There's always a "However"

Hi everybody
Today, I finally got to install SP2 on my WinXP OS (I use a Dell
2.53GHz/256MB RAM).
But to get SP2 to install without repeated "access denied" errors it
was necessary to run a small DOS file that changed the permission level
on ALL of the registry keys.
So my computer is totally up to date as far as OS updates are
concerned. HOWEVER, my usb HDD (160 GB)is no longer accessible.
The HDD switches ON when the machine is rebooted but turns itself OFF
during the boot sequence (at exactly where it used to power ON before).
On shut-down, it powers up briefly (exactly where it used to power down
before) and then goes OFF again when the computer is completely shut
down) This indicates to me that it is NOT a hardware nor a cable
integrity problem.
Rather, it seems to suggest that whatever registry keys are turning the
HDD on and off have somehow become corrupted.

Can anybody help me decipher this one?
PaulFXH

PaulFXH wrote:
> Hi everybody
> Today, I finally got to install SP2 on my WinXP OS (I use a Dell
> 2.53GHz/256MB RAM).
> But to get SP2 to install without repeated "access denied" errors it
> was necessary to run a small DOS file that changed the permission
> level on ALL of the registry keys.
> So my computer is totally up to date as far as OS updates are
> concerned. HOWEVER, my usb HDD (160 GB)is no longer accessible.
> The HDD switches ON when the machine is rebooted but turns itself OFF
> during the boot sequence (at exactly where it used to power ON
> before). On shut-down, it powers up briefly (exactly where it used to
> power down before) and then goes OFF again when the computer is
> completely shut down) This indicates to me that it is NOT a hardware
> nor a cable integrity problem.
> Rather, it seems to suggest that whatever registry keys are turning
> the HDD on and off have somehow become corrupted.
>
> Can anybody help me decipher this one?
> PaulFXH

Try this. Power off the drive. Disconnect the drive. Reboot the computer.
Reconnect the drive. Power up the drive manually.

SP2 made some big changes to USB I have seen some older USB webcams that
won't work with SP2 until they have a firmware upgrade. If the USB drive is
very old it might be a similar problem.

Kerry

Kerry
Thanks for your suggestion.
However, I have just realized that the problem was with the usb card
which I only installed last week. All my other stuff is hooked up to
the older usb card and only the usb HDD to the new one. So I didn't
notice initially that it was the new card which wasn't functioning.
For some reason, the SP2 install seems to have corrupted the drivers
for the new card. However, this was easy to rectify just by
re-installing the drivers.
Cheers
Paul

PaulFXH wrote:
> Kerry
> Thanks for your suggestion.
> However, I have just realized that the problem was with the usb card
> which I only installed last week. All my other stuff is hooked up to
> the older usb card and only the usb HDD to the new one. So I didn't
> notice initially that it was the new card which wasn't functioning.
> For some reason, the SP2 install seems to have corrupted the drivers
> for the new card. However, this was easy to rectify just by
> re-installing the drivers.
> Cheers
> Paul

Good to hear you got it working.

Kerry

changing perms all keys breaks security patches from ms

"PaulFXH" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Hi everybody
> Today, I finally got to install SP2 on my WinXP OS (I use a Dell
> 2.53GHz/256MB RAM).
> But to get SP2 to install without repeated "access denied" errors it
> was necessary to run a small DOS file that changed the permission level
> on ALL of the registry keys.
> So my computer is totally up to date as far as OS updates are
> concerned. HOWEVER, my usb HDD (160 GB)is no longer accessible.
> The HDD switches ON when the machine is rebooted but turns itself OFF
> during the boot sequence (at exactly where it used to power ON before).
> On shut-down, it powers up briefly (exactly where it used to power down
> before) and then goes OFF again when the computer is completely shut
> down) This indicates to me that it is NOT a hardware nor a cable
> integrity problem.
> Rather, it seems to suggest that whatever registry keys are turning the
> HDD on and off have somehow become corrupted.
>
> Can anybody help me decipher this one?
> PaulFXH
>

Tom
Thanks for your comment.
Are you saying that I will have to re-install all of the recent patches
from MS?
Actually I have checked on Windows Update and on Belarc and neither
suggest that I am in need of re-installing any of my patches.
However, I really am a little apprehensive about leaving all of the
registry keys fully accessible but I have no idea how I should try to
remove permissions from those that don't need it and leave it as is on
those that do (other than doing it manually which would be quite a
mammoth task).
Any ideas?
Paul

First open a support call to MS.
Only if enough do so will they fix their problems.
I cannot tell you the risks, but I'm sure MS would tell you not to do this.
Good luck,
Tom

"PaulFXH" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Tom
> Thanks for your comment.
> Are you saying that I will have to re-install all of the recent patches
> from MS?
> Actually I have checked on Windows Update and on Belarc and neither
> suggest that I am in need of re-installing any of my patches.
> However, I really am a little apprehensive about leaving all of the
> registry keys fully accessible but I have no idea how I should try to
> remove permissions from those that don't need it and leave it as is on
> those that do (other than doing it manually which would be quite a
> mammoth task).
> Any ideas?
> Paul
>

OK, so I'm "boldly going where....."
But let's look at the facts. Without "opening up" the permission levels
on my registry keys, I don't believe I ever would have got SP2
downloaded.
Also, up to now, I've had absolutely no problems with the computer
running better than ever.
Nevertheless, I would love to hear the views of others on this issue:
Is it safe to run with altered permissions on ALL registry keys? If
not, how to resolve?
Paul

when it comes to straight forward questions like this, where do all the
ms-mvps go/

not the first time

"PaulFXH" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> OK, so I'm "boldly going where....."
> But let's look at the facts. Without "opening up" the permission levels
> on my registry keys, I don't believe I ever would have got SP2
> downloaded.
> Also, up to now, I've had absolutely no problems with the computer
> running better than ever.
> Nevertheless, I would love to hear the views of others on this issue:
> Is it safe to run with altered permissions on ALL registry keys? If
> not, how to resolve?
> Paul
>

LOL, this is not a straightforward question. It is a very complicated
question about doing something that no one would normally recommend or do
themselves. It's quite likely that no one knows the answer.

Kerry

Tom wrote:
> when it comes to straight forward questions like this, where do all
> the ms-mvps go/
>
> not the first time
>
> "PaulFXH" <> wrote in message
> news: ups.com...
>> OK, so I'm "boldly going where....."
>> But let's look at the facts. Without "opening up" the permission
>> levels on my registry keys, I don't believe I ever would have got SP2
>> downloaded.
>> Also, up to now, I've had absolutely no problems with the computer
>> running better than ever.
>> Nevertheless, I would love to hear the views of others on this issue:
>> Is it safe to run with altered permissions on ALL registry keys? If
>> not, how to resolve?
>> Paul