Need some help with XP

Howdy all,

As many know, I work as a PC technician for Staples. I got a customers computer in right now, an old Dell Dimmension 2400, that we just did a restore on because the system had all kinds of junk in it. The problem is, the restore reverted the copy of XP Home on the system back to SP1, so, now none of my software or wireless USB receivers will install and run to update the computer. I have tried looking for a downloadable ISO for SP2 on Microsoft's website, but I can not find one. Can anyone help me to find an SP2 ISO image on Microsoft's download section of their website or tell me where I can find the service pack update so I can finish her computer for her. Thanks.

BBGus

 

Doesn't the computer have a cd drive?
If so you can put sp2 on a cd from another computer and do it that way.
Will that work?

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en
Thats the place

Alex

 

Staples uses system restore? Laugh.
I'm sorry I can't help but get snooty about tech groups like Geek Squad, Fire Dog, and whatever Staples has now.

Why not just go right to Service Pack 3?
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en
It's got SP1 so you can jump right to SP3 without installing SP2. The prerequisite of SP3 is SP1 or higher.

 

Thanks.

Not trying to be mean or disrespectful, but I am in no way snooty nor the rest of the other techs in my particular Staples store. Sure there are other ways to restore a system such as scrubbing it with different removal software or using an OEM/Retail disc to reinstall the O.S., but why not use the restore if the customer does not care about anything in the system and just wants it fixed. I personally explain how things work before I do a service so the customer understands what is going on. If they choose to want me to do the restore for them and are willing to pay for it, it is there decision.

Now, I understand there are techs out there that lie or sweet talk people with B.S. to milk as much money out of them as possible. I worked for Best Buy for 2 years and can tell you from that experience (even though I was not in Geek Squad) that the corporate side and managers push to do just that. I am not one of them.

As for SP3, I already have that burned to a disc, however, when I run it, it comes back stating it needs SP2 first. I don't know if this is because of the OEM setup Dell did to this copy of XP home or it is because the installer is having an issue, but regardless, I need to finish her computer.

BBGus

 

No, sorry. I meant I get snooty about things like geeksquad, because unlike them, I actually am a computer tech. Those guys don't know jack about computers.

 

So install SP2 first. Why don't you have both of those on disc on hand at all times, especially if you're a Windows tech? I remember back in my Windows support days, I had a few "magic" CD's that I kept all kinds of handy stuff on.

Now it's just a Linux-bootable USB drive with all kinds of handy toys, but that's neither here nor there

 

This is kind of what I was driving at with my previous posts.


Get the Service Pack 3 FULL Package for network admins... it does not require SP2 to be installed first.

 

Now I will agree with you here. While there is and has been traditionally the CompTIA A+ certification to show that you know and can demonstrate computer competence and literacy, most of the big box retailers don't care nor even check for it. They typically only ask you if you do or don't have it in the initial interview to judge what they will pay you and what they are allowed to let you do based on thee position they are trying to fill. I personally paid and earned my A+ and am in the process of working towards Cisco certifications.

Don't get me started here. This is probably the one biggest problem I have run into being a tech for Staples. They don't know what to provide nor try to give a tech to get the work done. 95% of the time I am using my own flash drive with various programs for diagnostics, updates, programs, etc. to repair computers. And trust me, I got the few "magic discs". I still like using my OEM O.S. and SP discs for direct windows service work, and, if that fails, there is always my tried and true older copy of Winternals to crack and fix crap from the inside out.

I have the SP3 package in ISO form burned on a disc that I have had since SP3 was released a few months back. The problem was that this particular old Dell desktop did not want to load the service pack. It would get through the unpacking phase and then pop up an error stating I needed to run SP2 first for some strange reason when I have done this exact same update on older restored HPs and Gateways before this Dell. In fact, I have done this same repair/update on 2 other Dells as well now that I think about it.

So, I got the SP2 installer from the link that Alex linked to earlier. Get this, I run it on the desktop and it gets about halfway through installing the updates when it magically can't find one of the update .exe files that this same program has just unpacked and put into a temp folder. I browse to the folder and tell it where to find the file and it comes back telling me it won't install. Great... So now, it starts to undo all the updates applied because it has "errored". After about 15 minutes of undoing all the previous installs, it pops up one final error statement warning that the problem with the update install may have caused windows to have issues and then reboots. Upon reboot, I am now stuck in a BSOD loop cycle. I try doing a Windows System restore to go back and can't access it. I try using a windows disc to check and repair the windows file structure and MBR, doesn't work. At this point I am going to just reformat it again with my OEM copy of XP home with SP2 on the disc and then go into the registry and edit the Microsoft license key to the one on the case.

I can't wait to get rid of this piece of crap...

BBGus