can't start windows xp after downloading sp2

I downloaded sp2 for Windows xp and after clicking Finish and rebooting I can not start Windows. It comes up with black screen indicating selections for starting Windows using
Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known Good Configuration and Start Windows Normally.

I have tried most of these options and machine starts to reboot only to come back to this selection screen each time. I have also tried F8 to get more options to no avail.

Any suggestions?

 

Do you have a regular XP install CD and if so, will your PC boot from it?

 

can't start Windows xp , continued...

I have installed the sp2 on 3 different machines. Two Dell desktop machines and 1 eMachine notebook. I am trying to repair the notebook right now using the reinstallation CD for Windows xp using a "non-destructive system recovery" so that my data may be saved. It looks like I still need to re-install all of my applications, but it's better than starting from scratch.

The two Dell desktops are more of a concern for me because of the data and applications that I had on them. I have not yet rebooted these so the sp2 has not taken effect. I am afraid to reboot and get them into the same state that the notebook is in. Is there no way around having to re-install everything? Why do some (most?) people not have to go through this and some (me, anyway!) have to re-install?

Thanks a bunch for any help that you might provide!!!!!!!!!

 

It seems to be mostly hardware issues with the few folks who've had the same problem you had. Video most often (but that's usually the case) with an occasional BIOS version and a couple of memory stick issues.

May not do you much good at this point but there should be a spuninst.bat file with the SP that will start an uninstall if you can get in a position to run it. Thus my question about the CD since you should be able to run the file from the recovery console command prompt.

At a guess, your Dell systems should do fine.

Also, to stand the best chance of keeping your data before you get drastic with the problem machine, www.sysinternals.com has a great free utility for recovering data from a 'dead' system that should allow you to use a working PC to copy your personal stuff from the problem system before doing the repair.

 

can't start Windows xp, continued...

So, running spuninst.bat on my two Dell machines should get rid of the sp2 install completely, right? No residual effects? I know that an uninstall may not completely clean up at times, but it would sure save me from having to re-install all of my applications.

 

I've updated 7 PC to SP2, with trouble with 2 of the PC, 1 was a sony laptop and the other a Dell PC. Both are only weeks old. Both were repaired with original cd under the repairs in windows setup. I did not lose any data or had to reinstall any of my programs.

What i did find interesting was both PC had Adware's on them, after I removing them I could update to SP2.

Good luck

 

Some trouble shooting ideas here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;ln;xpsp2getinstall

 

can't start windows xp after downloading sp2

PleaseHelpMe, This happen to me once before when I was updating a couple of fixes on Sp1. I tried everything but mop the kitchen floor to repair my PC and see my desktop again, but nothing worked. I finally had to do a system recovery on my machine from the original CD's.

Good Luck.