failed upgrade to sp2 from sp1 xp pro

Hi.
Sorry to bother, but I don't know much about PCs...

I have xp pro sp1, but it's an illegal copy, because Automatic Windows
Update always got me the message "invalid keys".
I have a 20Gigs hard drive, in 3 levels (C:, D:"system save" and
G:"storage"): It was formatted like that when I bought this used computer,
for a cheap price :-). I presume Windows sp1 is on D:.

I tried installing sp2 from the Windows Update web site, with the quick
install ("only critical updates"), and after 30 minutes of preparation, it
downloaded 117Megs in 5 minutes, waited another 10 minutes verifying the
download and then started the installation Wizard.
After 10 minutes or so of inspecting and inventoring, I got the message that
the installation failed, probably due to invalid keys.

N.B.I didn't disable my McAfee VirusScan before doing this, and don't know
if I should have...
N.B.B. A "disk clean up" icon appeared in the right side of the taskbar in
the process. I right clicked on it and it opened, but I didn't know what to
do with that (I knew I had about 670Megs on C so I closed it. It
reappeared and vanished a couple of minutes later.

Everything seems to be running normally now, but I have 117Mg missing on my
C: and I would like to get it back (I only have about 550 Megs left on C:
now). I called microsoft at 1-888-sp2-help but the tech told me he
couldn't answer me because my keys were invalid.
He told me to seek help here.

Can anybody help me to:
1. gain my disk space back on C:
,and maybe:
2. install sp2 succesfully on D:? (I have over 2Gigs available on that
drive.)

Thanks in advance to reply with precise and detailed information, since I
know very little about Windows xp (pro) and its features.

Martin;
If you have an illegal copy, you need to get a legal copy:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/invalpk.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"martin" <martin.antaya@(pasdespam)sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi.
> Sorry to bother, but I don't know much about PCs...
>
> I have xp pro sp1, but it's an illegal copy, because Automatic Windows
> Update always got me the message "invalid keys".
> I have a 20Gigs hard drive, in 3 levels (C:, D:"system save" and
> G:"storage"): It was formatted like that when I bought this used computer,
> for a cheap price :-). I presume Windows sp1 is on D:.
>
> I tried installing sp2 from the Windows Update web site, with the quick
> install ("only critical updates"), and after 30 minutes of preparation, it
> downloaded 117Megs in 5 minutes, waited another 10 minutes verifying the
> download and then started the installation Wizard.
> After 10 minutes or so of inspecting and inventoring, I got the message
> that
> the installation failed, probably due to invalid keys.
>
> N.B.I didn't disable my McAfee VirusScan before doing this, and don't know
> if I should have...
> N.B.B. A "disk clean up" icon appeared in the right side of the taskbar in
> the process. I right clicked on it and it opened, but I didn't know what
> to
> do with that (I knew I had about 670Megs on C so I closed it. It
> reappeared and vanished a couple of minutes later.
>
> Everything seems to be running normally now, but I have 117Mg missing on
> my
> C: and I would like to get it back (I only have about 550 Megs left on C:
> now). I called microsoft at 1-888-sp2-help but the tech told me he
> couldn't answer me because my keys were invalid.
> He told me to seek help here.
>
> Can anybody help me to:
> 1. gain my disk space back on C:
> ,and maybe:
> 2. install sp2 succesfully on D:? (I have over 2Gigs available on that
> drive.)
>
> Thanks in advance to reply with precise and detailed information, since I
> know very little about Windows xp (pro) and its features.

Jupiter Jones;
I thought Microsoft had made available sp2 even for illegal copies, because
of security threats to internet?
Did they change their minds?

Some but not all.
This is not a change, it is the way it has always been with SP-2.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"martin" <martin.antaya@(pasdespam)sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:...
> Jupiter Jones;
> I thought Microsoft had made available sp2 even for illegal copies,
> because
> of security threats to internet?
> Did they change their minds?

Jupiter Jones;
thanks for the reply.

From the site you gave me, the only action I can possibly do is buy xp pro
and perform a Repair Installation (I don't want to lose all my data).
But then, will it install itself on drive D:?

