Help please re: update to SP2 in Windowsxp Pro 64

I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.

I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of alternatives
and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore point, no dice. I
tried a repair install, didn't work until I uninstalled sp2. But IE wouldn't
run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with MS update. I got around
that by running IE without add-ons from System Tools. I reinstalled all
updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.

All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have chrome
for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.

I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide me
for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how do I
get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If I do
have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation? I
don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll have
to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to go.
Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my problem?

I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right one.
And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation well
enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.

> ...how do I
> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install?

I don't think you'll be able to avoid it, noen.
--
x64-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)


noen wrote:
> I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
>
> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
> alternatives and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore
> point, no dice. I tried a repair install, didn't work until I uninstalled
> sp2. But IE wouldn't run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with
> MS
> update. I got around that by running IE without add-ons from System Tools.
> I reinstalled all updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.
>
> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
> chrome
> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
>
> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide me
> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how do
> I
> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If I
> do
> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation? I
> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
> have
> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to go.
> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
> problem?
>
> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
> one.
> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
> well
> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.

Ok, I can accept that.
Can I save my key and validation status so I don't have to go through that
again?

"PA Bear" wrote:

> > ...how do I
> > get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install?
>
> I don't think you'll be able to avoid it, noen.
> --
> x64-specific newsgroup:
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general
>
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>
>
> noen wrote:
> > I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
> >
> > I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
> > multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
> > alternatives and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore
> > point, no dice. I tried a repair install, didn't work until I uninstalled
> > sp2. But IE wouldn't run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with
> > MS
> > update. I got around that by running IE without add-ons from System Tools.
> > I reinstalled all updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.
> >
> > All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
> > chrome
> > for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
> > whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
> > there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
> >
> > I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide me
> > for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how do
> > I
> > get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If I
> > do
> > have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation? I
> > don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
> > have
> > to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to go.
> > Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
> > problem?
> >
> > I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
> > one.
> > And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
> > well
> > enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.
>
>

please help me out i can't get windows up date for my computer why

"noen" wrote:

> I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
>
> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of alternatives
> and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore point, no dice. I
> tried a repair install, didn't work until I uninstalled sp2. But IE wouldn't
> run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with MS update. I got around
> that by running IE without add-ons from System Tools. I reinstalled all
> updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.
>
> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have chrome
> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
>
> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide me
> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how do I
> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If I do
> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation? I
> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll have
> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to go.
> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my problem?
>
> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right one.
> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation well
> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.

Please begin your own thread here about your problem, lloyd.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

lloyd wrote:
> please help me out i can't get windows up date for my computer why

You'd best post further questions to the x64-specific newsgroup, noen. I'll
get you started by crossposting this reply to it.
--
~PA Bear

noen wrote:
> Ok, I can accept that.
> Can I save my key and validation status so I don't have to go through that
> again?
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>>> ...how do I
>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install?
>>
>> I don't think you'll be able to avoid it, noen.
>> --
>> x64-specific newsgroup:
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general
>>
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>
>>
>> noen wrote:
>>> I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
>>>
>>> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
>>> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
>>> alternatives and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore
>>> point, no dice. I tried a repair install, didn't work until I
>>> uninstalled
>>> sp2. But IE wouldn't run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with
>>> MS
>>> update. I got around that by running IE without add-ons from System
>>> Tools.
>>> I reinstalled all updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.
>>>
>>> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
>>> chrome
>>> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
>>> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
>>> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
>>>
>>> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide
>>> me
>>> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how
>>> do
>>> I
>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If
>>> I
>>> do
>>> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation?
>>> I
>>> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
>>> have
>>> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to
>>> go.
>>> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
>>> problem?
>>>
>>> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
>>> one.
>>> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
>>> well
>>> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.

Honestly, I'm with PA Bear on this one. You've tried a repair install and
that didn't work. Your only real answer now is to do a fresh, clean install.

If your data files are on a separate partition, great, you're already in
good shape. If they're not (and that's the default), then you'll need to
save them off to a safe spot. Boot from the CD, and do a clean install.
Format the partition, IMNSHO.

Yes, you will need to re-activate. Depending on how long you've had your
system up and running, the chances are you may not even have to do the call.
If you do, it's NOT a big deal. I've done it a half a dozen times over the
years, and it's pretty painless. Total process, including going through all
the steps before you get to the real person, takes about 15 minutes, tops.
Then you read off your numbers, they read off theirs, you key them in and
you're done.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel


"PA Bear" <> wrote in message
news:...
> You'd best post further questions to the x64-specific newsgroup, noen.
> I'll get you started by crossposting this reply to it.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> noen wrote:
>> Ok, I can accept that.
>> Can I save my key and validation status so I don't have to go through
>> that
>> again?
>>
>> "PA Bear" wrote:
>>
>>>> ...how do I
>>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install?
>>>
>>> I don't think you'll be able to avoid it, noen.
>>> --
>>> x64-specific newsgroup:
>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general
>>>
>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>
>>>
>>> noen wrote:
>>>> I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
>>>>
>>>> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
>>>> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
>>>> alternatives and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore
>>>> point, no dice. I tried a repair install, didn't work until I
>>>> uninstalled
>>>> sp2. But IE wouldn't run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work
>>>> with
>>>> MS
>>>> update. I got around that by running IE without add-ons from System
>>>> Tools.
>>>> I reinstalled all updates, which were still there in the Windows
>>>> folder.
>>>>
>>>> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
>>>> chrome
>>>> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
>>>> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me
>>>> that
>>>> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
>>>>
>>>> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide
>>>> me
>>>> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how
>>>> do
>>>> I
>>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If
>>>> I
>>>> do
>>>> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and
>>>> activation? I
>>>> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
>>>> have
>>>> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to
>>>> go.
>>>> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
>>>> problem?
>>>>
>>>> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
>>>> one.
>>>> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
>>>> well
>>>> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.
>

Hello Noen,

What excactly do you mean that Sp2 broke your system?

