Windows XP SP2 upgrade problems

[texasyesfan]

Hey all. I hope someone can help me figure this out before I go nuts.

A friend has a system that was loaded with spyware and viruses that she asked me to clean up for her. I was able to get all that stuff off of it and decided to upgrade it from SP1 to SP2. I did all the requisite upgrades in order, as recommended by Microsoft, and everything worked fine until I actually did the SP2 upgrade. The I started getting the dreaded BSOD right after Windows start up. The first message was "_IRQC_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL". I don't recall the message number. Indications were that Ahead Nero InCD was causing the conflict (per the Microsoft error message tracking), so I uninstalled this, but the problems persisted, but with different error messages. I finally went back to Square One and reinstalled Windows XP SP1 from the CD, and everything worked fine again. Once again the upgrades up to SP2 worked fine, but when I went to SP2, the same thing happened. This time, the error tracking indicated a problem with the Graphics Drivers, so I repeated the process of reinsalling SP1 twice more; once using updated drivers from the Biostar website (the audio drivers did not have XP certification) then using drivers from the VIA website (which were newer, but again the audio drivers were not certified). Same problem again both times when I got to SP2. I finally did the whole thing again, with a clean install of SP1 and without loading any OEM drivers. Same thing.

Here are the specifics:

MB: Biostar M7VIZ; VIA KM400/VT8237 (integrated audio and video)
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2500+
Memory: GeiL 256 MB PC-2700 DDR

I suspect it's a flaky motherboard with its on-board audio and/or video causing the problems. Any ideas? I'm about to throw this thing out on the street.

Thanks,

JAS

[macko72]

http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.php

[glc]

Some systems just won't accept SP2 without problems. This is probably one of them.

[texasyesfan]

Originally Posted by glc Some systems just won't accept SP2 without problems. This is probably one of them.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think so. I'll probably just leave it at SP1 and turn off updates. It seems to run fine that way. Oh, well.

[macko72]

Dude your system should accept SP2 witout any problems, try to turn off all unnecessary processes and antivirus software that may help you a lot to install corectly( and make sure that your system if virus and spyware free).

[glc]

macko, it *should* but some systems just DON'T.

He has already nuked and paved it several times and SP2 won't take. Might want to review his first post carefully.

[macko72]

Originally Posted by glc macko, it *should* but some systems just DON'T. He has already nuked and paved it several times and SP2 won't take. Might want to review his first post carefully.

Well that is not problem with system he is maybe just a bit lazzy to find thrue reason for failure!!!

[rightcoast]

Well that is not problem with system he is maybe just a bit lazzy to find thrue reason for failure!!!

I don't think you even read that post, if you did you would realize the poster was not to *lazy* to find *the true* reason for *the* failure.

He nuked and paved, as glc put it, three times, I think, from square one. Some systems can not have SP2 put on, despite what you think. Sometimes it's hardware issue. Sorry but that's true.

[macko72]

Well for me that's just good excuse!!! I don't think his hardware is old enough or to young to have issue with windows XP and with SP2!!!

[texasyesfan]

Originally Posted by macko72 Well for me that's just good excuse!!! I don't think his hardware is old enough or to young to have issue with windows XP and with SP2!!!

I suppose I could have reformatted the hard drive and started all over again with a fresh install, but since it's not my system, and there were documents on there (photos and such) that I didn't want to delete, I chose not to do that. Instead I did a clean install of Windows XP SP1a FOUR times now. I ran AGP antivirus, Spybot S &D, and AdAware to make sure there was nothing bad on the machine. I tried it several different ways: I downloaded fresh drivers for the audio and video from the MoBo manufacturer, then from the chipset manufacturer (VIA), then left them off altogether. Each time, everything seemed to be working just fine through all the "critical upgrades" to SP1. Then, when I actually installed SP2, the system crashed. Sometimes, I would get a BSOD, with various different error messages. Other times, the screen just went black, then rebooted. The final time, it got caught in an endless loop of restarts.

If this was my system and I had endless time to play with it, I'd probably start over again, like I said, by reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling everything. But it isn't, and I don't. So, in the absence of any other advice, I'll probably leave it as is.

As I said before, I suspect it's the motherboard with its on-board audio and video that doesn't like SP2 (or vice-versa). Again, if it were my system, I'd probably try adding on a sound card and a video card to see if that would fix it. Who knows, maybe I'll talk the owner into doing this.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who tried to help.

[azscary]

I have talked to 2 different people who had the same issue.

The fix was the same in both cases.

BIOS updates from the manufacturer and then SP2 went in smooth.

