Windows XP SP2 makes unbootable pc

Hello

I've been trying to install SP2 for ages now, and I've never got it to work.
I've got several licences of XP (all legit obviously, so windows update
works):

XP Home
XP Pro
XP Pro corp

And the SP2 installations all go fine. However, when i reboot (as
instructed) the computer shows the Windows XP logo, the progress bar at the
bottom, then stops completely. Sometimes, a strange array of colours happen
all over the screen a few seconds after this, but usually it just stops,
occasionally rebooting after a while...

It's really really annoying as i can't do an "express" windows update.

I've just got Windows Server 2003 as well, and that works fine, until i
install SP1, which installs no problem, then on boot, the 2003 server logo
appears then freezes completely.

I've tried many times, from clean installs, to nothing plugged in (hardware)
to removing some drives, to changing nearly all BIOS options, and it's got me
stumped.

I've not found anyone else who has this problem, as i'm a IT consultant and
go round fixing lots of SP2 related problems, but never this one.

Hope someone can help me!

Thanks

Seb Maynard

ps, basic hardware setup:
MSI motherboard
Intel P4, 3.04ghz
1gb ram (which i've checked, no problems)
Sony CD-RW
NEC ND-1300a DVD-RW
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb)
m-audio 24/96 sound card
USB2 internal card reader

Thanks

"seb maynard" wrote:

> Hello
>
> I've been trying to install SP2 for ages now, and I've never got it to work.
> I've got several licences of XP (all legit obviously, so windows update
> works):
>
> XP Home
> XP Pro
> XP Pro corp
>
> And the SP2 installations all go fine. However, when i reboot (as
> instructed) the computer shows the Windows XP logo, the progress bar at the
> bottom, then stops completely. Sometimes, a strange array of colours happen
> all over the screen a few seconds after this, but usually it just stops,
> occasionally rebooting after a while...
>
> It's really really annoying as i can't do an "express" windows update.
>
> I've just got Windows Server 2003 as well, and that works fine, until i
> install SP1, which installs no problem, then on boot, the 2003 server logo
> appears then freezes completely.
>
> I've tried many times, from clean installs, to nothing plugged in (hardware)
> to removing some drives, to changing nearly all BIOS options, and it's got me
> stumped.
>
> I've not found anyone else who has this problem, as i'm a IT consultant and
> go round fixing lots of SP2 related problems, but never this one.
>
> Hope someone can help me!
>
> Thanks
>
> Seb Maynard
>
> ps, basic hardware setup:
> MSI motherboard
> Intel P4, 3.04ghz
> 1gb ram (which i've checked, no problems)
> Sony CD-RW
> NEC ND-1300a DVD-RW
> ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb)
> m-audio 24/96 sound card
> USB2 internal card reader
>
> Thanks

I'm having the same problem. If you find an answer please pass it on! Thank
you!

"seb maynard" wrote:

> Hello
>
> I've been trying to install SP2 for ages now, and I've never got it to work.
> I've got several licences of XP (all legit obviously, so windows update
> works):
>
> XP Home
> XP Pro
> XP Pro corp
>
> And the SP2 installations all go fine. However, when i reboot (as
> instructed) the computer shows the Windows XP logo, the progress bar at the
> bottom, then stops completely. Sometimes, a strange array of colours happen
> all over the screen a few seconds after this, but usually it just stops,
> occasionally rebooting after a while...
>
> It's really really annoying as i can't do an "express" windows update.
>
> I've just got Windows Server 2003 as well, and that works fine, until i
> install SP1, which installs no problem, then on boot, the 2003 server logo
> appears then freezes completely.
>
> I've tried many times, from clean installs, to nothing plugged in (hardware)
> to removing some drives, to changing nearly all BIOS options, and it's got me
> stumped.
>
> I've not found anyone else who has this problem, as i'm a IT consultant and
> go round fixing lots of SP2 related problems, but never this one.
>
> Hope someone can help me!
>
> Thanks
>
> Seb Maynard
>
> ps, basic hardware setup:
> MSI motherboard
> Intel P4, 3.04ghz
> 1gb ram (which i've checked, no problems)
> Sony CD-RW
> NEC ND-1300a DVD-RW
> ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb)
> m-audio 24/96 sound card
> USB2 internal card reader
>
> Thanks

Hi,

What hardware setup do you have, ie, what motherboard etc?

