Resolved Updating Computer After Re-Formatting

Hi,
My husband's computer stopped working for some unknown reason and all I kept getting was a black screen with Hard Disk Error - Press Control, Alt, Delete to restart. I tried to repair it but nothing worked. So in frustration I thought I would try to just restore his computer by using the original Gateway Operating System CD.

Well, it worked but now I have a large problem. I only have IE 6 on the computer and the Windows program is Service Pack 1.

I tried to go on the Microsoft site to update the programs but I can't find out where I should be to update Windows.

The site tells me to update to Service Pack 3 but then it doesn't allow me to.

Could you tell me where I should go to start updating this computer and bring it up to where it should be.

Thank you for your help.

Jean

 

Did you try going through the Control Panel to update Windows? If I remember right, it should be under Windows Security and then there is a link on the left side to check for updates. That will take you to the Windows Update site and you can check for updates there. I'm assuming that you will need SP2 installed before SP3 can be installed.

 

That or open up IE and go to Tools/Windows update. If I remember right, you have to install SP2 before you can do SP3. Been a while since I have done an XP computer, but I think I am right.

I have a hard copy (disk) of SP2 and usually install it right after a clean install and a reboot and go from there.

 

Hi,

I still cannot seem to get on the site you suggested:

Download it from here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bb794714

It just tells me I cannot access the page.

Is there a way I can download the Service Pack from my other computer and burn it to a CD?

I can't seem to access anything useful from the Windows update. I have tried several times.

For some reason I do not have a Security Icon in the control panel. Maybe it is the old version of Windows and the old version of IE 6.

Thanks again for your help.

Jean

 

Open up IE and go to Tools/Windows Updates and see if you can at least get started from there.

 

FWIW, you can order Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a CD ($3.99 USD) directly from Microsoft:

• Asia
  https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/s...A785-9E890E6B4F5B&LocaleCode=en-us&NewTrans=1
  
  
• Europe and Africa
  https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/s...BC7E-DF7631FEE660&LocaleCode=en-us&NewTrans=1
  
  
• North America
  https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/s...8913-3E3453AD966D&LocaleCode=en-us&NewTrans=1
  
  
• South America
  https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/s...B9C0-9F513FA18153&LocaleCode=en-us&NewTrans=1

 

Thanks PeteC, I did download the Package for IT Professionals and it worked just fine.
Now I'm trying to update all the Security Updates and I think there are over 111.

I'll keep you posted on how it is going.

Jean

 

Thank you to everyone for all of the suggestions. I will close out this posting now because I was able to get all the updates on the computer and it is running great. I am now going to try to load some of the programs Paul had on the computer before it crashed.

Thanks again for all the great help.

Jean