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Mike Hawthorne · 10-21-2002, 10:51 PM

Just a word of warning about downloading updates….

Last night I downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 1.
When I got to the point that the computer should restart, well, it didn’t.

I could not get into anything, no c:\ prompt, no Safe Mode, no nothing.

To make a long and frustrating story short I called Dell told them what had happened and found out how to reinstall Windows when you can’t get into your computer at all.

The service representative told me that this was a common problem and that I should go and get the CD. The problem was that the download didn’t contain all the necessary files to run Windows. I only had to be on the phone for about a half an hour, and then spent the rest of the day reinstalling all of my software.

The funny thing is that while I am working away the phone rings.

It is a friend of mine calling to tell me that he had downloaded the service pack for Windows XP and it had crashed his computer. He had called Microsoft and been on the phone until 2am. Less computer literate then I am he had to be led through the whole reinstallation process. The Microsoft representative told him to go and buy the CD as well.

One last thing, the Dell support was fantastic, I did not have to wait on hold, the representative was helpful even though he was in India, and he called back an hour and a half after I started the Installation to make sure that it all went smoothly. He asked if my video and sound were working and did my modem configure correctly, and he said he will call again tomorrow to see if any problems have cropped up.

I was impressed, this is my first Dell computer but I don’t think it will be my last.
I don’t even want to talk about some of my past experiences.

Any way if you are going to download updates it might be safer to just get the CD.

Mike

morriswindgate · 10-21-2002, 10:58 PM

It has been estimated that upwards of 30% of the SP1 installs have failed.

lil Jimmie · 10-21-2002, 11:18 PM

I downloaded the network install and have no problems with it. I haven't tried the express install.

XP SP-1 Download

highrisemech · 10-22-2002, 02:14 AM

You should always back up your system before loading any new programs or make changes to the operating system. Then you can avoid long calls to tech support.

Confused · 10-22-2002, 07:13 AM

I experienced a problem with SP1 download also. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as your experience. Mine, upon reboot encountered a catastrophic failure, shut down and rebooted again. Sent error report to MS. Everything worked fine until next boot and same thing happened when PC was booted. Received a update thru automatic updates and haven't had problem since.

I had burnt the SP1 to a CD since I plan on reloading and starting from scratch after first of year, but I think now I will be better served if I order SP1 on CD from MS.
Chas

reboot · 10-22-2002, 10:03 AM

I simply get the message that the SP1 install has failed...tried twice, gave up...don't need it...

**Force Flow** · 10-22-2002, 04:04 PM

What make SP1 fail? I thought SP's were supposed to fix probs, not cause them!

**mairving** · 10-22-2002, 04:29 PM

I have loaded it on about 15 systems so far with no failures. I always use a downloaded version.

**HAL9000** · 10-22-2002, 05:41 PM

Same here... done about a dozen downloads, no probs.

lil Jimmie · 10-22-2002, 06:41 PM

I've installed the network d/l on 6 different PC's and 4 times on mine, never had a problem, burned the d/l on to a disk and performed the upgrades without a hitch.

**Force Flow** · 10-22-2002, 10:02 PM

Well, maybe it only happens on certain systems; compaqs, for instance.

Confused · 10-23-2002, 07:09 AM

Maybe Force is onto something.

I had problems and I have;

Athalon XP1600 CPU
Epox 8KHA+ Mobo
XP-Pro OS
Networked with another PC thru a router.
Chas

reboot · 10-23-2002, 10:08 AM

Hah! Are you implying that I own a Compaq? (j/k)

No, there is another completely illegitimate reason it won't install.

homer15 · 10-23-2002, 10:39 AM

i had to reinstall xp on a friends machine because of a faulty service pack download. he did one of those quick updates. i always dislike those, mostly because you can only run it once. i got a hold of the network installation versoin and brought that over with me. it took that without a problem.

bailey · 10-23-2002, 08:26 PM

I downloaded it once, burned to a cd, installdmany times on differant computers, no problems yet.

Mike Hawthorne · 10-23-2002, 11:09 PM

After talking with several people the general consensus is that the problem occurs in the download.

If you have a good copy and save it on a CD it will work on anything.

If there is a glitch in your download than you’re in trouble.