Also, I would order the SP2 updates on CD and install that way. That is the only piece of Microsoft software I have EVER seen with a lable that says: "PLEASE DUPLICATE AND DISTRIBUTE"

[texasyesfan]

Originally Posted by azscary I have talked to 2 different people who had the same issue. The fix was the same in both cases. BIOS updates from the manufacturer and then SP2 went in smooth. Also, I would order the SP2 updates on CD and install that way. That is the only piece of Microsoft software I have EVER seen with a lable that says: "PLEASE DUPLICATE AND DISTRIBUTE"

I almost did a BIOS update, but the date stamp on the new BIOS was the same as the old one, so I didn't see the point. It did seem odd that the BIOS update was almost two years old. I might check into that again when I have some time. Unfortunately, I do have a day job....

[rjfvillarosa]

Azscary..glc and rightcoast seem to think you have formated the hard drive and reinstalled windows, but reading all the posts that is not the case and in your post (#10) you say that you haven't formated and reinstalled.
You say this machine had a lot of spyware and maybe a virus issue hence the reason it was given to you to clean and update, from experience I have found that many machines that have had spyware issues even though you have cleaned them give trouble with SP2, glc is right when he says that some machines just will not take SP2 and macko72's comment that you are lazy is out of order you have already proved you are not from the amount of work you have put in
Considering this machine came to you full of spyware I suggest you clear it with the owner and then do a format and reinstall, in a situation like this the security features of SP2 are only going to help this person and I don't really think they can afford to be with out it.


edit...just a thought but one of the nasty's that you cleaned out could have damaged a system file that is not giving you any kind of error but it could be what is causing the problem with SP2, maybe trying a repair/install before you format and reinstall may clear your problem, that way you won't lose any of your friends personal stuff.

[macko72]

I do apologize for calling him lazy but he didn't tell all that maters, that he is restricted and machine is not his, but i said "maybe" and "a bit", but sorry for that didn't know about restriction !!!

[rightcoast]

Your right rjfvillarosa! I haven't been back since I posted, but his 10th post says he never did a clean install. The first time I read this (glc too I imagine):

I finally went back to Square One and reinstalled Windows XP SP1 from the CD, and everything worked fine again. Once again the upgrades up to SP2 worked fine, but when I went to SP2, the same thing happened. This time, the error tracking indicated a problem with the Graphics Drivers, so I repeated the process of reinsalling SP1 twice more; once using updated drivers from the Biostar website (the audio drivers did not have XP certification) then using drivers from the VIA website (which were newer, but again the audio drivers were not certified). Same problem again both times when I got to SP2. I finally did the whole thing again, with a clean install of SP1 and without loading any OEM drivers. Same thing.

I saw reinstalled Windows XP SP1 from the CD, and thought the poster meant the OS. I think in all three they meant the SP itself. Mistake on my part, but untill the 10th post, there was no hint "reinstalling Windows XP SP1" didn't mean exactly that. That changes things for sure texasyesfan, I would talk to your friend and see if you can slave the drive and save his data, then do a reinstall of Windows XP. I have seen SP2 not be able to run on a Compaq once, but it is very rare. I would bet with 20-1 odds that will work fine for you.

[rjfvillarosa]

RC.. what do you reckon on a repair install to try and repair what might be a damaged system file that is causing SP2 to screw up?

[rightcoast]

I would think that may work...but putting myself it their shoes, I would be done playing around. After all the time spent doing the above I myself, probably wouldn't bother. It may work though, in retrospect you should have tried a repair install first, but that's OK. I would say it's an option, and whatever works easier for them would be the way to go. I would prefer at this point to just save data and start over, but that's me. They may prefer trying that first. Either way...good luck!

[texasyesfan]

Maybe the way I wrote it was confusing. I did not reformat the hard drive, but I did do a complete reinstall of Windows XP from the CD. (The Windows XP CD already had SP1a on it.) The first couple of times I did a repair install, but when I kept getting the same results with the upgrade, I decided to do a complete reinstall. So although all the documents and photos did not get deleted, all the settings did. Even then, despite updated video and audio drivers the SP2 upgrade crashed. Again, with a complete reinstall from CD, and without loading any third-party drivers, the SP2 upgrade caused the system to crash. The only things I did not try were reformatting the HD and updating the BIOS (like I said before the BIOS update didn't make much sense since the latest BIOS at the manufacturer's site was the same one I was already running).

The owner is letting me keep it for a while longer, so I might still go ahead and back up the data onto a CD, reformat the HD and start over. Maybe this weekend.

[rjfvillarosa]

I think you are making the right decision, and I agree with RC that after all you have put into it, a format and reinstall would be the best thing. If you do go down that road consider downloading the hard drive manufacturers diagnostic utility, running a few tests on the drive and then zero filling the drive just to make sure no rubbish is left behind.
Will CD's be enough storage for what she has on the drive?