service pack 3 lead to disaster!

I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
arrghhh! What the heck happened?

It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

> ...Called Microsoft but had to call
> Dell since I bought my laptop with the OS already on it.

Apparently you didn't call the right number:

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

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

• You receive a “Stop 0x0000007E� error message after you upgrade to Windows
XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer
(Revised 06 May-08)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356

• HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Computer Restarts after Displaying Stop Error
0x0000007E [after installing WinXP SP3]
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...en&lc=en&cc=us

• Microsoft Windows XP SP3 Upgrade Utility for systems with AMD processors:
Go to www.hp.com | Search for "sp37394.exe" (w/out quotes) | Should take you
to this download page:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USEN
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/




Amanda wrote:
> I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it
> asked
> me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!!
> Couldn't get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to
> call
> Dell since I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some
> tests to confirm my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to
> re-install my OS. So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external
> hard drive. Paid Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my
> files. Came home and plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything
> is OK now....!!???? arrghhh! What the heck happened?
>
> It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

[not a solution but a comment]
Sounds to me like Dell support wasn't on the ball. If the system is giving a
blue screen, the only solution is to reinstall? Couldn't go into safe mode
and remove SP3?

Reminds me a bit of the Adobe Flash player troubleshooting. One of the last
suggestions is to reinstall Windows from scratch.

"Amanda" wrote:

> I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
> me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
> get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
> I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
> my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
> So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
> Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
> plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
> arrghhh! What the heck happened?
>
> It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

Hey there,
It would not even let me restart in safe mode... I would get the blue screen
again. I could not even get into windows. I ended up going to best buy and
had to pay them to back up everything onto an external hard drive, then went
through some process with dell to restore the computer to factory settings...
now windows is bugging me to install service pack 3 again but again, I am
scared and don't know if I should do it!

"Gis Bun" wrote:

> [not a solution but a comment]
> Sounds to me like Dell support wasn't on the ball. If the system is giving a
> blue screen, the only solution is to reinstall? Couldn't go into safe mode
> and remove SP3?
>
> Reminds me a bit of the Adobe Flash player troubleshooting. One of the last
> suggestions is to reinstall Windows from scratch.
>
> "Amanda" wrote:
>
> > I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
> > me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
> > get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
> > I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
> > my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
> > So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
> > Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
> > plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
> > arrghhh! What the heck happened?
> >
> > It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

Hey thanks for these links! I tried the microsoft chat that is available for
SP3 updates... the agent was quite useless, meaning the chat was extremely
slow, and he or she did not really have any answers for me, except to wait a
few months before installing SP3 because Dell may come out with some new
drivers to make sure SP3 is compatible with the Dell hardware....???

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> > ...Called Microsoft but had to call
> > Dell since I bought my laptop with the OS already on it.
>
> Apparently you didn't call the right number:
>
> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
> Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
> e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.
>
> • US:
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>
> • CA:
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>
> • UK:
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>
> • AU:
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>
> • Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
> Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
>
> ===================================
>
> • You receive a “Stop 0x0000007E� error message after you upgrade to Windows
> XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 on a non-Intel-processor-based computer
> (Revised 06 May-08)
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356
>
> • HP and Compaq Desktop PCs: Computer Restarts after Displaying Stop Error
> 0x0000007E [after installing WinXP SP3]
> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...en&lc=en&cc=us
>
> • Microsoft Windows XP SP3 Upgrade Utility for systems with AMD processors:
> Go to www.hp.com | Search for "sp37394.exe" (w/out quotes) | Should take you
> to this download page:
> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...reg_R1002_USEN
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
>
>
>
> Amanda wrote:
> > I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it
> > asked
> > me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!!
> > Couldn't get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to
> > call
> > Dell since I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some
> > tests to confirm my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to
> > re-install my OS. So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external
> > hard drive. Paid Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my
> > files. Came home and plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything
> > is OK now....!!???? arrghhh! What the heck happened?
> >
> > It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.
>
>

If your system is "fresh", you shouldn't have too much to worry about. Just
make sure the drivers on the system are up to date. I think Dell has a
service on the system that checks for current driver status. If not go to
Windows Update, do a Custom check, go into the hardware and see if there are
any updates. Follow the other suggestions from Microsoft or in the newsgroups
before installing as well.

Alternatively, go to Dell's support site and go to the download section and
look up your model or service tag and see if there are any downloads.

You should also complain to Dell [send a letter] informing them of the lousy
service, the Best Buy backup, etc. See if they can do anything about it
[better chance if the PC is still under warranty]. Maybe include a diplomatic
"I won't buy from you guys again or recommend."

Good luck.


"Amanda" wrote:

> Hey there,
> It would not even let me restart in safe mode... I would get the blue screen
> again. I could not even get into windows. I ended up going to best buy and
> had to pay them to back up everything onto an external hard drive, then went
> through some process with dell to restore the computer to factory settings...
> now windows is bugging me to install service pack 3 again but again, I am
> scared and don't know if I should do it!
>
> "Gis Bun" wrote:
>
> > [not a solution but a comment]
> > Sounds to me like Dell support wasn't on the ball. If the system is giving a
> > blue screen, the only solution is to reinstall? Couldn't go into safe mode
> > and remove SP3?
> >
> > Reminds me a bit of the Adobe Flash player troubleshooting. One of the last
> > suggestions is to reinstall Windows from scratch.
> >
> > "Amanda" wrote:
> >
> > > I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
> > > me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
> > > get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
> > > I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
> > > my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
> > > So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
> > > Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
> > > plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
> > > arrghhh! What the heck happened?
> > >
> > > It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

Hi there, I have have just spent over 250€ and 5 days of time because of
installing Service Pack 3 on my Dell Dimension 9200 (Windows Media Edition
2005).

