Can't update WinXP + other backup blues

[CuRoi]

Yesterday I tried installing a copy of Acronis True Image that I downloaded from Newegg. The .exe file launched right into the installation program, so I followed the directions, and it went smoothly enough, although it seemed to spend a lot of time "loading drivers." On completion, I was prompted to reboot and did so. But WinXP (home) wouldn't come up, even in safe mode. I tried everything I could think of, and late last night managed to get a reasonable facsimile of the OS running. What finally got me to that point was reloading the driver for the Promise Ultra 100 card that controls all four of my hard drives. No settings have been lost so far.

OK. But -- I still have two major problems and one minor annoyance.

Major software problem: I did the repair from my original WinXP disk, so I'm back in pre-SP1 land and rather uncomfortable about that. And, although I have Net access and my email is functional, IE hangs whenever I try to access Windows updates, whether I do this through Help & Support on the Start menu or surf to the Microsoft site and try to get to it from there. So I can't install the necessary updates. Can anyone tell me what's the matter?

Major hardware problem (but it might have to do with drivers so I'll ask it here first and take it elsewhere if advised to do so): ever since I reloaded the Promise driver, the Promise BIOS has been failing to detect at least one of my drives (sometimes one, occasionally two). Both are on the second ID node; drive 0 is never recognized and drive 1 sometimes. The "sometimes" seems to depend on the state of the BIOS and the driver, so I have tinkered (by installing and changing updates) with both and it seems to be stable now.

I know that I need to open the case and check the connections and see if the drive is running, and I'm going to do that, but it bothers me that, when I was first trying to fix the problem, the Promise BIOS was recognizing all four drives, so this doesn't seem to have been caused by the messed-up Acronis TI installation. It dates from about the time (though I was too tired for scientific accuracy) when I reloaded the Promise driver. The case wasn't touched, so cables couldn't have been knocked loose or anything like that. Both drives are relatively young and haven't been worked hard.

I'm pretty certain this isn't a power supply issue. I bought a bigger PS (465w Enermax) last year and it has been supporting all of my drives without a problem until now. Can anybody suggest software measures I might have forgotten, or should I take this problem to the Hardware forum?

Minor annoyance: When I enter my bootup password and the "Loading your personal settings" message appears, my cursor (and the little hourglass that sometimes goes with it) turns black and stays that way until I shut down. In all honesty, I believe I can live with this burden, but I'd be happy to find a fix if there is one.

Hoping for your sagacious guidance...

Senchas

[macko72]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...1/network.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

This is for Major Software problem!!!

[CuRoi]

Thanks, Macko -- those links were just what I needed. I had no trouble getting to the site and downloading the install files, and all is now hunky dory. (As a matter of fact, my minor annoyance also disappeared with the installation of SP1a, and my cursor now disports itself in splendiferous color.)

Now for that missing-in-action drive...

Thanks again,
Senchas

[macko72]

You can try update PROMISE or reinstalling drivers again and see if that helps!!!