And until my purchase | it may take several months before I can save enough
money - this is not a joke :-( | can I erase the downloaded sp2 on my C: and
gain back my 117Megs? How do I do that?

Thanks in advance.

"martin" <martin.antaya@(pasdespam)sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi.
> Sorry to bother, but I don't know much about PCs...
>
> I have xp pro sp1, but it's an illegal copy, because Automatic Windows
> Update always got me the message "invalid keys".
> I have a 20Gigs hard drive, in 3 levels (C:, D:"system save" and
> G:"storage"): It was formatted like that when I bought this used computer,
> for a cheap price :-). I presume Windows sp1 is on D:.
>
> I tried installing sp2 from the Windows Update web site, with the quick
> install ("only critical updates"), and after 30 minutes of preparation, it
> downloaded 117Megs in 5 minutes, waited another 10 minutes verifying the
> download and then started the installation Wizard.
> After 10 minutes or so of inspecting and inventoring, I got the message
> that
> the installation failed, probably due to invalid keys.
>
> N.B.I didn't disable my McAfee VirusScan before doing this, and don't know
> if I should have...
> N.B.B. A "disk clean up" icon appeared in the right side of the taskbar in
> the process. I right clicked on it and it opened, but I didn't know what
> to
> do with that (I knew I had about 670Megs on C so I closed it. It
> reappeared and vanished a couple of minutes later.
>
> Everything seems to be running normally now, but I have 117Mg missing on
> my
> C: and I would like to get it back (I only have about 550 Megs left on C:
> now). I called microsoft at 1-888-sp2-help but the tech told me he
> couldn't answer me because my keys were invalid.
> He told me to seek help here.
>
> Can anybody help me to:
> 1. gain my disk space back on C:
> ,and maybe:
> 2. install sp2 succesfully on D:? (I have over 2Gigs available on that
> drive.)
>
> Thanks in advance to reply with precise and detailed information, since I
> know very little about Windows xp (pro) and its features.
>

Martin;

While I may be sympathetic with your current predicament, I cannot
rightfully assist you because of the illegal copy of Windows. It would set
a dangerous precedent if you were helped. I understand that cash is a
problem right now, but the only solution that will be offered here will be
to upgrade to a legitimate version.

Again, I apologize and hope that you can understand...

Bobby

Martin;
A Repair Installation will preserve data and settings.
Back-up important data just in case.

Step 5 on this link should give you back your space:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"martin" <martin.antaya@(pasdespam)sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:%...
> Jupiter Jones;
> thanks for the reply.
>
> From the site you gave me, the only action I can possibly do is buy xp pro
> and perform a Repair Installation (I don't want to lose all my data).
> But then, will it install itself on drive D:?
>
> And until my purchase | it may take several months before I can save
> enough
> money - this is not a joke :-( | can I erase the downloaded sp2 on my C:
> and
> gain back my 117Megs? How do I do that?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>

thanks for your reply.
I understand.

Jupiter Jones;
Thanks for the tip, I understand you're not supposed to help somebody with
an illegal copy.

But I'm confused with step 5 - I'll ask a friend and I won't be offended if
you don't reply to this mail -
it says the »file» "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download", I have not
such file but a »folder» with that name, and it contains about 550Megs of
folders and files (with letters and numbers).

I'm not sure it's the same thing, and surely will not procede to its
deletion without a 100%OK from an expert.

Thanks again for your help.

Best regards

Martin;
You can safely delete the Download folder
At the very least, delete the contents.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"martin" <martin.antaya@(pasdespam)sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:%...
> Jupiter Jones;
> Thanks for the tip, I understand you're not supposed to help somebody with
> an illegal copy.
>
> But I'm confused with step 5 - I'll ask a friend and I won't be offended
> if
> you don't reply to this mail -
> it says the »file» "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download", I have not
> such file but a »folder» with that name, and it contains about 550Megs of
> folders and files (with letters and numbers).
>
> I'm not sure it's the same thing, and surely will not procede to its
> deletion without a 100%OK from an expert.
>
> Thanks again for your help.
>
> Best regards
>
>