. Then I installed the drivers one
> by one and my system is at last complete. Sorry if this was long, but
> it worked for me when I thought all was lost. Good luck.
>
> Short version to succeed in installing Windows XP SP2 for the eMachine
> M2350 notebook:
>
> 1. Backup important files if possible (just in case).
> 2. Reboot computer from Windows XP Pro CD.
> 3. Choose to delete current installation of Windows and install new
> one in same location.
> 4. Once XP Pro is installed, install SP2 (i did it from the full IT
> download).
> 5. After rebooting and confirming that it appears to work, install
> M2350 specific drivers from the third restore CD shipped with the
> system.
>
> Good luck; I'll respond to emails as I can.
>

I thought I would ask the question again since several months have passed
and the SP2 update package may have changed some:

Has anyone been able to successfully update their eMachines M2350 to SP2
using the online update process?

Has anyone else been successful using Glen's clean install of XP Pro and
then updating to SP2

Mike - K9JRI

After trying to install SP2 on an eMachine M2350 laptop for about 4 months
the fix finally came out in the BigFix program that came with the laptop. I
had to reinstall Wndows XP from the restore disk that came with the computer.
As part of the install a program called BigFix will also be installed. Look
in BigFix for a patch callled "updates:emachines M2350Registry Update
Available". After you let BigFix install this patch, SP2 will install
without any problems.

I had tried everything I could think of and anything that was suggested in
newsgroups and nothing worked until this patch came in BigFix. I talked and
got email from eMachines support as late as 1-20-05 and the support
ogranization just says it is Microsoft's problem. They don't realize there
is a patch.

> "Glen" wrote:
>
> > I also have an eMachine M2350 and have had the same problems as all of
> > you. I have perused the many different forums regarding SP2 problems
> > and none of them seemed to describe my particular portion of update
> > hell. I have found the solution for my problem, and hopefully yours.