After updating to SP3 every program began to slow down or crash!

I finally got to speak to someone from Dell, and they told me that they are
aware of "Issues" with SP3, and have received many calls and complaints...in
fact the giy from Dell said the same thing happened to him!
He told me there is no solution to the problem and that I should not try an
update to SP3. So where does that leave me and my computer?

Dell should have sent an e-mail to all customers that were at risk and
warned them.

They (Dell) knew there was a problem...and ignored it!

They are quick to try and sell us new stuff all the time via e-mail.

So I guess this issue with SP3 may never be corrected.

It is a pain always having to keep my eye on the updates now...as now there
are updates coming through for SP3!!!

"Amanda" wrote:

> Hey there,
> It would not even let me restart in safe mode... I would get the blue screen
> again. I could not even get into windows. I ended up going to best buy and
> had to pay them to back up everything onto an external hard drive, then went
> through some process with dell to restore the computer to factory settings...
> now windows is bugging me to install service pack 3 again but again, I am
> scared and don't know if I should do it!
>
> "Gis Bun" wrote:
>
> > [not a solution but a comment]
> > Sounds to me like Dell support wasn't on the ball. If the system is giving a
> > blue screen, the only solution is to reinstall? Couldn't go into safe mode
> > and remove SP3?
> >
> > Reminds me a bit of the Adobe Flash player troubleshooting. One of the last
> > suggestions is to reinstall Windows from scratch.
> >
> > "Amanda" wrote:
> >
> > > I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
> > > me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
> > > get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
> > > I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
> > > my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
> > > So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
> > > Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
> > > plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
> > > arrghhh! What the heck happened?
> > >
> > > It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

What does it leave you? A slow system. Either uninstall SP3 or live with it.
Not much choice. Why 250€???

Problem with any manufacturer is that they don't communicate. Not just Dell.
It's everyone. Sony is recalling 438,000 laptops for overheating. You think
they'll send out an Email?

I think unless you subscribe on their web site for mail for your system [if
they have something like that] you won't hear from them.

"Michael" wrote:

> Hi there, I have have just spent over 250€ and 5 days of time because of
> installing Service Pack 3 on my Dell Dimension 9200 (Windows Media Edition
> 2005).
>
> After updating to SP3 every program began to slow down or crash!
>
> I finally got to speak to someone from Dell, and they told me that they are
> aware of "Issues" with SP3, and have received many calls and complaints...in
> fact the giy from Dell said the same thing happened to him!
> He told me there is no solution to the problem and that I should not try an
> update to SP3. So where does that leave me and my computer?
>
> Dell should have sent an e-mail to all customers that were at risk and
> warned them.
>
> They (Dell) knew there was a problem...and ignored it!
>
> They are quick to try and sell us new stuff all the time via e-mail.
>
> So I guess this issue with SP3 may never be corrected.
>
> It is a pain always having to keep my eye on the updates now...as now there
> are updates coming through for SP3!!!
>
> "Amanda" wrote:
>
> > Hey there,
> > It would not even let me restart in safe mode... I would get the blue screen
> > again. I could not even get into windows. I ended up going to best buy and
> > had to pay them to back up everything onto an external hard drive, then went
> > through some process with dell to restore the computer to factory settings...
> > now windows is bugging me to install service pack 3 again but again, I am
> > scared and don't know if I should do it!
> >
> > "Gis Bun" wrote:
> >
> > > [not a solution but a comment]
> > > Sounds to me like Dell support wasn't on the ball. If the system is giving a
> > > blue screen, the only solution is to reinstall? Couldn't go into safe mode
> > > and remove SP3?
> > >
> > > Reminds me a bit of the Adobe Flash player troubleshooting. One of the last
> > > suggestions is to reinstall Windows from scratch.
> > >
> > > "Amanda" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I installed service pack 3 this morning, and when it was completed, it asked
> > > > me to reboot. I did, and got the blue screen of death every time!! Couldn't
> > > > get in through safe mode either. Called Microsoft but had to call Dell since
> > > > I bought my laptop with the OS already on it. Dell did some tests to confirm
> > > > my hard drive was not corrupt but told me I would have to re-install my OS.
> > > > So first I had to back up my files. Bought an external hard drive. Paid
> > > > Best Buy $90 to crack into the computer to back up my files. Came home and
> > > > plugged in my laptop... turned it on, and everything is OK now....!!????
> > > > arrghhh! What the heck happened?
> > > >
> > > > It's still bugging me to install 17 new updates but I'm scared to.

Gis Bun wrote:

> What does it leave you? A slow system. Either uninstall SP3 or live with it.

There is another option - reinstalling the operating system (without all the OEM
bits) has a reasonable chance of resolving the problem.

On the other hand, it might be a device driver issue, but in that case I'd have
expected Dell to have a fix by now.

Harry.

"Harry Johnston [MVP]" wrote:

> Gis Bun wrote:
>
> > What does it leave you? A slow system. Either uninstall SP3 or live with it.
>
> There is another option - reinstalling the operating system (without all the OEM
> bits) has a reasonable chance of resolving the problem.
>
> On the other hand, it might be a device driver issue, but in that case I'd have
> expected Dell to have a fix by now.

I guess depends on what's on the system now would help decide to wipe the
drive. Set up a Dell system for someone recently and the first thing I did
was remove all the crap they dump on and then installed SP3.

I've (manually) installed SP3 to about 15 XP machines without a glitch. All
but a couple were Dell [granted most were older Dimensions].

Unless there is something they can fix in the BIOS, don't count on Dell
fixing anything. Everything in their system has third party drivers. Would
need to see if any of them need updates. It's been 4+ months by now. If they
are to fix anything it would of been done by now.

Gis