Mike

10-21-2002, 10:51 PM	#1
Mike Hawthorne Member (7 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 116	A word of Warning!!! Just a word of warning about downloading updates…. Last night I downloaded Windows XP Service Pack 1. When I got to the point that the computer should restart, well, it didn’t. I could not get into anything, no c:\ prompt, no Safe Mode, no nothing. To make a long and frustrating story short I called Dell told them what had happened and found out how to reinstall Windows when you can’t get into your computer at all. The service representative told me that this was a common problem and that I should go and get the CD. The problem was that the download didn’t contain all the necessary files to run Windows. I only had to be on the phone for about a half an hour, and then spent the rest of the day reinstalling all of my software. The funny thing is that while I am working away the phone rings. It is a friend of mine calling to tell me that he had downloaded the service pack for Windows XP and it had crashed his computer. He had called Microsoft and been on the phone until 2am. Less computer literate then I am he had to be led through the whole reinstallation process. The Microsoft representative told him to go and buy the CD as well. One last thing, the Dell support was fantastic, I did not have to wait on hold, the representative was helpful even though he was in India, and he called back an hour and a half after I started the Installation to make sure that it all went smoothly. He asked if my video and sound were working and did my modem configure correctly, and he said he will call again tomorrow to see if any problems have cropped up. I was impressed, this is my first Dell computer but I don’t think it will be my last. I don’t even want to talk about some of my past experiences. Any way if you are going to download updates it might be safer to just get the CD. Mike Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-21-2002, 10:58 PM	#2
morriswindgate Banned Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,761	It has been estimated that upwards of 30% of the SP1 installs have failed. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-21-2002, 11:18 PM	#3
lil Jimmie HOT ROD Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: On the Edge Posts: 4,565	I downloaded the network install and have no problems with it. I haven't tried the express install. XP SP-1 Download Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Fast enough 2 get by.....old enough 2 know what not 2 try -You know it was me

10-22-2002, 02:14 AM	#4
highrisemech Member (12 bit) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Posts: 2,067	You should always back up your system before loading any new programs or make changes to the operating system. Then you can avoid long calls to tech support. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-22-2002, 07:13 AM	#5
Confused Member (13 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Mt Washington, KY Posts: 4,927	I experienced a problem with SP1 download also. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as your experience. Mine, upon reboot encountered a catastrophic failure, shut down and rebooted again. Sent error report to MS. Everything worked fine until next boot and same thing happened when PC was booted. Received a update thru automatic updates and haven't had problem since. I had burnt the SP1 to a CD since I plan on reloading and starting from scratch after first of year, but I think now I will be better served if I order SP1 on CD from MS. Chas Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ I may not be much, but I'm all I think about.

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10-22-2002, 10:03 AM	#6
reboot Member (14 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 9,138	I simply get the message that the SP1 install has failed...tried twice, gave up...don't need it... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Black holes are where God divided by zero... Cheers, Jim Jims Modems

10-22-2002, 04:04 PM	#7
Force Flow Barefoot on the Moon! Staff Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 13,386	What make SP1 fail? I thought SP's were supposed to fix probs, not cause them! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ There are two secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day, and you have to have a dream.

10-22-2002, 04:29 PM	#8
mairving Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Arlington, TN Posts: 5,538	I have loaded it on about 15 systems so far with no failures. I always use a downloaded version. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-22-2002, 05:41 PM	#9
HAL9000 Red-eyed Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 17,576	Same here... done about a dozen downloads, no probs. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ -At Ford, quality is job #1, job #2 is making them explode. ~Norm MacDonald, SNL News -Switching to Glide..Balancing in my head..inside of me... taking the glide path instead.

10-22-2002, 06:41 PM	#10
lil Jimmie HOT ROD Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: On the Edge Posts: 4,565	I've installed the network d/l on 6 different PC's and 4 times on mine, never had a problem, burned the d/l on to a disk and performed the upgrades without a hitch. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-22-2002, 10:02 PM	#11
Force Flow Barefoot on the Moon! Staff Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 13,386	Well, maybe it only happens on certain systems; compaqs, for instance. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-23-2002, 07:09 AM	#12
Confused Member (13 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Mt Washington, KY Posts: 4,927	Maybe Force is onto something. I had problems and I have; Athalon XP1600 CPU Epox 8KHA+ Mobo XP-Pro OS Networked with another PC thru a router. Chas Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-23-2002, 10:08 AM	#13
reboot Member (14 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 9,138	Hah! Are you implying that I own a Compaq? (j/k) No, there is another completely illegitimate reason it won't install. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

10-23-2002, 10:39 AM	#14
homer15 Resident Slacker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Suisun City, California (i know, where the hell is that?!?!?) Posts: 2,620	i had to reinstall xp on a friends machine because of a faulty service pack download. he did one of those quick updates. i always dislike those, mostly because you can only run it once. i got a hold of the network installation versoin and brought that over with me. it took that without a problem. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Friends help you move. REAL friends help you move bodies. - me quite possibly the best book ever written... by me

10-23-2002, 08:26 PM	#15
bailey Member (14 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Christmas, Florida Posts: 10,661	I downloaded it once, burned to a cd, installdmany times on differant computers, no problems yet. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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10-23-2002, 11:09 PM	#16
Mike Hawthorne Member (7 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 116	After talking with several people the general consensus is that the problem occurs in the download. If you have a good copy and save it on a CD it will work on anything. If there is a glitch in your download than you’re in trouble. Mike Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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