Resolved unable to download SP3

I recently did a system restore on a 10-year old sony vaio desktop.

It came installed with XP Home 32 bit (512 mb ram)

80 gb total available on hardrive.

the system restore apparently wiped the SP 2 and SP 3 installations.

In order to instal SP 3 I must first instal either SP 1 or SP 2.

But the SP 2 download is stalling at 88% after 13 hours and not completing.

The problem is not with computer function as much as internet speed and website functions

Perhaps for the same reason I am unable to instal windows updates.

I have just done a malware and virus check and my computer is clean.

any suggestions appreciated.

 

This is my initial reconnaissance of the "Driver Recovery Disk" provided by Sony:

I can send you the screen shots in a Paint file if you will accept attachments or indicate another way to send them.

When you first click on the cd driver you see 3 folder: backup, drivers, and support. there is no text file at that level that has any instructions.

In the support folder is a folder called "UIdesign "

In the UIdesign folder is a folder called "setupdir"

in it are 2 folders called "009" and "0011 "

inside "009" is a file called
"_Setup.dll" ,
5.50.134.0,
32-bit Setup Launcher Resource.

inside "0011" is a file called
"_Setup.dll"
5.50.135.0

there is another folder called "UIdesign "
in it there is an executable called
"Setup
32-bit Setup Launcher
InstallShield Software Corporation

when I click this it setup the Sony UI library.

In the "UIdesign" folder there is also a file called "Setup"
"Internet communication settings "But when I have run this is gives the message "Unable to process the internet signup file "

There are also a lot of files that windows says it cannot open.

there is a folder called "Drivers "
In that folder is another called "modem "

When I open it, it asks me if I want to instal modem drivers.

I am using a dsl modem supplied by verizon. So I don't know if by modem Sony means a built in dialup modem or if these drivers can also help the external dsl modem.

I also see a lot of dll files.

 

There are no exclamation points on any devices in Device Manager.

I installed IE6 SP1.
After that I was able to install XP SP2, and I installed Windows "Automatic Updates ", although it seems to be acting strangely. It seems to be always updating and seems to hang at 66%.

An update just came on letting me install XP SP3, so that is in progress now.

 

My model is the PCV-R660.

here is the page listing drivers for my model:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mo...te_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

there are many categories. Since my problem is internet connectivity, I think the drivers I may need concern

1. modem
2. windows operating system
or
3. would BIOS affect internet?

 

I have a DSL modem provided by the ISP.

It has its own phone jack that goes right into a phone jack in the wall.

 

I have checked with them. They have sent a new modem and checked the line. They say it is clear.

Now there are strange things happening with non-internet aspects of the computer.

Here is a list of some of things that are happening.

sometimes pages take much too long to load

loading Zoho.com emails with IE often a section of the page is missing.

SP 2 and 3 were installed but there seems to be Something wrong with the automatic updates. they are constantly downloading. The yellow shield is constantly on the taskbar.

When opening an email in zoho.com with IE, the page often hangs. the email will not open.

Cannot download Opera browser. "connection closed by remote server"

Sometimes pages take forever to load, at other times the pages load fast enough.

In Device manager, some drivers for "system devices" are missing.

Links not loading after one click. Browser losing server. "Server Not Found." Browser can't find any server.

Scheduled Task Wizard not responding.

The file, "desktop.ini" appeared on the desktop.

"Abnormal Program Termination" of Microsoft Word. Entire document erased. Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Error. One this problem I found this on the web:
"Additionally, there are many toolbars and other browser plug-ins that have been known to cause runtime errors during operation. Try uninstalling any toolbars that are installed through Add/Remove Programs."

Windows suddenly shutting down and restarting after being idle a few minutes. Then when Windows restarted Opera browser opened up, but I had not been using Opera for several days since it was not working as well as Firefox.

 

Another strange thing happening:

I went to this ms site to see about updating drivers.

http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5

It said this:
"Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.
To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later. "

but I was already using IE 6 with SP1, so the MS site was not recognizing my browser version.

And automatic updates was already turned on.

 

So there is no way to search for drivers and instal them?

 

I got the system working pretty well.

I was finally able to install XP SP3 and using Firefox the connection is as fast as before.

Thank you for your help on this.