Did you get a blue screen after rebooting? (possibly a system restart
depending on system settings)

If you are getting a blue screen can you post the error code in the screen
here.

Best regards,
Michel Denie

"noen" <> wrote in message
news:6A83D4FC-ED6C-435D-ACFE-...
>I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
>
> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
> alternatives
> and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore point, no dice.
> I
> tried a repair install, didn't work until I uninstalled sp2. But IE
> wouldn't
> run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work with MS update. I got around
> that by running IE without add-ons from System Tools. I reinstalled all
> updates, which were still there in the Windows folder.
>
> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
> chrome
> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me that
> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
>
> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide me
> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how do
> I
> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If I
> do
> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and activation? I
> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
> have
> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to go.
> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
> problem?
>
> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
> one.
> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
> well
> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.

Thank you Charlie.
BTW, there is no windows.64bit.general forum. There is very little support
from MS for XP64. They kinda leap frogged over me to Vista. Well, it feels
that way to me.

I thought about putting the data on another partition but I read, I think it
was on Dan Goodman's multiboot page, that he no longer recomended that for
XP, so I was hesitant to take that risk. The My Documents folder is already
on one of it's own.

Thanks for letting me know that it is no big deal to call in to activate. I
don't like to bother people, it's just the way I am. That and I feel dumb
because it is usually because I tinkered and broke something.

I did a search and found posts by TaurArian and Shenan that had a lot of
useful info.

Thanks again
Brenda

"Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:

> Honestly, I'm with PA Bear on this one. You've tried a repair install and
> that didn't work. Your only real answer now is to do a fresh, clean install.
>
> If your data files are on a separate partition, great, you're already in
> good shape. If they're not (and that's the default), then you'll need to
> save them off to a safe spot. Boot from the CD, and do a clean install.
> Format the partition, IMNSHO.
>
> Yes, you will need to re-activate. Depending on how long you've had your
> system up and running, the chances are you may not even have to do the call.
> If you do, it's NOT a big deal. I've done it a half a dozen times over the
> years, and it's pretty painless. Total process, including going through all
> the steps before you get to the real person, takes about 15 minutes, tops.
> Then you read off your numbers, they read off theirs, you key them in and
> you're done.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel
>
>
> "PA Bear" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > You'd best post further questions to the x64-specific newsgroup, noen.
> > I'll get you started by crossposting this reply to it.
> > --
> > ~PA Bear
> >
> > noen wrote:
> >> Ok, I can accept that.
> >> Can I save my key and validation status so I don't have to go through
> >> that
> >> again?
> >>
> >> "PA Bear" wrote:
> >>
> >>>> ...how do I
> >>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install?
> >>>
> >>> I don't think you'll be able to avoid it, noen.
> >>> --
> >>> x64-specific newsgroup:
> >>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general
> >>>
> >>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> noen wrote:
> >>>> I am apparently just knowlegable enough to really mess up my system.
> >>>>
> >>>> I purchased WinXP 64 sp1 and was running with the neowin uxtheme.dll
> >>>> multipatcher. Upgrading to sp2 broke my system. I tried a lot of
> >>>> alternatives and none worked. I tried going back to a previous restore
> >>>> point, no dice. I tried a repair install, didn't work until I
> >>>> uninstalled
> >>>> sp2. But IE wouldn't run although IE 64 would, IE 64 will not work
> >>>> with
> >>>> MS
> >>>> update. I got around that by running IE without add-ons from System
> >>>> Tools.
> >>>> I reinstalled all updates, which were still there in the Windows
> >>>> folder.
> >>>>
> >>>> All updates are current except for sp2 which fails to install. I have
> >>>> chrome
> >>>> for all apps now, that is better, but the system gives the default beep
> >>>> whenever I select a folder, app or doc in explorer. That says to me
> >>>> that
> >>>> there is still a problem and it's most likely uxtheme.dll.
> >>>>
> >>>> I know it was improper of me to use neowin's patch. Please don't chide
> >>>> me
> >>>> for that, I won't be doing that again. What I would like to know is how
> >>>> do
> >>>> I
> >>>> get to a clean system again without having to completely re-install? If
> >>>> I
> >>>> do
> >>>> have to do a clean install how can I preserve my license and
> >>>> activation? I
> >>>> don't want to have to call MS up to ask for a new key, that's what I'll
> >>>> have
> >>>> to do BTW. Update tells me that sp2 is already downloaded and ready to
> >>>> go.
> >>>> Can I remove the downloaded sp2 and try again? Would that solve my
> >>>> problem?
> >>>>
> >>>> I hope this is the correct forum, if not please direct me to the right
> >>>> one.
> >>>> And I did a search first too. I hope that I have described my situation
> >>>> well
> >>>> enough. If not please ask and I'll try to explain further.
> >
>

noen, there most certainly is a windows.64bit.general /newsgroup/. It's
where Charlie saw and replied to your thread. (Thanks, Charlie.)

On the web:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities....64bit.general

In your newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....64bit.general
--
~PA Bear

noen wrote:
> Thank you Charlie.
> BTW, there is no windows.64bit.general forum.
<snip>