Thanks

Seb

"Lisa" wrote:

> I'm having the same problem. If you find an answer please pass it on! Thank
> you!
>
> "seb maynard" wrote:
>
> > Hello
> >
> > I've been trying to install SP2 for ages now, and I've never got it to work.
> > I've got several licences of XP (all legit obviously, so windows update
> > works):
> >
> > XP Home
> > XP Pro
> > XP Pro corp
> >
> > And the SP2 installations all go fine. However, when i reboot (as
> > instructed) the computer shows the Windows XP logo, the progress bar at the
> > bottom, then stops completely. Sometimes, a strange array of colours happen
> > all over the screen a few seconds after this, but usually it just stops,
> > occasionally rebooting after a while...
> >
> > It's really really annoying as i can't do an "express" windows update.
> >
> > I've just got Windows Server 2003 as well, and that works fine, until i
> > install SP1, which installs no problem, then on boot, the 2003 server logo
> > appears then freezes completely.
> >
> > I've tried many times, from clean installs, to nothing plugged in (hardware)
> > to removing some drives, to changing nearly all BIOS options, and it's got me
> > stumped.
> >
> > I've not found anyone else who has this problem, as i'm a IT consultant and
> > go round fixing lots of SP2 related problems, but never this one.
> >
> > Hope someone can help me!
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Seb Maynard
> >
> > ps, basic hardware setup:
> > MSI motherboard
> > Intel P4, 3.04ghz
> > 1gb ram (which i've checked, no problems)
> > Sony CD-RW
> > NEC ND-1300a DVD-RW
> > ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb)
> > m-audio 24/96 sound card
> > USB2 internal card reader
> >
> > Thanks

Not sure what you mean specificly, XP , using explorer not sure about the
other stuff. someone else put this together for me. I pc is Gateway

"seb maynard" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> What hardware setup do you have, ie, what motherboard etc?
>
> Thanks
>
> Seb
>
> "Lisa" wrote:
>
> > I'm having the same problem. If you find an answer please pass it on! Thank
> > you!
> >
> > "seb maynard" wrote:
> >
> > > Hello
> > >
> > > I've been trying to install SP2 for ages now, and I've never got it to work.
> > > I've got several licences of XP (all legit obviously, so windows update
> > > works):
> > >
> > > XP Home
> > > XP Pro
> > > XP Pro corp
> > >
> > > And the SP2 installations all go fine. However, when i reboot (as
> > > instructed) the computer shows the Windows XP logo, the progress bar at the
> > > bottom, then stops completely. Sometimes, a strange array of colours happen
> > > all over the screen a few seconds after this, but usually it just stops,
> > > occasionally rebooting after a while...
> > >
> > > It's really really annoying as i can't do an "express" windows update.
> > >
> > > I've just got Windows Server 2003 as well, and that works fine, until i
> > > install SP1, which installs no problem, then on boot, the 2003 server logo
> > > appears then freezes completely.
> > >
> > > I've tried many times, from clean installs, to nothing plugged in (hardware)
> > > to removing some drives, to changing nearly all BIOS options, and it's got me
> > > stumped.
> > >
> > > I've not found anyone else who has this problem, as i'm a IT consultant and
> > > go round fixing lots of SP2 related problems, but never this one.
> > >
> > > Hope someone can help me!
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Seb Maynard
> > >
> > > ps, basic hardware setup:
> > > MSI motherboard
> > > Intel P4, 3.04ghz
> > > 1gb ram (which i've checked, no problems)
> > > Sony CD-RW
> > > NEC ND-1300a DVD-RW
> > > ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128mb)
> > > m-audio 24/96 sound card
> > > USB2 internal card reader
> > >
> > > Thanks