Service Pack 2 Ate My Computer!!

Hey!
We've had this reoccurring problem when we've tried to install Microsoft
Service Pack 2. We'll install it, then when we restart the computer we get a
blue screen talking about a physical memory dump, and thats it. I'm
currently running my computer in Safe Mode with Networking, but that doesn't
let me print or anything. I know I can restore my computer, but that doesn't
solve the problem of getting the upgrade onto my computer. And with
Microsoft charging about $300 for a phone call or $99 for an email, it
doesn't seem like Microsoft is in much of a hurry to help out. Please help
me out! Thanks!

- I am running XP home edition 2002 service pack 1 (now that I have restored
my computer ... sigh)

- Pentium 4 @ 2.8 GHz with 1 G of ram

- The upgrade downloads and installs all fine (except a error with a few
..ddl files that I just hit retry to and it works fine). But when I restart
the computer as it requires, I get that unholy blue screen of death - making
me hard boot the computer, only to get to the same screen. Safe mode is the
only way I can get through.

Thanks, and I await your replies!

coolj

coolj wrote:
> Hey!
> We've had this reoccurring problem when we've tried to install
> Microsoft Service Pack 2. We'll install it, then when we restart the
> computer we get a blue screen talking about a physical memory dump,
> and thats it. I'm currently running my computer in Safe Mode with
> Networking, but that doesn't let me print or anything. I know I can
> restore my computer, but that doesn't solve the problem of getting
> the upgrade onto my computer. And with Microsoft charging about $300
> for a phone call or $99 for an email, it doesn't seem like Microsoft
> is in much of a hurry to help out. Please help me out! Thanks!
>
> - I am running XP home edition 2002 service pack 1 (now that I have
> restored my computer ... sigh)
>
> - Pentium 4 @ 2.8 GHz with 1 G of ram
>
> - The upgrade downloads and installs all fine (except a error with a
> few .ddl files that I just hit retry to and it works fine). But when
> I restart the computer as it requires, I get that unholy blue screen
> of death - making me hard boot the computer, only to get to the same
> screen. Safe mode is the only way I can get through.

So maybe this "except for" bit is part of the problem, want to go into
that in a bit more detail?

General reasons for SP2 to cause a crash these days are -
badly outdated drivers
badly outdated bios
badly outdated viruses or other malware

- resolve all those problems and think about what is happening with these
files you get an actual error on (maybe its me but I'd think getting an
error on something would obviously relate to crashes later on) and see
where you're at.

--
--
Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked:
"Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".

Thanks for your input! I ran the install again, and there were no error
messages this time, but I got the same blue screen after the reboot.

I got some stop messages in code, then something about a physical memory dump.

We have the most up to date norton anti virus, so its probably not that.

We just ran a defrag on the drive, and that didn't help.

**How do I update my BIOS or hardware drivers?

Thanks a lot!
coolj

"Robert Moir" wrote:

> coolj wrote:
> > Hey!
> > We've had this reoccurring problem when we've tried to install
> > Microsoft Service Pack 2. We'll install it, then when we restart the
> > computer we get a blue screen talking about a physical memory dump,
> > and thats it. I'm currently running my computer in Safe Mode with
> > Networking, but that doesn't let me print or anything. I know I can
> > restore my computer, but that doesn't solve the problem of getting
> > the upgrade onto my computer. And with Microsoft charging about $300
> > for a phone call or $99 for an email, it doesn't seem like Microsoft
> > is in much of a hurry to help out. Please help me out! Thanks!
> >
> > - I am running XP home edition 2002 service pack 1 (now that I have
> > restored my computer ... sigh)
> >
> > - Pentium 4 @ 2.8 GHz with 1 G of ram
> >
> > - The upgrade downloads and installs all fine (except a error with a
> > few .ddl files that I just hit retry to and it works fine). But when
> > I restart the computer as it requires, I get that unholy blue screen
> > of death - making me hard boot the computer, only to get to the same
> > screen. Safe mode is the only way I can get through.
>
> So maybe this "except for" bit is part of the problem, want to go into
> that in a bit more detail?
>
> General reasons for SP2 to cause a crash these days are -
> badly outdated drivers
> badly outdated bios
> badly outdated viruses or other malware
>
> - resolve all those problems and think about what is happening with these
> files you get an actual error on (maybe its me but I'd think getting an
> error on something would obviously relate to crashes later on) and see
> where you're at.
>
> --
> --
> Rob Moir, Microsoft MVP for Security
> Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
> Virtual PC 2004 FAQ -
> http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
> I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked:
> "Have you checked (event viewer / syslog)".
>
>
>